The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-11-10
Chapter II.

Sergeant Major Dillon, B troop, was
admitted by his officers to be the
best. and by the men the smartest and
straightest, non-com. in the corps. He
was a good disciplinarian-a just and
merciful man. Therefore B troop
would. for that is a cavalryman's way,
have ridden after him TO the very gates
Of hell. through them and out the other
side. He had held his rank for years
Frugal and keen, he had saved and
made money, as his captain knew.
But Dillon had the ghastliest skele-
ton in his cupboard, as the whole reg
iment knew. He had been six months
married 20 the 17-yeaT- old daughter Of
Orderly Room Sergeant JEFF and YO-
hanna. his wife. The vocabulary Of
the Twenty-fOurth was insufficient to
paint the iniquities of Mrs. DillOn's
mamma she drank; she swOre in
manner the most scared trooper might
envy, but not emulate; she corrected
JEFF with saucepans, crockery and bar
racks-roOm furniture she had poisoned
him Intellectually twice. Her amOurs
would have put to blush an English So
ciety leader. Begun or a painted
Hindoo goddess.
Six months her daughter fitted
through the patcheri. fair-haired, shy
and seemingly innocent Married, and,
under her mothers tUtelage, she
developed most of that mothers vices
DillOns modest quarters became as
the abode of the damned. His young
wife's misdemeanors were as miscel-
laneous as notorious. Every one but
Dillon knew that the person with whom
her name had recently been most
coupled was Captain Nethergat. And
at last he knew that also.
VE-I,ar, bod foVrrrva cr7offae q man boT-
orable proud and punctilious, one who.
from the nature Of things, might not
obtain a divorce. two courses only are
open to him. Dillon promptly chose
one.
The night before 3 troop commenced
its annual musketry course. Sergeant
Major Dillon was very busy. Before
watch-setting there was not a pie in
dispute in any mans account, not
horseshoe, not a spare nail out Of
place. The last man he sent for was
Skew Evans.
Evans. you're q man that can keep
your mouth shut"
Il think so, ergeant-majOT.'
Il know it; I've watched you close
We're speaking as man to man, not
se-geant-majOr to private soldier"
THANK you sir" said the other.
Listen now, and serve me as 1 have
tried to serve you. Be at my bunga-
low, in the veranda at the north end.
tomorrow morning at 7;25 by the
guard room clock. Have you Watch?'
Yes
Then set it by the guard room
clCck tonight. Bring that kodak thing
Of yours with you tomorrow. At T:30
I viii call you in. Then photograph
everything you see in the rOOn-every-
thing. mind Take two or three photo
graphs. If necessary. You viii touch
nothing. speak to no one and never
show the photographs unless unless
you know you ought to. Do you un-
derstand?"
The man reflected. His face quiv-
cred a little.
Il think So" he said at last, sadly.
say it all over"
Evans repeated the instructions.
That's right Be on time 10 the
second: it is important Dillon paused.
If you should ever want advice on
this and / cannot give it, speak TO the
Quartermaster-ser sergeant. He is my
friend and viii be yours. There's
nothing more"
Skew went out. but presently re-
turned.
GIVE me all that in writing, please,
sergeant-majOr.
The other looked at him hard.
You're right" was all he said.
He sat down and wrote and then
handed Evans the paper rose and
stretched out mis- hand. They looked
in each others eyes Each recognized
man.
Good night, my lad
Good bye" sergeant-majCT.