The Globe-republican., 1902-11-13
Jack
Ii1hs'
|Perfidy.
BHghted Henry
Carey's Life and
Left His War
R e cor For
ever a Blank.

1.-The article in last weeks GLOBE RE-
PUBLICAN concerning Ex-Governor Bob
Taylor's expectations of Brigadier- Cen
erals commission, aroused some painful
memories in my breast,'' said Henry
Carey one day this week.
IN tell you how it was. Just at the
opening of the Spanish American war,
like every other young American, was
filled with the desire to distinguish my
self in the service of my country. This
feeling was at its height when, one
morning I met Jack Lillis at the depot.
Jack had on his light overcoat and was
carrying his little grip, very business
like combination. Henry, my boy
said he, I'll have to bid you good bye
I'm off to the 'front.' Instantly I was
all attention. Yes continued Jack. y
received a telegram from Gov. Leedy
last night, appointing me chief clerk in
the adjutant's office and aide de-camp to
the governor. And now Henry, 1 am
going to put your feet Oh the ladder of
fame, and L hope to see you climb to the
top. L will get You captains commits
sion from the governor and L want you to
raise a company here that will be the
pride of the state
s'Almost with tears of joy in my eyes, I
thanked Jack. L had always believed in
him thoroughly. L nearly wrung his
hand off. then he gracefully stepped
aboard the last Pullman and waved fare
we'll. That day. and for weeks afterward
[ walked on air. My nights were filled
with dreams of martial glory and my
waking hours with thoughts of the val
liant deeds would perform. l borrowed
a manual of arms from DIR. Claude Nc
Carly. I enlisted private Murphy the
nucleus of my brigade, for it had swelled
iFlf1 ITSrr itp6
armed him with broom and drilled
him most thoroughly during my leisure
hours in the rink. The exploits of Alex
ander, Napoleon and Sheridan were al
ways wildly before me and in fan
cy [ saw my name going down to pos
terity, misspelled as usual, but still my
name. Well, by this time 1 was in hourly
expectation of receiving my commission.
haunted the post office at ali hours.
Ben Hodges was the only Spaniard with
in a thousand miles, and L kept wary
and suspicious eye upon him, determin
ing to move my standing army upon MIN
as soon as the commission arrived. Fin
ally l wrote to Jack in his official capac-
ity; then I telegraphed. No answer. 1
tried sending him a postal card every
day. No answer. The war was then on
and was nearly frantic for fear I would
not get into the fray. But I could not
hear from Jack. Then followed the bat
ties of Manila, San Juan and Santiago,
all fought and won without me. Then,
the war was over, the boys came home
and were feasted and lionized. Alas,
thought L, if none but the brave deserve
the fair, what hero L would have been
if Jack had sent my commission.
Zone day in the late fall. an apparition
appeared suddenly before me- 1t was
Jack 1 tried to speak, but great lump
gathered in my throat. Finally L man
aged to mutter something about the
commission The villain laughed, oh,
how he laughed. Then the scales fell
from my eyes and but for the law, I
would have slain him.
''Jack had been painting bridges on the
| Missouri Pacific all summer.
MY friends say that / n cynical
man with no sentiment, but I will leave
| it to you to Judge whether 1 have not bad
disappointment enough to take the senti-
| ment out of school girl.''