The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1906-1907, 1907-02-21


and there they paused There was that
in his face that attracted her, and she
I secretly determined to be friends with
him. He saw her from his place Al
the ranks, and his face softened. He
dared not smile at her. but more friend
linsss came into his heart than had
been there for many day. The nett
day and the next, and the next, he saw
her from q distance while he was Do
ing drilled. On the fourth day, while
BE was doing sentry duty at the dag
stat. she came walking up to him and
held cut her hand and said:
II ike you. Won't you shake handsP'
Private Harker's face was all smiles
AZ 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
-guardh0use. II was a tremendous
breach Of discipline he had committed.
Never before In the history Of the
geant. had q sentry on duty dared to
pause IN his monotonous tramp and
ground arms and shake the colonies
daughter by the hand. The captain
agreed with the sergeant, and Private
Harker got Eve 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 IL was ten days in the guard
house. At the end Of that time he was
called before the colonel.
In barracks even Gha children know
what goes on. The colonel's kid had
harmed that Private Harker had been
dlsgraced for shaking hands with her.
She defended him. When he received
As second sentence, she defended him
more vigorously. In fact, she wept
ever 1t and was scolded by her father
and aunt. Men and women make
1aendships in an hour, but their judg-
ment Is not as good as the intuition of
q child. The kid had taken a liking to
Private Harker, and they argued In
vain. The colonel was upset over Il.
He was in angry mood when he re-
ceived the recruit. There was nothing
he could do officially, and yet he would
not talk as man to man.
Private Harker," he began, 81 am
sorry to hear bad reports of you. II
| yOu begin this way, where viii you
end? 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 &C.
cOrdingly. Go to your quarters, SIR"
The intent had been to humillate him,
and the soldier knew 1t. From that
hour on he had but one object in view.
1ttOok him three months to accomplish
Il, 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
10rt and scatter among the mines and
ranches. Before leaving they would
kill four or FIVE Of the officers that had
been marked down. Never was a con-
spiracy better planned or a secret bet
Tar kept. Not the slightest hint reach
Cd the officers ears or the ears Of those
who would remain loyal At 10 O'Clock
at night the 200 would arm, parade
and march out in the face Of the off,
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
thatl musket should hnd the colonel's
heart. He would reach the coloneps
quarters and fire ON him through an
open window. They had kept the lid
out Of his sight for weeks, and he did
not take her into account In his plan
ming. 1t was her father he meant to
kill, but her feelings we're 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 be sat over
his papers The soldier raised his mus
ket and drew a fair bead for the on
GERS heart, and his finger was pressing
the trigger when a hand was gently
laid on his arm. he lowered his mus
ket to find the kid by his side and
standing on her tiptOes to whisper:
Don't shoot him. He IL 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 come, and the
waiting conspirators covered In their
hunks and made no move. The colo
nSl's kid had saved the day.
NJ. QUAD.