Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1910-06-02
CHAPTER VI.


/ Rodney Merriam and Morris Leigh
ton walked up High street to the Tip
pecanoe Club, which occupied a hand
some old brick mansion that had been
built by the Merriams who had after
ward lost his money. Merriam usually
went there late every afternoon to look
over the newspapers, and to talk to
the men who dropped in on their way
home. He belonged also to the Ham
ilton, a much larger and gayer club
that rose to the height of five stories
in the circular plaza about the SOL
diers' monument at the heart of the
city; but he never went there. for it
was noisy and full of politics. Many
young men fresh from college belong
ed to the Tippecanoe. and Merriam
liked to talk to them. He was more
constant to the club than Morris
! though they often went there together.
A number of men were sitting about
the fireplace in the lounging room.
The lazy blazing logs furnished the
only light. A chorus of good evenings
greeted the two men in unmistakable
cordially, and the best chair in the
room was pushed toward Rodney Mer-
| riam.
Mr. Merriam, Captain Pollock; and
Mr.. Leighton"
A young man rose and shook hands
with the newcomers. Merriam did not
know most of the group by name He
had reached the age at which it seems
unnecessary to tax the memory with
new burdens. 1t was, he held, good
club manners to speak to all the men
you meet in a club, whether you know
them or not. The youngsters at the
| TippecanOe were for the greater part
college graduates, just starting out in
the world and retaining a jealous hold
OF their youth through the ties of the
club.
Captain Pollock has been telling us
about the Philippines" said one of the
group. We've been trying to find out
whether he's an imperialist or how
about 1t, but he won't tell"
That shows his good Judgment
said Merriam.
1T shows that I want to keep my
| job declared Pollock, cheerfuIly.
And I'll be cashiered now for certain.
if l don't get back to the Arsenal Ma
| jor Congrieve expects me for dinner"
Baker, who had brought Pollock to
the club, shook himself out of his chair
and the others rose.
I'll see that you find your way back
to the reservation" said Baker.
That's very kind of you. And I'm
glad to have met you, Mr. Merriam. "
1t was a soft voice. and as they went
out INTO the hail. Merriam looked at
the owner of it with interest. He was
slim young fellow. with friendly
blue eyes, brown hair, and a slight
moustache. His carriage was that Of
the drilled man. West Point does not
give a degree in the usual academic
| sense; but she writes something upon
| her graduates that is much more use
full for purposes of identification. Frank
| Pollock had been the shortest man in
! his class; but his scant inches were all
soldierly. The young man with whom
| he had spent an hour at the Tippeca-
noe Club had been gathered up by Ba-
ker. who had met Pollock somewhere
and taken a fancy to him. They all
| left the club together except Merriam
and Leighton, who went to the news
paper room. But Merriam stared at
the evening paper without reading it,
and when he got up to go presently, he
stopped at the club register which lay
] open on a desk in the hall. He put on
his eyeglasses and scanned the page.
The ink was fresh on the last sigma
ture:
Frank Pollock, U. S. A"
Rodney Merriam then walked to-
ward his own house. tapping the side
walk abstractedly with his stick
The next morning he called for his
horse early. He kept only one horse,
for he never drove; but he rode nearly
every day when it was fair. His route
was usually out High street toward the
| country; but day he rode down
town through the monument plaza and
then struck east over the asphalt of
Jefferson street, where a handsome old
gentleman of so, riding a horse that
was remembered with pride at Lexing
ton, was not seen every day. Rodney
Merriam was thinking deeply this
morning, and the sharp rattle of his
horses hoofs on the hard pavement
did not annoy him as it usually did
Arsenal is a word that suggests dire
| full things, but the Arsenal that had
been maintained through many peace
/ full years at Mariona. until the town in
its growth leaped over the government
stone walls and extended the urban
lines beyond It, was really a pretty
park. The residences of the officers
and several massive storehouses were
at least inoffensive to the eye. The
native forest trees were aglow with au-
tumn color, and laborers were collect
ing and carrying away dead leaves.
Merriam brought his horse to a walk
as he neared the open gates. A pri-
Vate came out of the little guard house
| and returned Merriam's salute. The
man gazed admiringly after the mill
tary figure on the thoroughbred
though he had often seen rider and
horse before, and he knew that Mr.
Merriam was a friend of Major Con-
grieve, the commandment The soldier
| continued to stare after Rodney Mar
Ram, curious to see whether the visitor
would bring his hand to his hat as he
neared the flag that tapped high over
head. He was not disappointed; Rod
ney Merriam never failed to salute the
colors. even when he was thinking
hard; and he was intent upon an idea
this morning
The maid who answered the bell was
not sure whether Major Congrieve was
at home; he had been packing, she
said; but the commandant appeared al
| SAiNN anu SASSlC1 Ills CdlleT COTulallY.
Major Congrieve was a trifie stout
but his gray civilian clothes made tbs
best of a figure that was not what i
had been. He was bald. and looked
much better in a hat than without il
You'll pardon me for breaking in OF
our packing. l merel came to registe1
a kick. l don't seem to know an OF
the local news any more until it's stale
I've just heard that the Arsenal has
been sold and l want to say that its
an outrage to tear this place to pieces.
TT is too bad; but I don't see what
you are going to do about it. I've al
ready got my walking papers The in.
cident is closed as far as I am con.
cerned."
ITO give us an active post in ex-
change for the Arsenal is not to do u,
a kindness. We've got used to yol
gentlemen of the ordnance Your re