Rosebud County news. [volume] (Forsyth, Mont.) 1901-1906, 1902-04-17
CHAPTER ".

CHAPTER ~.
The review that morning had drawn
crowd to the drill grounds that
baffled the efforts of the guards. Car
riages from camps and carriages from
town. carts from the suburbs, eques-
TRANS from the parks and pedestrians
from everywhere had gradually en-
croached within kicking distance of the
heels of the cavalry escorting the gen
eral commanding the department, and
that official noted with unerring eye
that the populace was coming up on his
TANKS, SO to speak, at the moment when
the etiquette of the service required
that he should be gazing only to his i'm
mediate front and responding to the sa-
lutes of the marching column. Back of
him, ranged in long, single rank, was
drawn up what the newspapers unani-
mously described as brilliant" staff,
despite the fact that all were in SOM
Der campaign uniform and several had
never been so rated before. In their
rear, in turn, was the line of mounted
orderlies and farther still the silent
rank of the escorting troop. Sentries
had been posted to keep the throng at
proper distance, but double their force
could have accomplished nothing-the
omniscient corporal could not help
them, and after asking one or two stray
officers what they would do about it, the
sentries gave way and the crowd
swarmed in. 1t was just as the head of
the long trampng column came OPP
posite the reviewing point, and the
brigade commander and his staff, turn
ing out after saluting, found their al
lotted station on the right of the review
ing party completely taken up by the
mass of eager spectators. A minute or
so was required before the trouble
could be remedied, for Just as the Off
GERS and orderlies were endeavoring to
induce the populace to give way - a
thing the American always resists with
a gay good humor that is peculiarly his
own--a nervous hack driver on the out
skirts backed his bulky trap with unex-
pected force, and penned between it and
the wheels of a newly -arrived and much
more presentable equipage a fair eques-
trian who shrieked with fright and
chung to her pommel as her excited
mount dashed out with his heels and
made splinters of the hacks rearmost
spokes and felloes. Down went the
hack on its axle point. Out sprang a tall
o1hcer from the open carriage, and in IA
second, it seemed, transferred the panic
stricken horsewoman from he seismat-
ic saddle to the safety of his own seat,
and the ministrations of the two Young
women and the gray-haired civilian
VINO were the latest arrivals. This done
and after one quick glance at the lady's
helpless escort, IA young officer from the
Preside, he shouldered his way throuph
the crowd and stood, presently, on its
inner edge, an unperturbed and most
interested spectator. Battalion after
battalion, in heavy marching order. in
the dark blue service dress, with cam
palgn hats and leggins with ranks we'll
tiosed and long, Well-aligned fronts
win accurate trace of the guides and
Well-ludged distance, the great repi-
menls came striding down the gentle
S'ope' conscious. every officer and man.
OF the admiration they commanded.
Armstrong, himself commander of
ne regiment of volunteers in another
brigade, looked upon them with a sol
uiers eye, and looked approvingly,
ihen, as the rearmost company passed
Inc reviewing point and gentlemen with
TWO stars on each shoulder extended
their congratulations to the reviewed
commander with one, Armstrong; also
made his way among the mounted Off
GERS In his calm, deliberate fashion
needless of threatening heels and
crowding forehands, until he. too conId
say his word of cordial greeting. He
had to wait a few minutes, for the pen.
eral officers were grouped and TALKING
earnestly. He heard few words and
knew we'll enough what was meant
that quantities of stores intended for
the soldiers, even dainties contributa,,
by the Red Cross society, had been
stolen from time to time and spirited
Off in the dead of night, and doubtless
sold In town for the benefit of pack
OF unknown scoundrels enlisted for no
better purpose. In his own regiment
his system had been so strict that no