The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1917-09-07
An Army Officer S
Story
BY r. A. mitchell

ihC Oiu Ohltth DAhlto WIS
formerly not what it is today. 1t was
largely made up of men who had fail
ed TO make living and had enlisted
that they might be taken care of. Aft
erward, when the army was made
larger, educated young men enlisted
hoping by diligent service to win a
commission. Since the breaking out
Of the worlds war many men of re.
flnement who feel it their duty to fight
for their country are to be found in the
ranks.
At time the army was full of low
grade men l was in what was then
the far west In command of two
company post. There was little to do,
and my men were much given to drink.
Where the liquor came from | did not
know. Liquor was prohibited, and
kept u man | could trust at the only
entrance to the fort " inspect all sup
plies that were admitted, to make sure
that none was brought in.
Nevertheless the drunkenness con-
tinued. In those days when man in
the army was found drunk he was
taken to the pump and water was
pumped over his head remember
an amusing incident when one of my
men was being wetted down. He said
in his maudlin way starting on his de-
fense:
II tell you, major there's n lot Of
rascality In this post"
80 | see by your condition." I re-
Piled "and we're trying to work 1t
out Of you"
| had no detective TO put on the
track to find out how the liquor was
smuggled in. So | must remain in the
dark. Undoubtedly some of the men
knew how the trick was done, but how
many | could not find out. Probably
the number was limited, for If there
had been many in the secret 1t would
have leaked out. 1t is the duty of
noncOmmissioned officer who knows of
any irregularity going on among the
men to report 1t, but | got no such re-
port. They were all good men, and
judged they were not in the secret.
Farmers living about the fort brought
in provisions, consisting Of vegetables,
fruit, butter, eggs and such like. 1t Oc-
CURED to me that some one OF the
farmers who were furnishing these
supplies must be bringing the liquor.
But my sentry at the gate declared
that they exposed all their wares
when they entered and there was moth
ing that could contain liquor. One
could not carry fluid of any kind III an
onion or n crock Of butter-that is, un.
less the crock had false bottom.
Every receptacle like crock, n basket
or IA tin can had been repeatedly exam
ined and no spirits found.
Chickens ana ducks were plentiful
about ms, and 1t occurred to me that
small glass or tin can might be hidden
In each fowl, the birds being always
brought In dressed ready for Use. |
had number of them cut open, but
found nothing.
My wife had maid, who was re.
ceiving attention from one of the men.
] asked my wife If she could not use
her maid TO find out through her sol
dier lover where the men We're getting
their liquor. My wife had talk with
the woman, who declared that her sol
dler never drank himself, consequently
he wns not trusted with the secret.
Since lie was never caught In any of
the drunks that occurred | was forced
to believe the story.
Through n mistake of the maid the
secret was made plain to me one morn
ing without the assistance of detec-
tive or any one else.
l always ate an egg for breakfast.
On tue morning In question our cook
was on the sick list and the maid
cooked ana served the breakfast. She
brought me in my coffee, my toast
and my egg, the latter In an egg cup
for l usually ate my eggs boiled-and
sat them all down before me. Then
she retired, leaving me alone with my
wife. who snt opposite me. l broke the
small end of the egg, which was upper
most, and removed the broken part
with my knife.
Instead of the odor OF eggs l smelled
the odor OF whisky. Bending over it,
perceived yellow fluid Pouring a
little of the fluid into glass, slipped
whisky.
The secret was out. The shell had
never been laid by hen, but had been
manufactured of plaster OF paris.
Realizing that must discover who
was bringing IN these egg drinks
emptied the whisky into bowl and
put the shell IN my pocket. Then my
wife sent the maid out with message
10 n friend. and while she was gone
we searched our lnrder. We found
concealed there several dozen whisky
eggs. They We're being stored by my.
self, the cOmmandant of the post.
1t was evident that the maid was IA
vorlng her lover who was undoubtedly
the dealer In these drinks. When the
maid returned from her errand my
wife took her to the hiding place of
the liquor and broke one of the egg
shells. The maid was, of course, much
disconcerted. In some way she had
unintentlonally got hold OF Il whisky