Rock Island Argus., 1902-08-28
DAILY SHORT STORY
A Problem in Army Discipline
lOriginal.l

'Cut MIN uOWn! eNcHllneu the cOlO-
mel, aghast at such defiance of military
authority. why. this is mutiny."
The corporal stood straight as ram
rod and said nothing.
ARREST Stokes and tie him up
again. Send ClarksOn under guard to
me-
In a few minutes Private Clarllson
came marching between two soldiers
to the coloners quarters. He was a
rosy checked boy of eighteen, with
faxen hair, cut close, and blue eyes, in
which was a defiant look.
'Are you aware my man." asked the
colonel, that you have committed an
act of mutiny?'
"Yes, colonel"
'And that mutiny is an offense pun
ishable with death?"
No answer.
Corporal, what was Private Stokes
tied up fOr?"
"Fightin. sir"
"Whom did he fight?"
Private Clarkson." Is+>,s.:g
''What-this boy?"
''Yes, SIR
"He deserved to be tied up. What
did you cut him down for, Private
Clarkson?'
HE wasn't fightin' me. was fightin'
him. 1 hit him on the head with u
scabbard.'
'How long have you been in the
service?"
81 enlisted last week."
"H'm-a recruit. You haven't had
much time to learn discipline, but if
you have no more idea of it than to
interfere with man under punish
ment you're not likely to make much Of
soldier. Considering you're green,
I'll let you OFF this time, but l warn
you that if ever you mutiny again
while under my command I'll have
you shot"
The corporal marched the two guards
away, and Private Stokes turned and
walked across the parade ground. The
colonel watched him and saw him draw
his sleeve across his eyes.
Not much more than n kid NUT
tered the stern commander. These
innocent boys. ignorant of army disci-
pline, are harder to break I'm than jail
birds. They don't know what they are
doing"
Half an hour later as the colonel was
leaving his headquarters he met the
corporal of the guard at the door.
"Well, what is it, corporal:T he asked
uneasily.
Private Stokes has been cut down
again, sir"
What"
"Cut down again" ''r
"Who did IL this time?"
'.priyate ClarksOn sir"
The colonel was nonplused. How to
handle such n case seemed to him an
insoluble problem. He thought the
matter over while the corporal was
standing like n craven image and de-
termined to give this beardless boy
who was defying him n scare that
would teach him the nature of army
discipline.
Corporal" said the colonel, tell the
sergeant of the guard to bring Private
Clarkson here with eight men,"
When Clarkson and the men arrived,
the colonel ordered the sergeant to
have the muskets loaded with blank
cartridges without Clarkson's knowl
edge. This was done, the men were
drawn up in line, and the colonel him
self took Clarkson, placing him thirty
PAGES from and in front of the firing
party.
Now, my man." said the officer,
I'm going to show you what it means
to defy my authority. I'm going to
have you shot
Private Clarkson turned pale, but
said nothing. The colonel spent some
time adjusting him before the line of
soldiers in order to give him time to
collapse. Clarkson stood silent, with a
sullen pout on his lips.
"Readyr' said the colonel. ('By Jove,
he's the biggest fool l ever knew. 1
believe I'll have to pretend to shoot
him. Aimr'
Clarkson not only failed to wilt, but
cast scornful look at the colonel.
This was more than the commander
had bargained for.
"Are you aware" he said to the pris-
oner, "that when give the next order
you will be n dead man:''
There was a twitching of the mus
cles of the private's face, but he said
nothing.
eff let you Off once more. do you
think you will have sense enough not
to cut Private Stokes down again?'
"Now
The colonel stood grim for moment,
then gave the order:
"Firer'
Eight muskets exploded. Clarkson
fell.
The colonel, frightened lest some of
the pieces had been loaded by mistake
or the prisoner had died of shock,
rushed to him, raised him, famed him
with his hat and tore open his coat at
the neck that he might breathe more
freely.
"Great heavens! It's a woman!"
Clarkson opened her eyes. saw the
colonel bending over her in terror and
laughed.