The Utah County Democrat. [volume] (Provo City, Utah) 1898-1909, 1908-10-08

gently when a man of another com
many was spoken of as runner. They
said that Il company was the best
company in the regiment; and as there
was some foundation for their claim.
the boasts RULED the spirits OF the
men Of f company, because. they also
laid claims to superiority.
one day a recruit came TO F com
many lie was well.built fellow, and
II soon leaked out that he was fleet
of foot company took him out on I
the prairie, measured off n hundred |
Yards. started him with a blank car
fridge. and timed him with the best |
watch in the company. Then they |
danced back to the barracks and |
laughed r company in the face And |
company jeered back at them, and |
sent r company a challenge-the men |
TO run for all the money the two com |
panies would draw on their next pay |
day. This was more than F com
pany had bargained for, but they had
confidence in their man, and the chal-
lenge was accepted
The garrison never forgot that race.
Like unleashed hounds the two run
ners shot from the mark; not breath
was drawn by either II company or F
company as the contestants tore down
the track side by side. Then a mighty
cheer went up from Il company as,
at the finish, their man forged aheed
and won by a yard! How they
screamed and Rugged each other! And
they carried Private Johnson back TO
barracks; they thought too much of
him to allow him to walk.
The cinder track origin of the feud
had been all but lost in larger and
more comprehensive rivalry, when one
fine morning the colonel's pretty niece
arrived at the post for visit. Twenty
four hours after her arrival her heart,
hand. and dainty smile were all VIC
lently besieged by the respective
second lieutenants of companies Il
and +.
And then the company fight found
fresh inspiration, and was waged for
all It was worth.
When the + company second lieu
tenant was allowed to taRe her sweet
ness to the first post hop following
her arrival, the hearts Of the men who
slept on iron hunks in f company
were full of rejoicing.
When the second lieutenant of Il
company stood highest in favor. Il
company at once proceeded in body
to the canteen as a consequence.
But this Is not story of the loves
OF two second lieutenants. Absorbing
as was the competition into which
these officers Of Il and f companies re.
spectively had entered, and ardent as
was the passion that inspired il,
neither have more than an incidental
interest in this tale.
One October morning, the sentinel
in rear OF officers line saw flames
bursting from the roof of the colonel's
quarters.
Fire, number three!" he yelled at
the same time firing his rifle.
The stiffness of the autumnal morn
ing was gone Bugles blew, the re
veille gun was fired. soldiers tumbled
out of barracks, officers dropped theiI
parade was at once alive with men and
Uttered with fire buckets, with hose
carts and with ladders.
The second lieutenants of com
panies Il and f rushed out OF the
colond's house together. Between
them was Miss Wilckens. but which
one carried her. or whether neither
or both of them enjoyed this priv
lege, not even the colonel's cook coulC
tell. They left her reluctantly on th'
sidewalk and each, with parting
look OF undylng love. fairly few across
the parade TO conduct his own com
mand to the scene Of danger. Tn
first sergeants met them half wa.
with the hastily formed companies
and back again they madly raced q
the burning house. easily beating al
competitors In a dead heat for frs
place.
In every well-conducted garriso
each company is assigned fire duty
Some bring the ladders, others tn
hose, and others. stlll, FIRE buckets
For the latter duty were detaile
Companies Il and r. but finding n
water for their buckets. they wer
ordered into the quarters to carry on
the colonels belongings With
company rushed It's second lieutenan
moment later he hurried forth bea
ing divan pillow under each arm
and his eyes caught the second liel
tenant Of e company not only calml
standing on the sidewalk with Mis-
Wilckens, but actually wrapping HI
cape around her. moment late
the girls pretty shoulders we're co
cred with another second lieutenant
cape, and from that time on cor
4 panies T. and f worked without the
junior officers.
The colonefs quarters were old, an
the puny streams of water that wei
thrown upon the blaze seemed but
double the anger of the flames. tt
little tongue of fire on the roof gre
IN spite of all effort TO subdue It, u
vi the atties were seething mas
Black clouds OF smoke poured fro
A the second story windows. and a res
ment of men stood by, anxious, wi
81 ing yet powerless-Company Il an
company f close to the building, ea'
longing for a first chance at anythin
Among Miss WiIckens possession
was maid, and just as the secoI
neutenants of Companies and
simultaneously asked TO be allowed
lff Id AZ. hna