The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-10-06

The next step Frillers decided must be
an heroic one. Eastbeacon is a military
depot; the great, struggling barracks were
a few minutes walk from the station. 1t
was thither that Mr.. Cartrew's secretary
stole.
Before the barracks a short, square-faced
man in uniform and a peaked cap was
standing whipping the loose cloth of his
right trouser with a cane and keeping a
keen eye on loafers. 1t fell on the hesitat-
ing Frillers.
Thinking of existing, sir?" said the
sergeant.
The sir did 1T.
YES" said Frillers, boldly.
Come along, them" said the recruiting
sergeant.
And the barrack doors closed on Frillers,
who felt the winds Of strange adventures
blowing about his cold red ears.
CHAPTER II.
So Frillers became a soldier; but, as ma
ture had not especially Intended him for
a military career, he never completely en-
joyed her Majesty's service. Still the
discipline must be good for me-" he ar
gued, a conviction enabling him even to
support the hardships of a troopship in a
Biscay gale. For his regiment was or
dered to the Cape. where, in the main bar
racks, he suffered grievously from mos
quitoes and vermin uncomfortable till the
simple comforts of life appeared in his
imagination as mighty luxuries.
Frillers was sick of soldering in South
Africa when the regiment was recalled 70
Gibraltar, and thence, after a tedious eight
months, dispatched to Malta, where he
rose TO the humble rank of orderly cor
poral, caught an attack of fever, grew
homesick for the smell Of English country
lanes and dewy pastures, and won the
heart of the r~egimental chaplain, who in
secret wrote to the poor corporals father,
a not unprosperous Nonconformist minis
ter at Liverpool, suggesting the propriety
of purchasing his sons discharge. The
chaplain pointed out that throughout his
service the young mans conduct had been
irreproachable. and limited that he might
even had risen to be a sergeant major, at
8 shillings a day, had not his exceeding
good nature swamped his sense of military
discipline. The letter represented Corporal
Frillers in so attractive a light that the
Rev. T%heophilus Frillers sent his son funds
to purchase his discharge, accompanied by
his forgiveness.
What on earth am 1 fit for now?' won
dered poor Frillers. In his regiment, luck
lily, his training as a clerk had been OF
use to him, and in consequence of his ex-
cellent character a Liverpool merchant,
colonel of volunteers. found him a place in
his office at a salary of 30 shillings a week.
For two months Frillers dwelt at home
with his father. a widower and an earnest
temperance advocate, going regularly to
his office. Unfortunately the habits of
the barracks and a taste for beer chung
to the ex-orderly corporal. He had quar-
relied with his father six years before on
the subject Of his theatrical ambitions; a
misunderstanding now arose on the ques-
ton of total abstinence. Frillers's most
piercing aversion was. as he admitted,
'bigotry, the one thing he couldn't toll
crate
One evening he met some comrades and
returned TO the patcrnal roof late at night
not drunk, but-imperfectly sober. This in
cident gave rise 10 an argument with the
Rev. Theophilus, who lost his temper and
called his son "a goddess. tipsy reprObatei'
Once moro Frillers's dramatic instincts
rounded of the situation dramatically.
1t was impossible for tie man who haC
acquired a reputation as the soberest mar
in mis- company TO submit meekly 10 such Z
wrong.
This next morning Frillers. with G5 in hi:
Iocket, made his second dash for liberty.