The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1914-12-22

.HOBsOWS RETURN
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pyaM. QUAD

NNTIWE0T
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II was all over with Private John
Hobson. For two years he had been
q member OF Companyc Seventh regi:
ment, stationed on the frontier, and
ever since the frst week he had been
on the blacklist. He got drunk; he
disobeyed orders; he Quarreled with
his comrades; he fell asleep on sentry
duty; he left thetpoSt without leave;
he was the most Bloven1y man Of his
company. 1t was far easier to tell
what he hadn't done than what he had.
Private John Hobson had been ad:
ytsed, reprimanded, sent to the guard.
house, mulcted of his pay, given extra
duty and threatened with court.mar.
tial, but after two years he was the
same man still. It vas inevitable that
the end would come, and come 1t did,
He was courtmarialed on about a
dozen charges and convicted on all OF
them, and the sentence vas that he be
Imprisoned for n year and then be
discharged in disgrace. It was a duty
the officers owed the regiment and the
service, and yet they felt a bit sorry
for the victim. He was morally ire
sponsible rather than vicious. The
devilin him had more likely descended
than developed.
"I'm sorry for you in a way" said
the colonel, but It was no use trying
to do anything with you. I never saw
a man like you. You have been
charged with everything but coward
ice, and IL we had not been at peace
with the Indians that charge would
probably have been included"
~ know I've made a lot OF trouble,
colonel" replied the man, "but nobody
can call me a coward. II we'd had a
fight l know I'd have been in it with
the rest"
"such men as you are shirks when
there is any fighting to be done. Your
barrack brawls don't signify soldlerly
courage. It's no use to talk, however;
you know your sentence"
Hobson was sent to the guardhouse
to wait for the day when he should be
sent of under escort, and the sergeant
OF tho guard vas surprised to see his
prisoner shed tears.
"You ought to have known 1t would
come" he said. In sarcastic sympathy.
Look here, sergeant" said the man,
as he crowded back his emotions, the
colonel called me a coward"
well. do you find any fault about
tt?"
DO you believe I'm one?"
"of course"
"And does Corporal Stanley and all
the boys believe 500"
"Not q doubt Oft.
Good God. but I can't stand that,
sarge! I've shirked duty and been a
nuisance to everybody, but don't call
me a coward. I'm to be sent to prison
and disgracefully discharged, but
leave me one thing to build up on
again. Call me a devil. a fool and q
lunatIc, but don't say I'd shirk a fight"
Let me tell you something, Hob.
son." said the stern-faced old scr
geant, as he looked the prisoner up
and down in contempt. Judging by
what I've seen Of you I wouldn't agree
to drive a dozen redskins off this res
servation with a thousand men like
you behind me. That's pat, my man.
and you may swallow it or no."
Hobson grew whitefaced and turned
away and wept, while the sentinel al
the door laughed unteelingly and
asked him If he had any Indian scalp
locks to prove his bravery.
why, the sight OF a buck in war
paint would have scared him out of his
shoes!" was the general verdict OF his
comrades, and each and every one
added a wish that he had never come
to the company.
That night Hobson dug his way out
of the guardhouse, and the various
squads sent out next day In search Of
the deserter failed to get any trace Of
him. D~esertion was a fitting climax
to his career, and he would likely be
heard OF next as an outlaw. Weeks
passed and dreary winter gave place
to spring. Sometimes the men won.
dered about Hobson, but nothing was
advanced to his credit. He had got
clear Of, and no one thought to ever
see him again. Indeed, there were
weightier things to think of. The In
dams we're becoming restless. and re-
ports Of war dances we're coming in al
most daily. They might go on the
war path and massacre a dozen set.
tiers and scalp a few teamsters, and
the troops might have a hot chase to
drive them back over the Republican,
but It would end there. The idea that
they might attack any OF the frontier
posts war too absurd. It was 50 ab.
surd that at Fort Wallace no defensive
preparations OF any sort were made.
Even the guard at ths$powder magR,
zine vas limited to one man.
On a certain Wednesday the reports
were more numeroua and disquietipe,
and the men were Daraded aud in'
spected to be ready for an order to
take the field. Il therewas any excite
mant n va1fdhad an fhn cam0anfAE