Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-05-30
DAILY SHORT STORY
A Soldiers Pastime.

[Original.l
We will call the general ~, and his
aid. TO whom he was very much at
tached, we will call Hoyt.. The younger
had a devil may care way with him
and the impudence Of Satan. 1t was
one of Hoyts duties to take charge of
the generals private purse, and any
moneys received or expended went
through the young aid-de-camp's hands.
One night the general left his tent
without an attendant to so the grand |
rounds" 1t was long after taps" and |
lights were out in the tents of the men |
and there were few in those of the Off |
GERS. When the general was returning |
| from his tour he noticed a light in one |
| of the tents occupied by his staff and |
heard voice say. Raise you twenty"
1t was evident that there was party
within playing poker. The general
| sang out, Grand roundsr' and imme-
diately appeared at the tent flap. In
side sat Hoyt, with three other men,
beers of the staff, gambling with dollar
| bill greenbacks in lieu of chips.
| All rose, standing respectfully, wait
| ing the expected rebuke.
Lieutenant Hoyt,' said the general,
"you will report for duty to the colonel
of your regiment"
This being reduced from the position
of an ald-de-camp to be second lieu
tenant in the line was greater change
than to be reduced from second lieu
tenant in the line TO the ranks. Hoyt
would no longer be on terms of equal
| ;Hxv1 far aIOX-n him in rank lla
would no longer know of doings at
headquarters that generals would be
glad to know Instead of being mount
ed he would trudge along with the 9th
ers a mere unit in an army. Neverthe
less he accepted his fate without n
murmur and in the morning reported
to his colonel for duty.
Hoyt's place was supplied by Lieu
tenant Eben Bayliss, who also succeed
ed to the generals private eXchequer.
Bayliss was considered an extremely
moral young man and soon won the
generals entire confidence. He was
never known to yield to the practice so
common among the officers of the
Union army-playing poker with green
backs-and attended all religious serv-
ices. Soon after his appointment as
the generals confidential aid n pay
master came along with funds, and the
/ general directed Bayliss to make out
his pay accounts and present Them to
him for signature This was done and
the money paid to Bayliss.
1t was at this time that the Confed-
crates. just before daylight one morn
ing. swooped down on the troops of
General N. and there was n desperate
fight, in which the headquarters bag
gage was captured by the enemy. Aft
er comparative quiet was restored Bay
liss went to the general With lugu-
brious countenance and reported that
the money. some $500, which had come
from the paymaster had gone to the
impecunious Johnnies. General y.
begged his aid not to distress himself,
since such were the fortunes of war.
Nevertheless the general was placed In
financial difficulties by the loss.
The first official paper that caught
General KS attention after the fight
was a regimental order honOrably men
tioning Lieutenant Hoyt for gallantry
during the recent fight. Then one
evening when the general was sitting
in n camp chair before his tent up
comes Hoyt. with a pleasant smile, sa-
lutes respectfully and tells the general
that he has heard of his loss and if the
general will accept of loan of the
amount lost he will confer a favor on
the lender. who considered himself un
der many obligations.
where did You get so much money
Billy?" asked the general.
''Won it at poker"
- 10 oonpTol bI'
~ much obliged for the offer, but 1 an
not in the habit OF borrowing from
Junior officers, especially money made
in that way"
Hoyt saluted with unusual formalit!
and took his leave. The general, caugh
by the boys frankness and remember
ing his bravery, secretly regretted tina
he was not in his old position.
1.-The impudent young rascal! n
muttered THAT was just like him"
The next fight made the general com
mander of an army corps and Hoyt I
first lieutenant, with another mention
for bravery. Bayliss' conduct during
the engagement was criticised unfa
vorably Hoyt was badly Wounds
and placed in hospital. AS soon as tn
general heard of it he ordered his hors
and went to see his former aid. AS II
was mounting his chief of staff ap
preached him with a very serious loo
and a paper.
General" said the officer, II hav
received charges against Lieutenan
BayIiss for conduct unbecoming an OF
ficer and gentleman the specifica
lions being appropriating money an
reporting that it had been capture
with the headquarters baggage"
The scowl on the generals face an
the growl on his lips were oninous.
m tissue an order, he said, suspend