Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-02-03
DAILY SHORT STORY
fOriGinai-'
THE MIlKSOP.

fOriGinat'
Louise" said ColoneI IN,.burn. u
have noticed Young Cudlipp dancing
to understand that l don't like il. There
are several young officers ut the post
any one of whom would make you a
good husband, and you have no need tC
take up with citizen who Is no more
at home among army people than Il
dove in "a nest of eagles"
Don't worry, papa. Tommy Cudlipp
hasn't the spunk To propose"
Tommy Cudlipp had been brought up
under Instantaneous circumstances
His father had died when he was IA
baby, and Tommy had never been any
thing more than baby to his mother.
She had kept him about her till she
died. Then Tommy set out TO see some
thing of the world. He began by visit
ing the frontier. but fell in love with
the first girl he saw-viZ. Louise Kill
burn. whom he met while he was look
ing over the fort her father command
ell. In consequence of this enthrallment
Tommy got no further. The girl seem
ei 10 be amused with him, and the Off
gers of the fort made no end of fun 1T
Ills expense. The truth is Tommy's
mother had made "a milksop of him.
But that could hardly be considered his
fault. 1t was rather his misfortune
One morning the colonel was hurry
ing across the parade when he met
young Dudlipp.
MIR. Cudlipp." he said, Il would ad
wise you 10 take IA back track toward
civilization. The Indians have broken
loose. and were going to have n hot
time Of it,
The colonel did not stop to note the
effect OF his words. but hurried on and
in two hours was moving at the head
of all the troops under his command
except "A small garrison left in the fort
TO attack the savages.
Two days passed. Colonel Kilburn,
who had spent most of his term of
service in the artillery on the eastern
coast and had no experience at fighting
Indians, permitted himself to be drawn
into an ambush in an almost impass-
able canyon But he pushed on, resolv
ed TO beat them Oh their own ground.
He was himself fighting I'm the advance
about him. he noticed that the men
who had followed him were but
small portion Of his command. and not
a single officer had been able to with
stand the murderous shower of bullets
poured down upon them. Those who |
had not been picked off by the sure |
aim OF the savages had fallen back |
with their men.
But who is this far below singly |
pressing forward? From rock TO rock |
he leaps and climbs, traversing the |
rough ground with incredible rapidity. |
The coionel's heart stands still Is the /
conner n messenger TO announce that
the Indians have attacked his rear? II =,
so. not n soldier will escape But as |
the man comes nearer il is plain that
be Is not a soldier. Instead of n sol
dier's felt alpine he wears a derby: in
stead of the blue with yellow facings
Of the cavalry he wears n gray travel
ing suit Then when he comes near
the colonel recognizes the milksop-
Tommy Cudlipp. His hands are bleed
ing from the sharp rocks over which
le has climbed: his hat is dented; his
trousers are torn. revealing what in an
Jther case might he taken for a flag
4 truce As lie nears the colonel he
starts. grasps one of his wrists and
,arrieS the arm that has been broken
" a bullet
What in thunder roared the colo
lcl
I've c2lsc, coloael''- bean the ysun5