The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-11-05
THE CO1oNEL's KID.
(By NJ, QUAD.)

BY M. k2OAD.)
Among the batch Of forty recruits
received at Fort Bianck, one day from
Jefferson barracks, was one who at
tracted attention Immediately from his
superior looks and bearing He had an
aristocratic face, a good figure, and 1t
was evident at a glance that he did not
belong among that crowd. Uncle Sam
gathers in all sorts of men for his
ranks in times Of peace. If a would
be recruit passes the physical exam1na-
ton no details of his history are asked
for. The man who dined al belmont
cos in evening dress a week before
may be enlisted at the same time as
the one who was driving an ice wagon
The ranks are an asylum for many who
want to disappear from the world for
a time.
I'VE have another gentleman among
US" smiled Colonel Banks as he and
others were watching the recruits as
they drew up in rank and answered to
roll call on the parade ground.
He referred to Private HaTker. Dur
ing the colonels time there had been
half a dozen other recruits who had
been sent down as gentlemen, and he
had never favored any of them. He
preferred the other sort for soldiers
the machine sort. The colonel was
ready to admit that no two horses were
alike in disposition. and that some
must be favored over others, but when
It came down to private soldiers he ar
manded, they must obey without stop
ping to think or to question For any
dereliction there was the guard-house.
The superior bearing of Private Hark-
er displeased him at once.
Like coloHel. like captain Like cap
tain. like orderly sergeant. Private
Harker had not been in the barra cks
an hour when 1t had been determined
from colonel to corporal that he was
a man who must be disciplined. 9th
! prs cri1-an a chance hut he
would be hauled up short the first time
ne was caught tripping. There are
likes and dislikes in the ranks as we'll
as in private life. and when a man in
him for any reason it may be figured
that he will desert or commit suicide
before half his term Of service has ex-
pired.
Colonel Banks had lost his wife two
years before, but he had not sent his
little daughter Edith east among rela-
tives. as it had been supposed he would
do. She was a. handsome. sunny-haired
child of ten, and he chung to her and
had an aunt come out and act as his
housekeeper and mother to the moth
erless. Scarcely any one at the Fort
gave the child her name when speak
ing of her She was referred to as
! the COloneIS Kid. and the appellatiOn
was given in affection. OF course.
every effort was made to prevent her
from straying beyond Officers Row,
| but now and then she eluded her
watchers and wandered over to the
barracks OF the machines and even
as far as the laundries. She got to
| know the names Of sergeants and COR
porals and privates. and there We're
some she fought shy of and others that
she took by the hand and gave her
confidence to.
The ColoneTs Kid stood holding her
/ fathers hand when the recruits lined
up for roll call. Her eyes roved along
the line until they rested on Harker
and there they paused. There was that
in his face that attracted her, and she
secretly determined to be friends with
| him He saw her from his place in
the ranks and his face softened. He
dared not smile at her. but more
| friendliness came into his heart than
had been there for many a day. The
next day and the next and the next he
saw her from a distance while he was