The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1903-11-25
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IN THE CAUSE
OF REFORM
BY CYRUS DERICKSON
Copyright, fgas, IN 7 c. Mcclure
Geo oco o oooo oooo ocoo oooo 90
BY CYRUS DERIcKsON
Copyright, las., In 7 c. McChoe

When Captain Trent was transferred
from the Seventh TO the Twelfth rcgl-
ment and took up his quarters at Fort
Gonser he found that his reputation
had preceded him He was known TO
the rank and Tile aS a hard man. The
captain of Il company is we'll liked or
totally diSliked. Captain Trent was
proud Of the fact that he WIS not only
totally diSlked, but positively hated,
lV the men he had power over. Ii was
his nature to bulldozr and bnllyrag and
tYranniZc.
VI the tirsl roll call of Company Il he
had few words 10 say To his new com
mand. and from that time on the men
knew what Ia expect. The old captain
lad kept them fairly UP To discipline,
and the commander of the post had not
lei things 20 at SKIES and seVcns but
Captain Trent referred 10 his company
rs ST of loafers and Slouches who
didn't know enough To wear their uni
forms properly. They were II hump
backed aud lop shouldcred lot, they
Mere laZN and ShiftlcsS. they needed
strong hand TO trcshen them up. He
had the hand. He would teach them
What discipline was and what soldier
ing meant and any Sulleuuess or hang.
inS back would he promptly punished.
Then began something akin to II reign
pf terrier for the seventy men of Com
pany r. Although nearly all We're vet
Grams, they drilled from morning till
night. Certain privileges enjoyed when
stationed al posts IN time of peace were
abolished New rules were made and
enforced regarding this and that. and
in fortnight the men felt like lot of
conyicts CurSiug was IL part of the
new regime. Captain Trcut WIS down
under the heading of @oliicer and Gen.
tlemHn.o and Vet he WAS shoclsingly
profane and shamefully abusive More
punishment was inflicted in Il month
than for two years before, more descr-
lions took place within three months
than had been recorded for three years
II WAS generally understood that the
old mAn' meaning the commander of
H. pest didn't appreciate Captain
feent's Zrai and hat he MAS not sup
ported hy his fellow officers In his bully
Raging bnt he went ahead on his own
lines just the same.
There VAS enough 10 make the men
sulrn and Ncngrful. and the captain
kept adding 10 il. lie broke" two
sergpants aud three corporals and al
length. rs Il surf of climax. preferred
charges against his orderly sergeant
and had him suspended from duty
while awaiting court martial The
STATE Of affairs IN Company II was
simply Hmcutablc when Miss Blanche
Taylor and her mother arrived at IA
nearby ranch owned by a son and
brother II Miss blanche was not pos
itivclN engaged to Captain Trent they
had known each other for two years.
and there had been correspondence OF
very friendly nature The arrival
benefited Company Il in II way that
is il took the captain away from the
post much of his tiElr aud turned his
thoughts into other channels. His lieu
tenants were neither martincts nor
bulldozerS.
If hecame the captain custom after
Il few days Ia ride over To the ranch
every morning Ia take II long gallop
with Miss blanche. ON such occasions
he was attended by private soldier
acting rs orderly. II had been Private
D'Rourke MP To II certain Tuesday
morning Thcu Private Higgins hum
bly, followed III the regulation distance
without the change being noticed. Iii
Yatc Higgins had been Sergeant Ilig
gins for two years before the coming
Of Captain Trent Then cause had
been found for reducing him to the
ranks ON this morning the girl WAS
ready and waiting, and she and the
captain rode straight away and did not
draw rein until reaching the boiling
spring among the hills. Then they
diSmountcd for u rest, and Higgins
came forward 10 take care of their
horses. Even then the captain did moi
remark the change II was fifteen
minutes later. as he sat with his back
10 rock aud smoking "A cigar, that
Private Higgins suddenly appeared be-
fore him with lcvclcd revolver aud
quietly said
Captain Trent have bit of busl-
ness with you and If You raise any
row about 1t I'll shoot you through
the head
rs it YOU. lIggusf" asked the Off
Ger rs hc turned
ITS me. sir. one of the men you
broke. acted as orderly today that
| might Kill YOU Give me the slight
est excuse ana III do It. You have
YOUR revolver, but it Is not loaded. |
tempered bit with your man last
night Now put your hands behind
you or this little lady, who is keeping
so quiet. VIII see case Of killing"
Captain Trent was no coward. but
he knew when lac was beaten. When
his arms were thrust behind him they
were made fast with buckskin thongs
brought for the purpose. Then his
ankles were bound. and Private lIig
gins lighted cigar and sat down and
said to the girl who had been 50 sur
priscd aud frightened HAT she had not
said a word!
Il beg YOUR pardon. fniss, but there Is
naught for you To fear. You see. cap
tain Trent and | are both military re-
formistS. only wc 90 about 1t IN diff
fercnt way"
"But You don't mean TO kill him" ex
claimed the girl rs she clasped her
hands.
81 hope / shan't have to. miss, being
I've got him fast bound. think II VIII
be sufficient II | tell you what sort Of
man lac Is and he does the listening.
Iusl hear me. miss.
higgins. Ill have you shot for this
threatened the captain as he began to
realize the position he was placed In.
You never will, captain quietly re-
piled the man "Iu the tirst place,
may think best to shoot you before |
go, and in til" next I'm going ~ desert
and bid you mad me II you can. Keep
Il quiet tongue aud don't provoke me.