The daily Alaskan., 1905-02-16
LITTLE GUNNER
Ioriginal.l

who were expected to wake up, but what a nuisance for those who could sleep as long as they wished. The colonel opened his eyes.
 Now, the morning gun is fired at sun rise, and at sunrise any fool knows there is daylight. But to the colonel everything was as black as when he put out his light the night before. Had he gone blindl He sprang up in ter TOT. Not entirely blind, for he could distinguish the window and clearly saw bright star in the sky. Jumping out of bed he struck a match and look ed at his watch.
 It was three minutes after 8.
 By the eternal jingo," he muttered, ''Ill break every officer at this post if necessary to find who Is responsible for this! The morning gun at o'clock Who ever heard of such a thingY
 The colonel went to the window and threw up the sash. There were lights in some of the quarters, while others were still dark. The officer of the day was hurrylng across the parade. The colonel called to him, asked him what it 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- cupied his time laying plans to discov CT the miscreant and musing on the probable punishment he would receive ,N kN h,v v1u of fNf ma Tsfial
 Papa" said his daughter Ethel as she poured out his coffee at breakfast did you hear gun fire at 8 o'clock this mOrningT
 ''Did hear it? Rather ask me if I'll have any mercy on the man who fired 1t. Lieutenant Ellison has had charge of the room where the automatic ap- paratus used in firing the gun is locat- ed. I shall hold him responsible"
 But, papa" remonstrated the girl, who had been trying to get her fathers consent to her marrying the same Eli son without success, "Mr. Ellison t leaves the gun fire to the sergeant"
 There was a 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, "l came to report to you that since the gun was fired at o'clock this morning I have been up Investigating the mat ter and am happy to report that l have discovered the culprit."
 Well, sir. who Is hep
 "The smallest gunner at the post"
 His nameY
 "Twit."
 Miss Ethel cast a surprised glance at the lieutenant, which was returned by knowing glance from the officer.
 ''Twit? TwltT' unused the colonel. q don't remember the name. How did he get into the firing roomT
 That, sir, would rather say noth- ing about"
 "You shall say something about 1t If I'm in command here" replied the colonel angrily.
 Pardon me colonel. I would have to implicate one near and dear to you.
 Dear to me! What do you meanT
 Not only dear to you, but to me"
 The colonel was mute from surprise. Ethel hung her head.
 Do you mean, sir, to duplicate my daughter? Is this revenge for-for- your refusalT' thundered the colonel, half rising.
 No, colonel. Miss Ethel Is really responsible, though, am happy to- say, indirectly, and no criminality at taches to her act She introduced the gunner into the room"
 "Shel What gunnerT
 "Twit."
 Miss Ethel put her handkerchief to her mouth and turned away.
 What do you mean to imply, sir? That my daughter Is in league with an enlisted man of my commandT |
 'T 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 70 the colonels 5 cheek, the fire to his eye. "Mr. Ellison, I'd have you know, sir, that foolery in the line of duty is worse than-its worse than mutlny, 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 mulattoT .r..
 ''No, colonel; a beautiful canary col or"
 "Oh, papa" cried Ethel, turning, you're so stupidp'
 The colonel looked from the officer to the girl like an enraged bull from one prosecuting matadOre to another.
 "Twit is my bird, papa. Don't you seeT'
 Colonel" said Ellison, "when Miss Ethel went away two weeks ago she placed her canary in charge of the sergeant's wife. Since Miss Ethel only returned last evening she has not yet received back her pet The bird has been kept in the firing room and last night, the cage having been inadver- tently left open, got out and after fly ing about hopped on to the electric key that fires the gun"
 The colonePs face subsided from an ger to soberness, from sOberness to good nature; then a smile broke over