Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-08-31
The Argus Daily Story
The Way culty-By James D. Andrews
" Burea

faction in her going that they would
feel the more freedom in abusing
Major Macdonald.
About a week after the departure of
the Fergusons Major Macdonald re-
ceived an order from Washington d.
recting him to inspect the army sta
tons In the vicinity and report on
their condition. Turning over the
command to the next officer in rank.
he departed with a single orderly and
remained away fortnight
After this the major was continually
making inspections, remaining away
from his command on each tour from
d few days to a few weeks.
81 WISH" said Mrs Lieutenant wetn-
erby, 1.-The government would keep
him inspecting till he came to the age
OF retirement"
And I wish" said Mrs. Lieutenant
Gunther. that some woman would
get him, load him down with baggage
and he'd be ordered to move at five
minutes notice"
One day when the major was or on
his fifth tour of inspection Captain
HARRISON, who was in command Of the
post confided to his wife secret
Macdonald was not going away from
his command on inspection duty at all.
He was simply absenting himself with.
out leave.
You don't mean it? Where does he
goY
Nobody knows. / suspect he may
have secret orders to investigate some
thing"
That's not usual in the army. At
| least in time Of peace. There's no Sc
cret service except in war"
That's all the explanation ! have
to give" replied the husband. BE sure
not to say word about what I've told
you"
"Of course not" And as soon as the
captain left her she went into Mrs.
wetherby's quarters and told her the
story. In half an hour 1t was known
i to the wife OF every officer of the gar
rison.
| The next time Major Macdonald
went out on tour OF inspection be
took a new uniform with him that he
had Just received from a New York
tailor and trunk full of other cloth.
ing.
He had been gone several days
when an army wagon was driven into
the fort and a considerable load of
brand new furniture and dozen
trunks were dumped in front OF the
majors quarters.
The episode occaSioned greater
commotion than an attack Of II thou
sand Indians. Every woman, includ'
ing the children, in the fort stood on
the parade gaping at the pile, and there
was a clatter OF tongues that would
have drowned the post band.
"I'll tell you what we'll do" said Mrs
Gunter. Lets bring all our empty
trunks, boxes, suit cases and band
boxes and put them on the pile"
wouldn't It be mutiny?" asked one
of the more timid ladies.
"Mutiny! There's no such thing as
J mutiny for us. We're not in the army.
Come onr
Every woman rushed to her quarters
and back, she and her older children
; carrying articles 10 swell the majors
pile. When it was so high that they
} must be tossed upward TO get them In
position 1t stopped growing, but the
impedimenta was enough to drive u
Quartermaster insane.
; The next afternoon a smart little
wagon was driven into the fort, and
who should appear on the back seat
, but Major Macdonald and Miss Bray
ling! When the officer saw the pile In
front of his quarters his brow dark
hn int
) q laugh Several ladies were on the
parade who FASTENED to welcome him
back, and he presented his companion
to them as Mrs. Macdonald
Both the groom and the bride entered
= into the spirit Of the joke that had been
perpetrated. and, the news spreading
: that their commander had returned a
married man, the garrison poured from
their quarters and welcomed him with
cheers. Then all took hold, operating
the additions from the real impedimen-
ia, and carried the latter into the quar-
tiers of the bride and groom.
{ In the evening all was ready for a
[ wedding reception, for some of the
boxes the groom had sent contained
l eatables and turntables. and there was
2 Il merry time at Fort J. Some one pro-
: posed the health OF the newly married
couple with the words:
MAY their belongings never dimin-
ish"'
The major replied. pledging himself
thereafter to consider the wives, chill
dren. eats, pOodes. furniture, trunks,
l. boxes. bandboxes. beds. bedding and
: wearing apparel. n part Of the para
e phernalia of war TO be respected &C
cordingly.
: you ladies'" he added in conclusion.
T ~are indebted to Mrs. Ferguson for n
happy outcome from your troubles.
D Since my marriage she has confessed
that she brought her niece out here
e with view 10 making a married man
/ of me and thus putting me in the same
s boat with the rest OF you"
II - al -. a s-xroz