Sunday morning globe., 1901-12-08

oh, yes with another oathl YOU may
ask, fer all I Carew
What / wish to ascertain is who might
be in commando
'I can't tell you who might De 10 COM
mand, but know who is am
Then, sir I should like 10 know your
name and rank, " ! continued.
Ny name and rank is none of your busi-
ness, that know Of, was the answer and
with that the officer coolly resumed his
reading.
BY this time / was pretty thoroughly
frightened, and wished myself anywhere
else aud my commission in the moon.
Meanwhile a lot of rough.lookiug brutes
had gathered around, attracted by the con-
versation; and, altogether, for a smooth
faced STRIPPING the situation possessed few
attractions. However, ! managed to say
that had official orders to the command
ing officer Of the regiment, and therefore
must insist on learning his name and rank.
We'll ! am Iieutenant.Colonel Thomas.
commanding Where are your orders2'
laying down the paper and thrusting out
his hand, in which l placed my orders as
second lieutenant Of Company b.
lust what / thought" he continued
You're another of those useless young
fools that that ass OF governor has been
sending down here. You second lieute-
nant? Why, you little runt, you amt TT
fer a gunswab don't want you Take
your orders back to the governor and tell
him that ! can I'll my own Offices, and that
he had better get a new set Of brains
pumped into his fool head Tell him that
! don't keep no nursery. ! haiu't got no
d.. H.Hs. sk r.
this / hain't got no use fer yel'
During this astonishing outburst I had
stood transixed At its conclusion, how
ever, areactiou set in. I seemed TO see the
whole situation ina fash. Colonel Thomas
probably imagined that ! was the son of
some rich man or influential politician.
who had procured my appointment through
iavoritism, and that had seen no service
knew as little of soldering In other
words, as he did of preaching If he could
only irighten me ont of camp, he had but TO
report me absent without leave " to in.
sure my instant dismissal for the hundred
or more ofhis men who were standing about
might be relied on TO swear black was
white If ! ever succeeded In having the
matter brought TO trial That was his
game The idea was not natteriug TO the
lieuteuautcolouel and his command. but
further acquaintance with them proved il
correct, for If ever there was a set of black.
guards outside Of " Billy Wilson's Zouaves."
this regiment contained them. The extent
to which they would steal and lie, and ight.
and fight and lie, and steal was almost be-
yond belief. I ought to add though. that
they would stand up against the enemy as
stubbornly AS any regiment ! ever saw in
action.
I have said that saw Colonel Thomas's
game I perceived, also, that TO back
down would be TO invite disgrace, perhaps
violence. Clearly, IL was sink or swim, "
FISH or cut bait. " The knowledge that
was entirely right and he entirely wrong
that he had been guilty Of conduct unbe.
coming am officer and a gentleman, " and
was himself liable to court-martial and dis.
missal-nerved me. The consciousness that
not only my honor but my family's was at
stake fred me, The recollection of the in
suits and abuse that had just listened to
sent the hot blood bounding through NV
veins as it it would burst them felt that
/ would rather die than submit, and that
would drather fight than do either. It seemed
as if I weighed a ton. ] started a step for.
ward, and my tongue was loosed Epi-
thets and expleuves rose to my lips like
water TO a pump and poured them out as
freely. Iwouud mp by assuring him that,
as me didn't seem to know Co whom he was
talking. il should be my early and great
pleasure to let him know through my
fathers friend, Gcneral Sumner and iu
way which he wouldn't soon forget. advis-
ing him TO pack his little kit meanwhile,
as he wouldu be in command of the rggi-
ment at midnight
This threat was a piece of sheer, cousum.
mate check on my part, for, as a matter
of fact General Sumner did not know that
such a man as my father existed. But
something had to be done, and I was not
disappointed in the effect of my little
stratagem.
had finished and was half way through
the ruiiany crowd before Thomas recovered
himself sufficiently to call out. Come back
here boy"
turned and asked him what he wanted.
Come here, come here Itwou't do yon
no good TO 60 20 General sumner j and
all my men would swear your story was a
lie"
judged this remark to be a feeler;"
so standing by my colors, replcd You
will see sir, that In that quarter my little
finger has more weight than your entire
carcass or the whole of your regiment
You'll know me better next time you see
me, " and turned 10 60
Come back " growled the colonel IN a
tone which nevertheless showed that the
shot had not been without effect, and I'm
see If the captain wants you
Wheeling and walking up to him, I said
looking him straight in the eye:
Colonel Thomas, ! care not one straw
whether you or the captain wants me-
know my rights and 1 know how to get
them. I'm have them. too. i'm spite of you
and your whole crew. And although it
would serve you right If used the power
1 have, still. II within five minutes you as.
sign me 10 duty, I shall go no farther. If
you do not I shall waste no more words
with you, butas sure as there is sun IN
heaven, / will secure speedy justice for
myself and prompt disgrace for you Make
no mistakes, sir for I am granting you
favor ask nothing Of you; on the con.
trary I defy you Put that In your pipe
and smoke it N'
This shot also told the man was now evi.
IDENTIFY alarmed. Orderly, said he, 'call
Captain Baker.
on went the orderly, and in two or three