The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1912-11-29
iunhre
By THOMAS B. CHEEVER

rise and in the evening at sunset
Twice every day Sergeant Jenkins. in
charge OF morning and evening gun
fire, set the automatic electric appa
ratus connected with the clock gov
eminent time, so that circuit would
be made by which the gun should be
fired by almanac time. Colonel Marti
net was SO exact in all things that be
was meditating the erection Of small
astronomical observatory on the pa
rade i'm which the sun might he Oh
served every cloudless day IN its pas
sage across the meridian and the time
figured from the observation 10 the
fraction of a second.
And now, what had happened:
Though it was midwinter and thu al
manac gave sunrise on that particular
morning at O'Clock and II minutes.
the garrison was aroused at O'Clock
and II minutes. or three hours before
daylight, by the morning gun.
Colonel Martinez. who had beeii
dreaming that be was commanding Il
siege force and mlle had been ex
plOded under him and his men. blow
ing them SKY high. ieaind out or bt'i.
glanced out through his window. saw
that there was not the slightest sign
of dawn. looked at his watch. the
hour hand of which stood at O'Clock
and exclaimed:
We'll. I'll be jnged"'
What is it, dpar?" asked his wife
with yawn.
What is it? Guntirp at 4 o'clock
and II minutes. The service is 70
ing to the deuce. Why. never III all
my military life since was Il pelp at
the Point have known guntire to be
a minute late or early Whoever is re-
sponsible for this shall suffer for it
well. you can't discipline him till
morning. You'd better get back into
bed and go to sleep"
The colonel got back into bed, but
not to sleep. for the remainder Of the
morning till 6 O'Clock he was cOnjuring
up puniShments for Sergeant Jenkin2
and when he arose had not found any
that the army regulations would per
NIT severe enough TO meet the case.
At 9 O'Clock exactly the colonel was
in his office, and his orderly was seen
by groups of those who were waiting
for the outcome of the terrible irregu
larity to hurry toward the quarters of
Sergeant Jenkins. The interest aroused
was not solely on account of the gun
having been fired three hours ahead of
time. but because Sergeant jenkins
was a favorite with both officers and
men. He wore five service stripes on
his sleeve and Il medal for bravery in Il
fight with Indians and one with the
Spaniards in Cuba on his breast. He
was few years older than his COM
mander. who had not happened to
see any active service When he en-
tered his commanders Office, stood at
attention and saluted be found there
several of the older officers of the com
mand whom the colonel had summoned,
desiring to be borne out in any severe
punishment ne might see fit to intiict
on the sergeant.
Sergeant Jenkins" said the colonel.
you will explain how the gun hap
pened to be fired this morning SO far
ahead of time"
Il didn't fire it. sir"
who did,"
Some one broke into the firing room.
sir
Some one: What some one? Who
some one?'
LAS soon as heard the gun went
into the room. sir 1t was very dark.
but | saw this some one. whoever it
was. moving away from the electric
key"
swell? Go on"
He got out before could get him."
open?'
Neither. sir He was little fell
low and came through small hole"
WAS he a soldier? You could sure
" tell that by his uniform.
HE didn't belong to the cavalry.
sir. There was no yellow about him"
ANY red?'
mo, sir He wasn't an artilleryman.
either"
Then he must have been an infan-
tryman."
well. sir, it was so dark ! couldn't
see. but there was no lively color to
his coat But got him. sir P"
Got him!''
Eyes, sir set trap for him.
''Set trap: Why. you didn't sup
pose he was fool enough to come back
after such a breach of discipline. did
you?"
1T was hunger. sir. haited the
trap with something he liked. Then
/ went TO bed and fell asleep. In -he
morning | found him in the trap"
Explain yourself. sergeant. don't
understand you Found whom In the
trap?"
"A mouse"
There was silence for few mo-
ments; then the corners of the mouths
of the colonel's subordinate officers be
gan to quirk up. The sergeant con
tinued:
He got into the room. sir. by gnaw-
ing hole and while foraging about
II