The Iola register., 1901-08-09

virtue and respectabiiity, why does he
not notify his friends of his mistake
and secure his discharge? 1t would be
an easy matter"
Perhaps, colonel" said Vandever
"he does not desire to return 10
his friends. An unromantic sheriff
might"
stop, sirl Stopl" the old officer
roared. How dare you cast such a
reflection on the character of that man.
and in my presence, too. when You
know that at this moment he is riskinp
his life to save my child lie Is brave
man, sir, and gentleman, and perhaps
your equal If not superior in every.
thing that. goes to make the man. Go
from my house, sir, and never dare to
enter it again until you learn to speak
OF gentleman as n gentleman. Go,
sir!
Ali Private Brown, If you could
have heard this defense OF your char
ncter from the man who but n few
hours before would have struck you to
earth with his sword, the flicker
ing spark of hope which yet glowed fit
fully in your troubled breast would
have burst into flame, and your strong
arms would have been doubly nerved
for the perilous task before you.
Captain, do you know anything
more of this fellow?" the commander
asked. after Vandever had skunk awav
In confusion.
Nothing, colonel. He Joined my
troops at Fort Laramie in Wyoming
territory few weeks before we were
transferred to this post. He came out
with detachment of recruits. and this
man Brown and a young lrishman
named Lannan were assigned to my
troop"
us this man Lannan yet with your"
He is, sir, and is a most excellent
soldier. His droll Irish wit is, am
told, the life of the troop"
After some more conversation the
old commander expressed desire to be
left alone. and the officers retired. At
once calling an orderly, he directed him.
to 90 to the first sergeant of B troop
and have Private Lannan report to him
at headquarters.
There soon came knock at the door.
and on being bidden Lannan entered
the room. He was brawny young
Irishman with a iovial. good-natured
cast of courtenance, and an eye that
denoted love for fun.
you are Private Lanran. of Il troop,
are you" the commander asked.
"Nis, sor-r-r." the soldier replied
with the military salute.
''Ait lptxrt, 10, fha4 Ia,
and | want you TO give truthful Gn-
swers to such questions as may put
TO You. Where did you enlist?"
"ln New York. sor, an may the divil
roast the lyin' spalpeen of sargint
that got me fut in the thrap. You see,
sor. /"
Never mind that" the colonel in
terrupted. "Was Private Brown of
your troop enlisted at the same time?"
That he was, sor, barrin' the fact
that / wor rooined an hour forninst
him. You see, sor, | landed but
wake before from the ould country
an wor loolSin' for job, when who
should ! mate but a sargint of the
nrmy, sor. Can't you put me on the
thrack of job? says |. 4 can said
he. 'FaiX I'm yer mon. says |, an wild
that he towld mo he wor hirin' men to
list as sogers. 'Divil the wunst do I
want to be a soger an git kilt an
sculped to me grave by the haythen
lnjuns,' says 7. an wild that he laughed
till cud see the insides av him. Sure,
Amiricnn so-crs don't be afther foight-
in at all, says he, 'iist live in grand
stoyle an wear foine uniforms an look
5wate on parade before the ladies.
Nus:a God but his blarney captivated
me intoirely, sor, an wint wild him to
The headquarters an TUX me oath.
That ! did, sor, bad luck to me-
well, but about Brown. Was he
with YOU at the timer"
"Dick Brown, is it? Faix he wor
not, sor, but as was sittin' on binch
In the headquarters with some other
dom fools loilSe meself | heard car
riage shtop forninst the dure below,
an thin there wor n racket on the
shtairs. 'Phat the divil Is the hula
baloo now| says | to meself, an wild
that opened the dure an there wor
the baste of a sargint wild as foine a
young gintleman as yer honor's eyes
ver shtruck. He wor drunk, sor; SO
bastely Intoxicated that the sargint
lid be mosht carryin' him up the shtairs.
The sargint did all the tonne be tellin'
lim to say his name wor Richard
Brown, which had me doubts wor his
name at all at ALL Well, sor, wild de
'argint houldin' him to his fate he
wore shwored into the army, an the
eftenant an the sargint GRIMM
oike two murtherin' balloons at aich
,ther loike it wor foine bit of a Joke" |
"A id outrage, sir! 1t was a d-d |
roared the old officer "You
ay the Young man was so intoxicated |