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Uncle Sam's Boys in the Ranks, a novel by H. Irving Hancock |
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Chapter 18. The Anonymous Letter |
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_ CHAPTER XVIII. THE ANONYMOUS LETTER IT was a four days' wonder, and then it dropped. The search at barracks had revealed nothing. There was not a soldier on the post against whom any tangible suspicion pointed. "There's just one way that a clue might be found," muttered Private Bill Hooper, one morning in Sergeant Hupner's squad room. "In time it may turn out that a sweetheart of some soldier gets some pretty jewelry trinkets given to her." He glared covertly, though meaningly, at Hal Overton. But Hal was far enough away neither to see nor to hear Hooper's fling. "You'll never get caught on that trick, Bill," jeered Private Hyman. "No girl would look at you, even if you displayed the whole of the missing jewelry." "I've had my share of sweethearts in my day," growled big Private Hooper. "That was before your face changed for worse," grinned Hyman. "Don't get gay with me," warned Hooper sulkily, "or your face may suffer some changes!" "Go over and thump the kid," proposed Hyman. It was Hal who was meant by the term "kid." "I don't like that youngster," muttered Hooper. "And I don't trust him, either." "That'll never worry Hal Overton," smiled Hyman. "Hooper, you look so untidy that it's a wonder Sergeant Hupner doesn't 'call' you oftener for it. And you clean up your rifle about once a fortnight. Look at Overton over there." Hal was at work with his kit of cleaning tools, going over his rifle as methodically and industriously as though it were a piece of rare silver plate. "He'll rub and polish that old piece of his until he wears it out," mumbled Hooper. "One of the surest signs of the good soldier is when you see him putting in a lot of his spare time caring for his uniforms and equipments," broke in Sergeant Hupner, behind them. "Hooper, go and brush your uniform, and clean your boots and polish 'em. I'll report you, if I see you so slouchy in the future." Bill Hooper moved away, scowling. Sergeant Gray strode in at that moment. "Do you want leave to go to town to-day, reporting back at tattoo, Hyman?" inquired the first sergeant. "Thank you, yes, Sergeant." "All right; I'll turn you in on the list to Captain Cortland. I'll notify you of leave within half an hour." Then he stepped over to Hal. "Overton, you haven't had any leave to visit town since you joined. Would you like to take leave to-day?" "No, Sergeant, thank you." Sergeant Gray looked his surprise. "Why not?" he demanded. "I have too much to learn right here, Sergeant. I'm going to stick, and work, until I'm out of the recruit class." "Good boy!" murmured Gray, in an undertone, and passed on. But Gray stopped when he came up with Hupner. "Hupner, you've got a valuable man in Overton." "I know it, Sergeant." "Give him all the little points you can that will take him out of the recruit class promptly." "Why, Sergeant," smiled Hupner, "Overton can go out of the recruit class at about any time now. Report him for the guard detail any time that you want. He'll make good. He's keen on every bit of his work. He can go through his manual of arms like a juggler. He has studied his infantry drill regulations until he's about worn the book out; he knows his manual of guard duty by heart, and it would be mighty hard to trip him anywhere in his small arms firing manual. Have you noticed his facings and his marching at drill?" "Yes," nodded Sergeant Gray thoughtfully. "The boy's a good one, all right." "Take it from me, Sergeant--you needn't hesitate to detail the kid for guard or any other duty. He'll suit Captain Cortland." "I'll detail him for guard, then, as soon as I can," returned Sergeant Gray. "That gives a young soldier confidence as soon as anything else ever does." As often as is practicable enlisted men are given a day's leave, with permission to go off post and visit the nearest town. This leave is given to men known to be of good conduct. A "bad" soldier, when one is found, gets little in the way of leave. Whenever a soldier or an ex-soldier is found slandering the Army service it is invariably safe to set him down as a man who, through very poor soldierly qualities, or actual viciousness, got "in the bad books" of his officers. There is every desire on the part of regimental and company officers to make it pleasant for a truly good soldier, and to keep him in the service until he has reached retiring age. The man who gets into bad company when away on leave is the soldier who has the most difficulty in getting leave another time. On the other hand, the soldier of good conduct can have much leave during the month. It is a practice at many posts, when a man has a trade, and can get small jobs to do near the post, to allow him as many half days for that work as may be granted him without injury to the service. In this way handy men or mechanics among the soldiers often add many dollars to their pocket money. As Private Bill Hooper went away to clean up his uniform and shoes, Hal blithely kept at work putting his rifle in A 1 order. Both were interrupted, half an hour later, by the bugle call for separate company drill. Private Overton was among the first on the drill ground. His clothing looked as though it had just come from the tailor's; his rifle had the appearance of being fresh from the arsenal. "There's a man for you, Hyman," spoke Sergeant Hupner, in an undertone. "If the kid keeps on as he has started he'll be a winner." "I've had my eye on him," nodded Private Hyman. "He seems to be good all the way through." "Is he ever a little bit fresh in the squad room?" continued Sergeant Hupner. "If the kid is," replied Hyman, "I've never happened to be around at that time. But he stands up for himself when he has to. I suppose you've heard, Sergeant, how he trimmed Bill Hooper off?" "Yes," nodded Hupner; "that sort of thing won't hurt Hooper at all, either." "Hooper may lay for a chance to accuse Overton of something in the squad room that the kid didn't do." "I'll have my eyes open for Hooper," replied Hupner dryly. "I haven't anything against any of the other sergeants in this battalion, but I really wish some other sergeant had Hooper in his squad room." "B Company fall in," sounded the voice of Captain Cortland. First Lieutenant Hampton and the sergeants hastened to their posts, while the corporals and privates went to their places in the ranks. The command for open order was given, after which Captain Cortland commanded: "Inspect the second platoon, Lieutenant Hampton." With that the company commander himself passed behind the backs of the men of the first platoon, looking each man over keenly. "Private Hooper, fall out!" ordered Captain Cortland sharply. When the captain had finished his own work, and Lieutenant Hampton had reported all men in the second platoon to be soldierly in appearance, Captain Cortland turned to Bill Hooper with a look of disapproval. "Private Hooper, this is the third time within a month that you've failed to report in neat and soldierly appearance. Who is in charge of your squad room?" "Sergeant Hupner, sir." "Sergeant Hupner," resumed the captain, "what have you to say to this man's appearance?" "I ordered him, at least a half an hour ago, sir, to clean himself up." "Keep right after Private Hooper, Sergeant. If he fails again to keep himself as a soldier should, report him to the first sergeant." Hooper's face burned darkly. Even honest Sergeant Hupner flushed. A shiftless soldier is a sore trial to the sergeant responsible for him. Now, at the brisk command, B Company moved off in column of fours. A long practice march followed. While out, the company was halted and drilled searchingly. It was a hard morning's work, B Company returning just in time for dinner. In the afternoon there was another drill. Parade wound up the day. On his return from parade Lieutenant Wright, the adjutant, found in his office mail a letter that caused him a good deal of astonishment. "A FRIEND." _ |
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