Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1901-09-13
Chapter IN

Nlt-Ni l.lI III.
Whlle Judge Loring was waiting for the
coming of the ship with his daughter and
niece. Maj. Gcrlnon arrived from Cali
fornia To take command of Fort Clark.
MAY. Gcrmon was Il man of forty.
stout. ford and unmarried. He had
bullying gray eyes. buslly red side whis-
kerS' anu .; very deep voice. like Il chronic
hoarsencss.
The men in the garrison shook their
heads when they saw the new commands
ant of Fort Clark; and the comment of
the old soldiers was:
Hes more boss than soldier, more
driver than Leaders" and they made no
mistake in their estimate.
Mag. Germon seemed to look on the
enlisted men as inferior animals, and he
treated them as mule drivers do their
teams; to be sure, he did not lash them,
his manner might nave been more endura-
bic If he had, but he accompanied every
rcprimand with an epithet that no man
With spirit could endure ana no man
could listen TO calmly and retain self
respect.
The day after Maj. Germon's arrival
he said TO Capt. Phelps:
II do not wish to hurry you about get
ting other quarters; it will be IL week
before my servant comes ON from San
Francisco with my baggage
Il do not clearly understand you.' re-
piled Capt. Phelps, who could not he
lieve hat the major meant to turn him
and his wife and baby out of the house
which they had done so much to make
homclikc and attractive.
You occupy my house, l believc,' said
the major.
You have the power to take any quar-
tiers in the Fort that you choose" replied
the captain. "Of course | shall not OBJ
icct; there is but little choice between
them. But this being the first place to
which 1 took my Wife, she is naturally
attached to it,"
"Oh. l should be quite willing to let you
remain, Captain. l do not insist on this
because it is a right. but the truth of it
is, l expect to entertain considerably.
The chances are that we shall have the
society of more ladies near the Fort dur
ing the coming year"
VERY we'll, SIR said the captain, swal-
lowing a lump in his throat. II shall ar
range for other quarters at once"
This incident is given to illustrate the
character of Maj. Germon. He certainly
deserved the reputation he had won, as
Il strict disciplinarian.
Before Maj. Gcrmon left San Fran
cisco he received Il letter from his cousin,
Mrs. Howard Morton. He had once been
very fond of her and would nave married
her with her own consent had not her
father and mother protested in favor of
the wealthy old merchant.
In this letter Mrs. Morton told the
major that her stepson. Colin. had en-
listed into the regular army. and been
sent to the Pacific coast, to what point
she could not say. She gave it as her
opinion that he was n bad, graceless fell
low. whom she never desired to see again.
The chances are" she said, THAT he
will never return. in which event. my
own boy, now two months old. and named
!. after you, Cousin Fred. will be none the
loser"
The day after Maj. Gcrmon's arrival
at Fort Clark lie wrote a long letter to
his cousin. Mrs. Morton. from which the
following extracts are made:
II have just had time to examine tho
lists at this post. and TO my surprise
find that Colin Morton is here and a
member of my own regiment. Capt,
Phelps, who was in charge before l came,
seems to nave taken quite n fancy to
young Morton. 1 find he has appointed
him orderly sergeant, Il position which
he is wholly unqualified for by DISPOSE.
ton and training. l shall wait for u few
days and take occasion to rcctify the cap.
tain's error"
1t was impossible for Colin Morton to
remain orderly sergeant at the post with.
out being thrown into constant contact
with the commanding officer. \ mectin.
with Maj. Germon was inevitable. and he
determined to treat him as IL superior otii-
{ Ger. and as if they had never met.
: Did You send for me, sir?" asked Colin
7 Morton.
, He stood. hat in hand. at the door OF
the majors Office, and the major sat at
l a desk with his back to him.
Maj. Germon heard the question moro
$ plainly than he did the scratching of his
! W pen, and he knew as well who was
> at the door, but it did not suit him to all.
, swer at once. He had planned to humil.
, late the young man. and this made Il
good beginning.
, Surprising that the officer had not heard
him, Colin. after waiting for some min.
, utes, again asked:
: Ibid you send for me, sir:'
Still no notice except u smothered i'm
{ precation and the nervous shutting of the
majors boots on the floor.
Coin. a little ~Mctt!ei. was aholi :,
put the question again when TIE majol
wheeler suddenly, and, with anger in his
protruding eyes, he demanded:
why do You annoy me. sir?"
"YOur orderly told me to report here,
and I thought it best to announce my
arrival" said Colin, looking him full in
the eyes, and showing that he could not
be inundated by harsh words nor a
brutal bearing.
WHO are you, sir?" asked the major,
and he took off his eyeglasses, rubbed
them with his handkerchief. and put them
on with great quickncss. But before he