The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1908-10-01

pdh9 WAS backed up Dy MS followers
TO race with Private johnson OF r.
company, no one dreamed OF the com
plications that were TO follow. For a
long time Johnson had been the feet
est man in the garrison. and r com
pany had gloried In his powers They
boosted about him. they smiled indul-
gently when man OF another com.
pany was spoken of as a runner. They
said that + company was the best
company in the regiment; and as there
was some foundation for their claim.
the boasts ruffied the spirits OF the
men of + company. because they also
laid claims TO superiority
One day recruit came 10 + com
pany lie was a well-built fellow. and
II soon leaked out that he was feet
OF foot + company took him out on
the prairie. measured on a hundred
yards. started him with a blank car.
fridge. and timed him with the best
watch In the company. Then they
danced back 20 the barracks and
laughed + company In the face. And
r company ieered back at them. and
sent F 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 + com.
pany had bargained for. but they had
confidence In their man. and the chal.
longe 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 y company or =
company as the contestants tore down
the track side by side. Then a mighty
cheer went up from y company as.
AZ the finish. their man forged ahead
and won by yard How they
screamed and Rugged each otheri And
they carried Private Johnson back 10
barracks; they thought too much OF
him TO allow him TO walk
The cindcr track origin OF the feud
had been all but lost in larger and
more comprehensive rivalry. when one
fine morning the coloners pretty niece
arrived at the post for a visit. Twenty
four hours after her arrival her heart.
hand, and dainty smile were all VIC
lcntly bosleged by the respective
second lleutcnants OF companies r
and r.
And then the company fight found
a fresh inspiration. and was waged for
all Il was worth
when the y company second lieu
tenant was allowed TO take her sweet.
ness TO the hrst post hop following
her arrival, the hearts OF the men who
4
were full OF rejoicing.
When the second lieutenant OF r
company stood highest Ia favor. r
company at once proceeded in body
20 the canteen as a consequence.
But this is not story OF the loves
OF two second licutenants. Absorbing
as was the competition into which
these officers OF + and y companies re
spccilvely 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
ia rear OF officers line saw flames
bursting from the roof Of the colonel's
quarters.
the same time firing his rife
The stiffness OF the autumnal morn.
Ing was gone. Bugles blew. the re.
veille gun was fred. soldiers tumbled
out Of barracks, officers dropped their
cards OF their babies. The deserted
parade was AZ once Give with men and
Uttered with fire buckets. with hose
carts and with ladders
The second lieutenants OF com
panies Il and + rushed out OF the
coloners 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 coloners cook could
tell They left her reluctantly on the
sidewalk. and each. with "A parting
look Of undying love. fairly flew across
the parade to conduct his own com.
mand TO the scene OF danger. The
first sergeants met them half way
with the hastily formed companies.
and back again they madly raced to
the burning house. easily beating all
competitors In a dead heat for first
place.
In every well-conducted garrison
each company is assigned a fire duty
Some bring the ladders, others the
hose. and others. still. fire buckets
For the latter duty were detailed
Companies Il and +; but finding no
water for their buckets. they were
ordered into the quarters TO carry out
the coloners belongings. With F.
company rushed its second lieutenant.
A moment later he hurried forth bear
ing divan pillow under each arm,
and his eyes caught the second lieu.
tenant OF T. company not only calmly
standing on the sidewalk with Miss
Wilckens, but actually wrapping his
cape around her. A moment later
the girls pretty shoulders were COW
cred with another second lieutenants
cape, and from that time ON com
panies y and F worked without their
Junior officers.