Rock Island Argus., 1906-04-28
DAILY. STOR Y
HOW HE GOT HIS COMMISSION.
[Original.l

lOriginal1
Major Alan Wharton commanded
four company post i'll what was theh
the far west. One evening he directed
his orderly to tell Sergeant Willard
Falnum to report at headquarters
equipped for Il days ride. When Far
.lum reported he saluted and stood at
attention while the major went TO the
door closed it and returning 10 his
seat. said in a low toue:
Sergeant. the paymaster has been
here today and left money 10 pay h
company, which is out, as you know.
at the forks OF the rivers | don't like
keeping other mems money. Besides.
some of them want their funds. though
| don't see any way 10 spend ii out
there. | can't spare Il guard. so | have
concluded TO send you with il. l hope
you'll get ii through safely"
Sergeant Farnum WAS one of those
few educated young men who ut that
time entered the ranks for :; commits
sion. There are more of them now
that commissions are more plentiful.
The major gave him the money i'll Il
leather belt, which he strapped about
his waist His cavalry jacket did not
reach low enough 10 hide ii. and as lie
walked across the parade ii occurred
To him that he was exposing it danger
ouSly to view SO lie unstrapped il and
put it In his pocket. Mounting. he rode
out. only haltng to ask Il scout named
MckenIa the way TO the forks. The
full moon was rising as the sun set.
and the messenger had Il prospect for
fine nights ride. He must 20 through
Il hostile Indian country, but scouts
had reported that no Indians were
there 1T did not take him long 10 find
out that either he had mistaken Nc
Eenna'S instructions or he had been
purposely put on the wrong road. He
could see no object in being miSdircct-
ed so he inferred the former. He had
ridden to the east of Il range of hills
when he should have gone 10 the west
of them. Retracing his steps, he turned
at point not half mile from the fort
and took the western course.
He had not ridden another mile be-
fore. while passing through some low
brush. an Indian suddenly rose up be-
fore him. Farnum brought his carbine
to an aim and called on the redSkin To
surrender. Meanwhile the sergeant
ged from his horse by another redskin.
The first came up. and the two went
through his clothes, finding the money
belt in his pocket. They danced about
joyfully. one of them chattering TO the
other in their native tongue Then. TAX
ing Farnum's carbine and pistol. they
made off.
When Farnum considered his posi-
ton he was in despair. There was not
one chance in dozen that any one
would believe that he had been robbed
by Indians. In the first place, it was
not supposed there We're any Indians
so near the fort. and. in the second.
Indians would have been more inter
ested in his scalp than his money.
Surely his story would be regarded as
decidedly thin.
There was nothing to be done except
ride back, report the loss and take the
consequences. Major Wharton listened
to his story in amaZement. then ordered
him under arrest. In the guardhouSe
he had.nothing to do but think. and the
result of his thinking was TO send.
through the sergeant of the guard.
a request for an interview with Major
Wharton. What passed at the meet
ing was known to no one. for the
major talked with Farnum in his pri
vate apartment.
Shortly after this Major Wharton
sent for the scout who had directed
Farnum and said to him:
Il consider myself responsible for
the loss of B company's pay and shall
send all receive from the paymaster
n fhnm / RI -
it. I'm going to send my orderly with
you, SO that if anything happens one
can confirm the others story"
The two men left about dusk intend
ing to go through. as Farnum had in
tended, by night. When they arrived
at the identical spot where the ser
geant had been set upon they We're sur
rounded by Indians and robbed. They
started back to the fort. but when the
Indians were out of sight turned and
moved southwark. They had not gone
far before they ran into half dozen
cavalrymen from the fort Reporting
the loss. they went back with the troop
ers On arriving they were making
their way to the comInandants head
quarters when they were arrested and
taken to the guardhouse. In the morn
ing they We're sent TO Major Wharton
and there found Farnum. The maj jor
addressed them:
You two are guilty of the worst
piece of rascality that has ever come
under my personal notice. Last night
you We're robbed by Indians, who
found on you not only the money 1
sent by you. but that sent by Sergeant