The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1901-03-15

ana even Wnen taps came ialnllS SOuhu-
ing through the open windows and
doors Of the quarters that night. AT
reveile he had made up his mind, and
at guard-mounting he was private.
This was quick work, but the Kid was
no laggard.
"How do you like soldering,
Stubbs?" asked smart young lance
corporal Of A Troop, whose accent
showed his German extraction. 1t was
Stubb's first guard as a private, and
the young corporal was getting even
for many cut given him in the past.
Stubhs eyed him somewhat con-
temptuously from head to foot. Like
soldiering?" he answered. "Why, sonny,
l was soldering when your bed-sack
was floating around Castle Garden
At the next muster and inspection
the Kid was the junior corporal of the
troop, and carried the guidon in the
boot of his right stirrup. As the troop
went swinging by the colonel at good,
quick trot, his eyes frightened as they
fell on the figure of the new non-com.
Deep down in his heart he had very
warm spot for the youngest trooper in
bis regiment, q sincere and manly re-
spect for this mere boy, with six years
service to his credit, who had already
earned the proud right of saying "Ich
iden.'
1t was soldiers like this who made a
troop, regiment, an army, ay, even a
country; and the chief unconsciously
Strengthened up, and so did the Kid, as
he sat deep in the saddle and thought
it all very glorious.
And then they went by again in re-
view, this time at gallop that sent
the blood tingling through the veins
and almost made one gasp for breath.
1t was an old and tattered guidon
the boy carried (the new ones were
kept for the troops in the East), but it
snapped and cfackled and bravely and
merrily sang to the morning breeze.
1t sang Of fights. charges, marches,
rides and midnight raids; it sang OF
glory, hope, ambition, pride, and fame;
and then in soft and gentle monotone
it sang of darkened homes and scat
tered, nameless graves. 1t was the
song of the soldier, and the Kid under
stood it all.
Now there are medals and medals in
the service, just as there are soldiers
and soldiers; there are medals for the
Society of the Cincinnati; there are
medals for the Sons of the Revolution;
there are medals for the Order Of the
Aztecs; there arc medals for the Sons
of Veterans; there are medals for the
War of 1872
All of which | have seen worn on
the dress-coats of young and gallant
soldiers for services rendered by-their
sires and grandsires. 1t was an i'm
pressive sight, but apt to prove mis-
leading. Then there are medals for
shooting at target You 60 out some
fine, sunshiny day, and shoot at two
hundred and three hundred and even
up to a thousand yards: and make
bull's-eyes galore. Then you shoot at
men lying. kneeling, and standing.
These men, being paper, do not shoot
back; but it is very exciting, and leads
to displays of wondrous courage on the
skirmish line.
When this is all over there is pre-
scntation of medals. The officers at
department headquarters put on their
uniforms, redolent of taxpayer and
moth-balls; there is a big parade, the
general presents the medals; the band
plays, the men shout, the women wave
their handkrrchicfs, the crowd goes
mad, and-deep down in your heart
you wonder what it is all about. And
! then there is small bronze medal pre-
sentcd by Congress to soldiers, com
missioned and enlisted. who have dis
tinguishcd themselves in action; anC
this is the kind Of medal the Kid won
1t was spring in Arizona; at leas,
the calendar marked April, and the
post trader at Packer had got in his
annual supply of canned goods anC
whisky. Beyond an increased restless
ness among the troops, there was littlt
to indicate it. Reports from the new
agent at San Carlos were very encour
aging, and the indications for dcaC
summer seemed imminent.
Old Dave Hernegan growlcd ant
talked largely of taking on in tn.
artillery when his time had expired.
"Artilery! said the Kid, scornfully
-"artillcry! You'd look fine in th,
artillery, wouldn't you?-serving under
a lot of kid white-collar ser9eants
Besides, where is your education, eL?'
Tell me that, you old bean-cracker!'
Dave looked foolish. There was E.;
wild tradition in the troop that artil
lery non com. were never happy unlcs:
juggling with figures or reading scien
tifc books
Fortunately y for the troop. and per
haps equally fortunately for Hernegan
there came an order few weeks later
that knocked all ideas Of artillery com
pletely out of his head.
1t is always the unexpected that