Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1904-07-06
THE LBTlLf GUNNER
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The colonel cCNllthihAlhk ia" Ill.,
.rrned over IN bed and tried TO go to
ss,o,. Confound that morning gun! II
- all right for 1t TO wake up these
,,bo were expected to wake up, but
What nuisance for those who could
.,eep as long as they wished.
The colonel opened his eyes
Nav. the morning gun Is fired at sun
dee and at sunrisr any fool knows
.brrs Is ts.ylisht. But to the colonel
a.erriAing was as black as when he
npt ont his light the night before. Had
he eonc blind? He sprang up In Ter
. nor Not entirely blind. for he could
distinguish the window and clearly
saw a bright star In the sky. Jumping
ont Of bed. he struck a match and look
ed az his watch.
II was three minutes after 3.
..gy the eternal jingo." he muttered,
I'm break every officer at this post II
necessary TO find who Is responsible
FOR dis! The morning gun at o'clock
Who ever heard Of such thingT
TIE colonel went to the window and
threw up the sash. There were lights
IN some of the quarters. while Others
we're still dark. The officer of the day
vas hurrylng across the parade, The
colonel called to him, asked him what
Il all meant and received the reply that
he was going to find out. The colonel
shut the sash with bang and went
back to bed. but not to sleep. He oc-
cupled his time laying plans to dlseov-
or the miscfeant and musing on the
proba0le punishment he would receive
at the hands of court martial.
Papa" said his daughter Ethel as
she poured out his coffee at breakfast.
did you hear gun fire. at 3 o'clock
this morningY"
did hear itf Rather ask me IL I'll
have any mercy on the man who fired
IT. Lieutenant Ellison has had charge
Of the room where the automatic APP
psratus used in firing the gun Is locat-
ed. | shall hold him responsible"
But papa" demonstrated the girl.
who had been trying to get her fathers
consent TO her marrying the same ELI
sou without success. MFR. Ellison
leaves the gun ire to the sergeant"
There WAS n tap at the door.
Come in" called the colonel. and
who should enter but Ellison himself.
The colonel glared at him.
Colonel" said the young officer. II
came to report to you that since the
gun was fired at 8 o'clock this morning
l have been up investigating the mat
ter and am happy to report that have
discovered the eulprlt."
We'll. sir. who Is he?'
'srhe smallest gunner at the post"
His nameF'
"Twit."
Miss Ethel cast a surprised glance
at the lieutenant, which was returned
by knowing glapce from the officer.
"Twlt? TwIt?r unused the colonel.
Il don't remember the name. How did
he get into the firing room;"
THAT, sir, would rather say nsth-
ing about"
you shall say something about II
II I'm in command here" replied the
colonel angrily.
Pardon me- colonel. would have
to implicate one near and dear to you"
Dear to me. What do you mean?'
Not only dear to you. but to me"
The colonel was mute from surprise.
Ethel hung her head.
do you mean. sir. to impllcate my
daughter? Is this revenge for-for-
your refusalF' Numbered the colonel.
half rising.
mo, colonel. Miss Ethel Is really
responsible, though, l am happy TO
say indirectly. and no criminality at
taches TO her act. She introduced the
gunner into the room"
She. What gunnerf"
''Twit."
Miss Ethel put her handkerchief TO
her mouth and turned away.
What do you mean to imply, siri
That my daughter is in league with an
enlisted man of my commando"
Il didn't say he was an enlisted
man. He Is too short TO come within
the limits He's only three inches from
his beak to his toes
"WhatT
Three inches"
The blood rushed TO the coloners
cheek. the fire to his eye. mfr. Ellison,
I'd have you know, sir. that fooiery in
the line of duty is worse than-it's
worse than mutiny, sir"
I'm not fooling, colonel. I'm stating
an exact truth. The gunner who fired
the gun this morning is a yellow
boy
"a mulattof"
mo. colonel; a beautiful canary col
or"
oh, papa" cried Ethel. turning.
you're so stupid!"
The colonel looked from the officer TO
the girl like an enraged bull from one
Prosecuting matadore to another.
'T'wit is my bird, papa. Don't you
seel''
Colonel" said Ellison, when Miss
Ethel went away two weeks ago she
placed her canary In charge of the
Befgeant'S wife Cinea Mics TathaI o,I,,