Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1901-08-07

rih-ran OF thesgarrison few des-
perate, dangerous characters from
the surrounding camps, an nncouth,
uncanny lot at any time, but looking
it's worst ip the drip OF the, floating
fog-wreathsa and the gloom and de-
spopd of dying day. The boom OF the
sunset gun from Alcatraz fell sullen-
~ on the ear even as the soft trumpet
of the cavalry, close at hand; began
sounding the retreat" At it's last
prolonged note the sharp crack of an
old three-inch rifle echoed the report
from Alcatraz, and from the invisible,
mist-shrouded top of the staff the
dripping folds of the storm-fag came
Tapping down in view, limp and
bedraggled, and the guard sprang
again to attention as burly, red
faced, .hearty-loo]zing soldier, with a
captains insignia in loop and braid
on the sleeves of his overcoat, broke
q way through the group of lockers
on and, barely waiting for the salute
and report of the young lieutenant
commanding, began a sharp scrutiny
Down along the line he went, until
at the fourth man from the left in
the front rank he stopped short. A
bulky, thick-set soldier stood there, a
sullen, semi-defiant look about his
eyes, grim set to the jaws bristline
with week-old beard of dirty black.
Then came the swapping colloquy:
"Your name Murray?''
''That's what they call me-"
"What was your name before
that?" -: -.
"Jim."
Whereat there was litter in the
ranks of prisoners. Some Of the
guard even allowed their mouths to
expand, and the groups of solun.
terrs, chuckling in keen enjoyment
came edging in closer.
Instantly the voice of the officer
of the guard was heard ordering ST.
lence, and faces Strengthened out in
the twinkling of an eye.
The elder officer, the captain, grew
trifle redder, but he was master of
himself and the situation. 1t is with
schoolboys as with soldiers, their
master is the man whom FRANKS or
impudence cannot annoy. The off,
Ger of the day let no tone of temper
into his next question. Looking
straight into the shifting eyes, he
waited for perfect silence, and then
spoke:
Jim what? I wish the name un-
der which you served in your previous
enlistment
'Never said I'd served before"
mo. You declared you had not.
But I know better. You're deserter
from the Seventh cavalry"
T he face under the shrouding cam
paign hat went gray white with sud-
den twitch Of the muscles, then set
again, rigid and defiant. The eyes
snapped angrily. The answer was
sharp, yet seemed, as soldiers say, to-
''hang fire" second. 49,,
"Never seen the Seventh cavalry in
my life."
The officer of the day turned and
beckoned to a figure hitherto kept
well in the background, screened by
the groups of surrounding volun-
teers.< A man of middle age, smooth
shaven and stout, dressed in business
sack-suit, came sturdily forward and
took position by the captains side.
At sight of the newcomer Murray's
face, that had regained d bit of it's
ruddy hue, again turned dirty white,
and the boy lieutenant, eying him
closely, saw the twitch of his thin,
half-hidden lips.
Point out your man." said the
captain to the new arrival.
The civilian stepped forward, and
without word twice tapped with his
forefinger the broad breast of Pris-
oner Murray and, never looking at
him, turned again to the officer of
the day.
'What was his name in the Sew
enth?" asked the latter. .
"Sackett.'
the guard. ''Mr. Ray" said he, ""sep-
arate Murray from the garrison pris-
oners and have him put in a cell.
That man must be carefully guarded.
You may dismiss the guard, SIR
And, followed by the stranger,
Capt. Kress was leaving the ground
when Murray seemed to recover him
self, and in loud and defiant voice
gave tongue:
''That mans a damned liar, and
this is an outrage"
"Shut up, Murray" shouted the
sergeant on the guard, scandalized at
such violation of military proprieties.
Its gagged you'll be, you IDIOT" he
added between his set teeth, as with
scowling face he bore down on the
equally scowling prisoner. "Come
out of that and step along here ahead
of me. I'll put you where shoutin'
won't help And slowly, sullenly,
Murray obeyed. -.
Slowly and in silence the groups Of
spectators broke UP and sauntered
away as the last of the prisoners
dragged back into the guard-house,
and the guard itself broke ranks and
went within doors, leaving only the
sentry pacing mechanically the mar
row, 'hard-beaten path. the sergeant,
and, at the turn of the road, Z: tho
young lieutenant whom Capt. Kress
had addressed as Mr.. Ray. This Off.
cer;5 having silently received his SUI
perior'sl orders and seen to it that
Murray was, actually behind, {: the
bars" had again come forth into the
gathering twilight, the cleaning of a
cheerless day, and having FASTENED to
the bend, from which point the forms
of the officer of the day and his as