The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1914-02-14
The Man
Who Wouldn't
Stay Put
BY HAROLD TITUS.
Copyright, 1914, by the Newspa-
per Enterprise Association.)

Ast'sf Nv viz 4NOWbDN-
per Enterprise Association.)
Jimmy Crogan was such a nat
ural born warrior that 1t was a
great effort for him to endure
that season of the year when
peace on earth and good will to-
ward men are supposed to
abound He read constantly-the
history of wars. He studied con-
stantly-the theory of war.
And so it was that when the
regiment was ordered South with
decisive action a certainty and
Lieutenant Jimmy Crogan was
left behind in charge of the post,
all his military training went for
nothing. He damned the depart
ment, damned the colonel,
damned fate, and was damned
sorry he had ever been born.
Anyhow, that's what he said.
1t was humiliating. 1t was de-
grading-torturing.
Long trains numbered up
through the tropical jungles,
crammed with men who talked a
strange language and who were
backed by his tory replete with
gigantic successes. 1t needed no
appeal from Mexico to send the
army across the border.
The officers of the National
Guard were ordered to fill their
ranks. Three days later the mill
tia was ordered under arms, to
move at an hours notice, and
Lieutenant Jimmy walked alone,
with white face and a stiff
tread.
In the morning Lieutenant Gro
gan was missing from the post.
The colonel's ladys and the post
washerwomen talked about II
alike, and in whispers. When two
days passed and no sign of the
man in command had appeared,
the information was wired to
headquarters. The colonel -
Jimmy's colonel-read a copy of
the message just as the recruiting
officer of National Guard regi-
ment was taking the measure
ments of decidedly well-put-up
chap, who answered all the re-
quirements and seemed to be a
whole lot better than most of the
men who made up the militia.
This new man listened with a
bored expression to the sergeant
who was detailed to school the
rockies. He grasped all the move
ments on the instant, it seemed;
once he shook his head and ut
tered what might have been the
first syllable of a protest when
the sergeant launched into a new
explanation. Evidently he thought
better of it, though, for he stared
straight ahead in silence, while a
deep flush stole from his collar to
his hair.
Private Crogan, under another
name, moved south with his regi-
ment. Jimmy enjoyed it immense
ly, in spite of the fact that the
van of the army was SO miles to
the south.
They were to be moved, went
the rumor, after a week of drill
ing under the hot sun, among the
cactus plants. Great was the re-
sultant excitement. The next day
they moved southwark. And one
private was so hilarious, so boy
ishly jubilant, that he almost
laughed aloud in the faces of the
officers at inspection.
1t took all day to go those so
miles. At shutdown they left their
train, marched up rise, gained
the top, and drew one great
breath in unison as they looked at
the army spread out before them.
War! An army! Before. over
the dun country, the enemy! I'm
known, powerful, aggressive!
War!
Cod" breathed private
whose first name was Jimmy, and
the word carried thankful rev.
erence.
In the light of early morning
Jimmy Crogan, stepping lightly, a
smile in his eyes, delighted antici-
patton In his heart, followed a
string of army mules to the rail-
road water tank. Toward them,
walking stiffly, came a man who
wore y decorations of a colonel.
His e fell on the squad of ma
tiop duardsmen and, recogniz-
i'm .neir rank, he looked them
q or curiously. His gaze fell on
James Crogan and he staggered
backward step or two.
Jimmy stopped. He met the
asto. lded look of his old colonel.
clicked his heels together. and
raised his hand in a stiff salute.
Lieutenant Crogan!" the other
cried when he made words out of
his spluttering. Whats the
meaning of this damned BUSH
ness?"
ayes, SIR" muttered Jimmy,
knowing nothing else to say.
j You deserted the post!"
snorted the other.
1cNY'aa sir colonial ranIiad