The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1906-1907, 1907-02-14


child OF ten, and he chung to her and
had an aunt come out and act as his
hOusekeeper and "A mother to the moth
eflaas. Scarcely any one at the fort
gave the child her name when speaking
of her She was referred to affection
ately MS the colonel's kid.
The cOlonel's 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 fnce that attracted her, and she
secretly determined to be friends with
him lie saw her from his place In
the ranks, and his face softened. lie
dared not smile at her. but more friend
illness came into his heart than had
been there for many day. The next
day, and the next, and the next, he saw
her from a distance while he was be-
ing drilled. On the fourth day, while
he was doing sentry duty ut the flag
staff, she came walking up to him and
held out her hand and said:
II like you. Won't you shake handsf"
Private Harker's face was all smiles
as he took her hand and assured her
that he liked her In return and that
back In the east he had little niece
who looked almost like her Ten
minutes later the colonel's kid was
back In Officers row with tears In her
eyes. and Private Harker was In the
gunrdhouse. II was tremendous
breach of discipline he had committed.
Never before In the history of the
American army, according to the ser.
geant. had sentry on duty dared to
pause In his monotone s tramp and
ground arms and shake the colonel's
daughter by the hand. The captain
agreed with the sergeant, and Private
Harker got Ave days confinement. He
knew that spite was the foundation,
and he set his jaw hard. He had been
at liberty only three days when fault
was found with him at inspection of
barracks. He answered back, and this
time It was ten days in the guard
house. At the end of that time he was
called before the colonel
In barracks even the children know
what goes on. The colonel's kid had
learned that Private Harker had been
dlsgraced for shaking hands with her.
She defended him. When he received
his second sentence, she defended him
more vigorously. In fact she wept
over II aud was scOlded by her father
and nunt Men and women make
friendships In an hour, but their judg-
la ~ Ina. -
a child. The kid had taken liking 10
Private Harker. and they argued In
vain. The colonel was upset over II.
He was In angry mood when he re-
celved the recruit There was nothing
he could do officially, and yet he would
not talk as man to man
"Private Harker." he began, al am
sorry 10 hear bad reports Of you. II
you begin this way, where win you
end1 You may be above the common
run. sir. but let me tell you that you
can put on no airs here. If catch
you tripping again. shall put you
down as a trouble maker and act ac-
cordlngly. Go to your quarters, SIR"
Tho intent had been to humlliate him,
and the soldier knew 1t, From that
hour on he had but one object In view.
1t took him three months to accomplish
II. but In the end he had talked revolt
until the 200 rank and file at the post
were ripe for 1t. They would leave the
fort aud scatter among the mines and
ranches, Before leaving they would
kill four or ave OF the officers that had
been marked down. Never was con-
splracy better planned or secret bet
ter kept, Not the slightest hint reach
ed the officers ears or the ears of those
who would remain loyal. At 10 o'clock
ut night the 200 would arm. parade
and march out IN the face OF the ofil-
GERS, and there would be shooting done
before the last of them left the gate.
The signal was to be given by Pri-
vate Harker-a musket shot. He had
planned for days that the ball from
that musket should lind the colonel's
heart. He would reach the cOloners
quarters and firo ON him through an
open window, They had kept the Kid
out OF his sight for weeks, aud he did
not take her into account In his plan
ming. 1t was her father he meant to
kill. but her feelings were not consid-
cred. When the night came. he slipped
out OF barracks. lodged across the pa.
rade ground and skulked up a dark
alley and reached the point aimed at
The evening was warm, and the colo
mel had fallen ascleep as he sat over
his papers, The soldier raised his mus
ket and drew a fair bead for the OH
GERS heart. and his finger was pressing
the trigger when a hand was gently
laid ON his arm. lie lowered his mus
ket to lind the kid by his side and
standing on her tiptOes to whisper:
Don't shoot him. He is my father.
He don't like you. but for my sake
don't shoot him."
Private Harker bent down and kiss
ed the child and then walked away and
out OF the fort and was never seen
again. The signal did not core, and the
Whiting eananira TORS .snx-apa An ahaa.