The Cairo bulletin., 1910-07-27
By Hook or by Crook
By EDGAR FALE.S MOODv
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association

pectpu 10 make out Oh INe matter. nun
the war. inStead of lasting but few
months, as many AT first expected. fur
nishIag military titles aud big pay for
this last named class. proved gigan
tic. bloody struggle aud With each
fight the army was in need of these
SO called soldiers
Colonel Jim e.. in 1852 commanded
the brigade Ia Which ! served me
colonel had been Il politician in a large
city and was Que of he dfSt 10 offer
himself a sacrifice Go Ihr Union. ilfs
idea of that sacrifice being that he
would start out With rank of colonel
and return with that Of general, pick
ing UP suudry "perquisites' by the
way. then run for Il fat office. He was
fine looking man and prided him
self on being Il lady killer.
No sooner were the troops grouped
into brigades and ttAtsions than Colo
uel Jim by virtue Of the date of his
commission was placed in command Of
d brigade AS soon as this elevation
took place he looked about him for
staff Being allowed two aids, he
chose Louis Richmond and me. both
second iieutenants. Richmond told me
that he didn't like the colonel and was
intending to ask TO be returned TO his
regiment But no sooner had he told
me this than on receipt Of letter
from the north he said that he would
remain on the staff. asked him why
he had so suddenly changed his views.
but he shut up like an oyster and re-
fused to utter a word In explanation
1t was not long after this that one
morning at the breakfast table the
colonePs brow was very lowering.
Gentlemen" he said. there's a
thief on my STAFF. Last night while
was at Colonel BIS headquarters he
had been playing poker-"my trunk
was rided of package of papers"
| AS he spoke he looked at all our
faces to note the effect of his words.
/ noticed that Richmond was the only
one Of the staff whose looks indicated
| consciousness.
Might not the thief be one of the
headquarters guard or an orderly p
suggested the commissary.
| "No," replied the colonel; the rob-
berry was not committed for gain.
There was money IN the trunk. and it
was not taken. Some one on my staff
took the papers for a purpose. II l
can prove 1t on him I'll have him court
martialed"
The coloneIs eyes were fixed intent.
ly on Richmond as he spoke, But Rich
mond went on eating his break fast
with a fair amount Of equanimity con.
sldering that he was virtually accused
Of being thief. Nevertheless during
the day he made application to Colonel
Jim to be returned to his regiment.
Now, the relations between a gen
eral and his. personal staff are Of a
peculiarly intimate and confidential
character. The general may nominate
his own staff. and the nomination is
considered an honor. But he is not
likely to retain an officer who prefers
not to hold the position given him
What was our surprise to learn from
Louis Richmond that the colonel de
clined to issue the order returning hin
to his regiment. Evidently the com
mander believed that his aid had
stolen his papers and proposed to force
him to stay where he was until BIZ
could recover them.
Since Richmond made no denial O
being guilty Of the colouels charge W,
treated him with GOODNESS and dnall,
refused to speak to him except oil
cially. Though the young man WINGED
under this. he seemed to be sustained
by consciousness Of Innocence
Meanwhile there were conditions be
tween him and the colonel that w
, could not understand. Neither tool
any definite stand. The colonel dil
not prefer charges. and Richmon'
| made no move to force the colonel {
permit him TO join his regiment, whic
seemed TO he the only way to get ri
. OF very unpleasant situation. / nc
q ticed that Colonel Jim made no mer
o ton of the character Of the purloine
+. papers. and his aid made no effort I
I free himself from the obloquy tina
Q rested upon him.
Such were the conditions when W
l. entered our first fight The colonel dl
not show up at the head OF his brigad
y and Richmond WHO appeared to b
e best fitted to take his place. issued O.
J. ders IN his stead. When the fgtt WI
t over the colonel appeared, explaUlil
II his absence on the ground that h. hS
got separated from his command. wht
the fight opened and could net afte
ward find 1t.
t But the division commander did n
It accept this excuse and ! called f
d Colonel Jim's resignation. 1t w
handed In. and the political gener
r disappeared from the service.
Colonel Jim's relegaton 10 ward pr
E. tiles relegated Richmond and myself
our respective regiments, Soon aft
the fight he asked me TO come to b
quarters. There he made an explain
1T ton of the conditions existing betwe
lie him and his commander. A lady hi
n written him that the colonel had
~ number of letters from her which s.
was DESTROYS should be returned. L
colonel had declined to give them U
She asked Richmond to get them (