Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1918-03-15
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
nOBSON'S RETURN
BY M. QUAD.


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1t was all over with Private John
Hobson. For two years he had been
member of Company G, Seventh regi-
ment, stationed on the frontier, and
ever since the first 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 the post without leave;
he was the most slovenly 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-
vised, 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 was inevitable that
the end would come, and come 1t did.
He was court-martialed on about
dozen charges and convicted on all of
them, and the sentence was that he be
imprisoned for one year and then be
discharged in disgrace. 1t was duty
the officers owed the regiment and the
service, and yet they felt q bit sorry
for the victim. He was morally ire
sponsible rather than vicious. The
devil in him had more likely descended
than developed.
I'm sorry for you in a way" said
the colonel, but 1t was no use trying
to do anything with you. never saw
man like you. You have been
charged with everything but coward
ice. and II we had not been at peace
with the Indians that charge would
probably have been included"
II know I've made lot Of trouble.
colonel" replied the man. but nobody
can call me coward. If we'd had
fight know I'd have been In 1t with
the rest"
Such men as you are shirks when
there is any fighting to be done. Your
barrack brawls don't signify soldierly
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 off under escort, and the sergeant
Of the guard was 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
IT."
do you believe I'm one?"
"Of course"
And does Corporal Stanley and all
the boys believe so?"
mot a doubt of It,"
Good God, but / 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 q devil, a fool and a
lunatic, but don't say I'd shirk a fight"
Let me tell you something, Hob
SON." said the stern-faced old SER
geant, as he looked the prisoner up
and down In contempt. Judging by
what I've seen of you 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 1t or no."
Hobson grew white-faced and turned
away and wept, while the sentinel at
the door laughed unfeelingly and
asked him II 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 ono
added a wish that he had never come
to the company.
That night Hobson dug his way out
or the guardhouse, and the various
squads sent out next day In search of
the deserter failed to get any trace of
him. Desertion 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 off, 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 were coming In al
most daily. They might go on the
war path and massacre a dozen set.
ND In fnNs ton nd
the troops might have hot chase to
drive them back over the Republican,
but 1t would end there. The idea that
they might attack any Of the frontier
posts was too absurd. II was 80 abb
surd that at Fort Wallace no defensive
preparations Of any sort we're made.
Even the guard at the powder maya
zine was limited to one man.
On certain Wednesday the reports
we're more numerous and disquieting,
and the men wero paraded and In
spected to be ready for an order TO
take the field. II there was any excite
ment 1t vanished as the companies
marched back to their quarters. The
colonel looked down from the hill into
the peaceful valley with his binocu-
lars and felt relieved. He noticed the
grazing herds-the curling smoke from
the farmhouse chimneys-the pillow.
men in the fields and the freighters on
the winding highway, and he smiled
at the idea Of danger. The hostiles
might do their bloody work oveO the
range to the north, and over the river
to the west, but they would not come
within fifteen miles of the fort.
That night at ten o'clock the sem
tinnel at the gate cried Halt Who
comes there!" Then he called for the
corporal of the guard, and he for the