The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1905-03-02
T He MILKSOP
IOriginal.l

y
good husband, and you have no need to
take up with citizen who is no more
at home among army people than a
doge in a nest of eagles"
Don't worry, papa. Tommy Cudlipp
hasn't the spunk to propose"
Tommy Cudlipp had been brought up
under disadvantageous circumstances.
His father had died when he was a
baby, and Tommy had never been any
thing more than a 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 Sell 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 commando
ed In consequence of this enthrallment
Tommy got no further. The girl seem
ed to be amused with. him, and the Off
GERS Of the fort made no end of fun at
his 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.
''Mr. Cudlipp,' he said. 81 would adj
wise you to take back track toward
civilization. The Indians have broken
loose, and we're going to have 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 on their own ground.
He was himself fighting in the advance
under a deadly fire when, looking
about him, he noticed that the men
who had followed him were but a
small portion Of his command and not
-
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 coloners heart stands still. Is the
conner a messenger to announce that
the Indians have attacked his rear? If
SO, not soldier will escape. But as
the man comes nearer it is plain that
he is not a soldier. Instead of a sol
Gliar's felt alpine he wears derby; in
stead of the blue with yellow 'facings
of the cavalry he wears 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
he has climbed; his hat is dented; his
trousers are torn, revealing what in an
other case might be taken for a flag
of truce. As he nears the colonel he
starts, grasps- one of his wrists and
carries the arm that has been broken
by bullet.
s'What in thunder roared the colo
mel
<.I've come, colOnel''-b began the young
man and paused to hitch his wounded
arm to a more comfortable position
esWell,'' cried the colonel, what haze
you come fOr?'
''After you went away II ventured
TO propose to Miss Louise, and she said
Il could come and ask you
It might be expected that the colonel
would stand mute with establishment.
Not So In the first place he was in no
position to do so, and in the second,
with a soldiers quickness to seize upon
opportunity, seeing that he had a valu-
able aid at hand whom he greatly
needed, he flashed the words:
''Go back and bring up the command
and you shall have her."
Down went Tommy Cudiipp, tum-
bling over stones, sliding down places
too steep to walk on, moving far quick
er than he came, till he reached point
OF rocks behind which the command
were huddled, their officers vainly en-
~deavoring to drive them up the canyon
1.-THE colonel says for you to come
right upr' cried the aid in falsetto
voice.
To a soldier death is preferable to be
ing outdcne in the line of duty by a
citizen. Every man sprang up the
canyon. On reaching the colonel the
united forces pushed forward, drove
the Indians into a pocket from which
there was no escape and exterminated
every savage.
When the colonel returned to the
fort the first person he sought was his
daughter
What in the world did you mean by
sending Cudlipp to me at such timer"
he asked
why, papa, he finally got out his
declaration, and 1 thought it would be
a good joke to send him to the front
for his answer / never dreamed he