The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1910-10-13
CONTINUED

appeared in the hall. well, | should
say! Come right in here, you two
Pull off your gloves and get out of
those caps and things. Man alive
this to No. 5-"why didn't you come
before? This is no time to stand on
ceremony or stay on post either. My
strikers stormbound somewhere. I'd
help you If could. but l can't. Help
yourselves now best you can. Rub
and kick all you want to; dance if it'll
warm you" And all the time he was
crowding them up about a roaring
stove, where presently he made them
sit while he hustled about at a buffet
in the adjoining room. You'll have to
help me, corporal" presently he cried
"One hand can't mix and pour and
lift. There's sugar. there's hot water
on the stove, there's glasses and here's
whisky. Mix it hot. and down with
it,
After which they were gone. rejoic-
Ing in their new found strength. yet
reaching the nearest barracks only
after a severe struggle and. later still.
the crowded, suffocating guardroom.
where now some thirty men were hud-
died In space intended for twenty
at most, where Cassidy and No. were
speedily telling to eager, appreciative
ears their unusual and rejoiceful ex-
perience
well. amt he the dandy lieutenant,
thought" queried Casey of F troop.
And did he give you yer new cap
too. Quinlan? Sure the wan you
marched on wild had the manger'
Cassidy snatched it from his COM
rade's head. Mother av Moses. If
he hasn't lifted the lieutenants"- But
he broke off short. One glance he had
given the band within. There was an
instant Of indecision. then he whipped
his own cap from his head and thrust
it on Quinlan.
''I'm liar" he said. Its me own
he's had"
Then you wear two sizes, Jim Cas-
sidy. an both different" Quinlan had
pulled the headpiece down and was
staring in at the soft lining What's
this?" he began. when the corporals
fingers closed like a wise on his arm.
Shut up. Quinlan. The whisky's
gone to yer noddle. Come here" And
Cassidy led him. wondering, to the
barred corridor without and slammed
the door behind them. mot word do
you whisper of this to any man. Pat
Quinlan." said he, never relaxing his
grasp.
God helps those who help them
selves" quoth Lieutenant Blake on
hearing of the incident at Lanier's
quarters. but God help those who help
other fellows. unless the old man likes
it." Blake was but a casual at Fort
Gushing at the moment summoned
thither as witness before a general
court martial then in session. but there
was nothing casual in his friendship
for Bob Lanier. Two years campaign
ing in Arizona and one in Wyoming
had made these subalterns fast friends.
Blake was no pet Of the post com
mander. Blake had way of saying
satirical things of seniors whom he did
not fancy. and Button was one of
these.
About the only officer not to put in
an appearance in the club room at the
store the next morning. out of doors.
afoot. in saddle or adrift in snow. was
Lieutenant Lanier. About the first
officer Button wished to see was Bob
and about the last was Blake. Yet
such was the freakishness of fate that
the first man to hail him, with i'll time
POPULARITY. was Blake, and the last Of
his officers whom he was destined that
day to set eyes on was Bob Lanier.
If it had not been for the startling
announcement about the paymaster
Colonel Button would have fought
that matter out with the doctor then
and there. First, however. he had to
send forth his mounted men by scores
in search of the missing officer and
party. This done. he had once more
summoned 81 huchardt Then he sent
for Ennis and had what they termed a
"redhot row."
In his exasperated frame of mind
Button had been ready to believe al
most any story at the expense of La
nier. and-such Is the perversity of
human nature-it added to rather than
diminished his wrath that his revered
senior surgeon should promptly cor
roborate the statements of both Schu-
chardt and Ennis and further assume
personal and entire responsibility for
the episode of Saturday afternoon in
Laniers quarters. That episode had
started many tongue, and one Of
Buttons henchmen, thinking to win
favor at the fountain head by mention
of new iniquity on the part Of the
culprit. had deftly enlarged upon it.
Snaffle. of course, was the fellow at
fault. and he justified it on the plea
that Lanier was demoralizing two men
of his troop. The story he told was
that Lanier had been carousing at his
quarters with certain enlisted mem