The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-08-22
AN OLD STORY.
TFrom Lippincott's Magazine.1
- .

TFrom Iippincott's Magazine.1
Some years ago, Is or 20 maybe. at
one of the posts in the far west, there
was a colonel in command whose fame
as an Indian fighter was undeniable
and even passed muster in the states.
His courage and sagacity had been
proved a hundred times. He was big
and strong and gentle. The red men
called him tine Great CHER and We're
MORALLY afraid of him. His own men
only called him the Chief and they
adored him But he couldn't play cards,
which was a pity, as there is nothing
else to do when the Indians are quiet.
All the other officers could play very
well, and, as 1t was their only afuuse-
ment, they naturally preferred that ne
should not spoil the game. Particularly
the captain objected, for he played ex-
ceedingly well and with an enthusiasm
that was almost too pronounced, unless
one took into consideration the total
4 absence OF other forms OF entertain
ment. A man who couldn't play CARDS
was a very poor sort of man IN MS
eyes and a man who was supefc.y
fearless and yet entirely modest was
one to be iealously admired and Sc
cretly, but none the less intensely, ma
ted.
There was also a nice young heuten--
ant of two and twenty who played
poker very well, not so Wen as the cap
| tain perhaps, but he had gay, boyish
and rather provoking way of being
wilIfully lucky that made him very
/ fair adversary.
one night when the captain and the
/ lieutenant were deep IN the game the
/ colonel entered
At the first pause in the game he in
| vited himself to join in The captain
| rather gruffiy invited him not 10, lot
as 1 said before, cards were not ms
I ~
tenant incautiousIy suggested that the
| stakes were rather high he laughed
! his mellow laugh and said he had rev
/ dollars to lose. So since even when OIL
duty and playing poker a soiuier can an
/ not shake off a certain obedience to ms
| superior officer he got his way But the
/ captains brow grew black, and his
| hand stopped shaking.
The game went on for half an hour
or so with no unusual incident the
colonel bungled his cards and lost his
money but he was accustomed to tnat.
He never could be made to understand
| that poker was anything more than a
/ pasti1ne and so he laughed his low
| laugh and played on. After awhile the
| captain threw the cards under the Ia
BILE and took new pack FOR luck
Half a. dozen officers had dropped IN
and were looking on, but nobody OBJ
1ected 1t was the custom 1t came the
/ coloneTs turn to deal With his usual
| gentle Smiling aWkwardness ne rum
| bled the cards, dealt them ana When II
| come to his own hand dropped one OF
them on the floor Without looking he
stooped and gathered a card from un-
der the table. His face frightened.
The captain seut a quick look at MIN
| and his face was winter Inan ever
The hand was played out, and the
colonel won. With an almost childi1ke
laugh of pleasure he put out MS manu-
/ to draw in mis- winnings, when the cap
/ tain sprang to his feet and orougnt
I s-fe
Gentleman. I denOunce this man as
cheati'' He lifted his hand and there
was one blue back among the RED ones
scattered over the table.
In the turmoil that followed the col
onel was almost dragged out OIL the
room by his friends and got away. VI
course there was nothing for 1t but &C
fight. His friends. and they were many
waited for his orders. but after the mrs
burst of rage he seemed stupehed. He
sat perfectly silent staring straight II
front of him Finally his fellow officers
spoke He must do something. q
challenge was written, sent ana De
nation Not only the cOlonelS honof
SUIT the honor of the army was at STAKE
He must horsewhip the man, since y. ~
would not fight. There was notn L.l
: else for it, 50 they talked and argued
excitedly. stern1y, and the eoionel rs
tened DULY and said yes. he must morse
whip him. He staid indoors that nlght
/ and the post talked of the morning
At 10 O'Clock the next day the troop
2 were drawn up in line ready for parade
! / The captain stood in front OF MS com
5 pany Every man and woman e I'M
r post was there to see the Calet' morse
S whip the scoundreI who had dared t
; insult him. The excitement was N
E tense There was a deathlilSe stiffness
+ and every eve was strained as the col
: onel walked slowly across the parad
= ground His face was white ana sterl
ana his step firm and deliberate
2 his hand was twisted leather WI
j SUCH as teamsters use driving mules
( The captain saw him coming ana stoo7
ike rock with his arms toided ano
: cold smile of unutterable contempt an
r maIiknaht hatred on his face W hen ~
r adversarv stepped IN front Of him, h
raised his hea and, without changing ~
j p0sitfon. looked him straight in the eyes
: / his black and evil face set IN an express
+ sion Of deylish seorn. Win q gs ssE % e
vvhip in the air. held it poised q moment
and then the brave soldier, ne super
Ir lgentleman- shrank back weakly, Groppe
T. his whip to the ground ana pur1ed M
r. race in his hands. Then he turned. Wer
back to his quarters and smut the uoo
behind him
Of his friends went to him but the dos
l. was locked. The next day ne teIt tn
q post and a few days later resigned froi
| the army