The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1905-08-17
A Story of the
# Garrison.

TINE 3rd Royal Canadian Regi-
ment was quartered in Wei
/. lington Barracks, Halifax, N.
S. If you had chanced to enter
room No. 5, on the third corridor, on q
certain evening in August, 1900, you
would have heard the following con-
versation:
"Say Very, the bottles empty"
"Well, let's send down to the mess
and get another one."
"Got the necessary?"
"You bet," and the speaker produced
a few bills and some change.
Gall right; I'll get q man to go
down."
Sergeant ChOnes was under close ar
rest. and Sergeant Varreli was his es-
cort. For nearly two weeks the
prisoner had been confined to his quar-
ters, awaiting district court martial,
and the charge drunk on guard-was
serious enough to make him sit up and
think, if he had ever been addicted to
that habit. But the motto of the regi-
ment was, "Don't Worry" and Chones
endeavored tolive up to it. In fact he
was so cheerful and amisble at all
times that his brother sergeants came
often to visit and to dispense liquid re-
freshments; and the ofteIer they came
the more cheerful and amiable Chones
And tho oolloofion of am nfu
bottles, behind the door, grew more ex-
tensive daily. Of course in the even
ings they were generally alone, because
most of their friends would 60 out of
the barracks, where greater attractions
awaited them.
Among these attractions were
the theater, the park or row IN
the harbOr. On this particular even
ing, the prisoner and his escort were
left to their own resources. There is
strict regulation in the British army
forbiding anyone to give liquor to a
prisoner, but what did they care for
regulations? They wanted to enjoy
themselves, and were determined to do
so. But what was their dismay when
the messenger returned from the SER
geant's mess caterer to say that the
latter refused to let them have any
more "boozep
| "Now what's the matter with him, l
wonder ?" said Chones.
Hanged if know" was the glum
reply.
"By Jove! he's got to let me have It..
I'll write him note that will bring
him around" And Chones scribbled
an appeal that would have brought
tears to the eyes of the regimental dog,
had he heard it. But it was no use.
The caterer said the Sergeant Major
suspected something, and he wouldn't
risk it any more. Blank despair was
settling over the two sergeants, when
the bugle on the square sounded "last
post" In quarter of an hour flights
out" would sound, and the barracks
would be in darkness.
"Say Choney," 1 stump you to so
down town."
Chones was dumbfounded. "Do you
mean it?" he asked.
Il certainly do. Are you gamep"
"How will we do it?"
"After lights out we'll dress and
jump the fence over by the canteen
Will you go?"
"Well, you're my escort; and as long
as stay with you, they can't say I'm
trying to run away, so guess Pm with
you."
1t was about ten o'clock when they
tiptoed through the corridors, and
down the stairs, into the night 1t was
very dark, and they did not dare te
talk until they we're some distance
from the barracks, for fear of listeners
whom they couldn't see. The fence
: was easy and soon they were walking
swiftly toward the city.
At four o'clock in the morning the!
J returned in the same manner, chuck
: ling to themselves over the way the.
: had fooled the guard. They un
: dressed and tumbled into bed, wher'
they slept soundly till ten o'clock. A
this time their door was opened, ant
an orderly bawled out:
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