Short Story by Ella Freer in
Conkey's Home Journal
The Little Tough Sergeant
r i -
lAC'K, oh, Jaik, please, please, do
lukc me with you!"
Pretty llttlo Mabel Brownlee
had her arms about the ncctk of
handsome, stalwart, brown
tanned Captain Bertrand, who seemed to be.
much annoyed.
"I can't take you, Mabel, ranch as I wish
you to go. It Isn't to b a picnic. You
probably won't Bee a piece of cake, a lady
finger, a plate of ice cream or even a good
sandwich In the Philippine If you go
there and a fellow can't be on the Bring
line with Ilia wife with him. The Twen
tieth U booked for the firing line, (rood and
hard, and you can't be there. Now don't
be a little Billy! tie a woman and wait for
me, like a true sweetheart as you are."
The men of the Twentieth Kansas were
((tormina: the cars at Topeka which were
to take them to San Francisco. There,
after drill and "Hitting up," they were
to set sail for the fur-away Philippines,
flood-by eH had been raid, and in a few
moments the train would be speeding west
ward toward tho Golden Gate.
Captain Bertram, eager to see active
service, was quivering with excitement,
and pretty Mabel, some day to be his wife,
wan quite secondary In his thoughts. Again
lie Haid: "Don't be a sweet little silly,
Mabel! Of course, you can't go with tl.e
regiment! Women are not allowed, you
know. It wouldn't be the proper thing--you.
among such a crowd of rough mar..
Now wait for me, my darling, and we'll
be married the very minute the war's over.
That won't be long. We'll knock tl
Spaniards endwise."
As ho spoke his eyes wandered rest
lessly over the surging mass of enthuslustlo
men, his bright eyes shlnlug and his facn
aflame.
"What If you should get killeu. Jack?"
nsked Mabel, her lips quivering with pain.
"I won't be near you, dear, and you'll iie
all alone!"
"I won't die. Mabel, as long as I have
your prayers, my sweet pet; but then, many
a better fellow than I ever hepe to be bis
gone down." Then, seeing the lines of
anguish in her face, he added lightly
"But. dear, I can't bo killed. I have a
nascot!"
The men were in the coaches, the train
ready to Btart, and still Mabel bell
tier soldier-lover in her arms.
"You are setting a bad example, for your
nen, f'aptaln Bcrtrsnd!" said a stem voice
Uehind them, and as they turned tho old
major or Jack's battalion, his face dark an 1
evere, confronted them. "I hope you w!il
not lag In action In this way. sir!"
Jack's face crimsoned as he saluted hli
superior, and hastily prosslng the fair,
weeping girl to his heart, he kissed her
lipa half a doien times, gathered bis swotd
under his arm and ran to the train. Spring
ing upon the lower step of the platform,
ha was fairly dragged aboard by willing,
lusty bauds. Leaning far out from tb
platform, be waved his hat to Mabel, who
stood fluttering her handkerchief, and soot
the cheering regiment was oat o sight.
Mabel and Jack bad been sweethearts
since early childhood, but her parents
would not listen to a marrlngr. When Jack
volunteered for the 8pnnlnh-Amerlian war
Mabel's father, a stiff-necked, positive oil
man. said: "rt's 'he -rrssible thin?
Jack ever dnno in his whole darned life."
"Ah doun' b'lleve Jack's a cowahd." sild
the old man; "but jes' wuthless. Ah fit
for foah year lata th' Rebellyum. an' Ah
know a tight lu' nun when Ah see him. A
hope Jaik'll find seine flghtin'!"
"I Just believe you want to git Jae't
silled." sobbed Mabel.
"Ah want ter see w'at stuff s In 'Ini."
Insisted the okl man, stoutly. "Kf he's
w'at Ah t'nk lie is. he can have yer. He's
(op'lar, case they made 'Irn captain of h's
romp ay. aa' Ah re glad no cowdhd nevah
come cotln' man daughtah. Ah It foah
year fa' th' south, but ef Ah was a' yottnt
wan Ah'd fight fer th' flag now."
After Jack had gone with his company
to Topeka. the state rendezvous, M-.
Browutee went around among his friend
praising Jack for his manliness, snd sail
he was "jes" th" man Ah want fer a sot-la-law;
Jaik'll fight!"
Jack was not. generally speaking, a
young man of nronalse, although populai ;
the rjlrls liked him. he .was the leader li
ail manly Bpnrts (and mischief, too) bt t
lie seemed destined to succeed in noth-Iur.
When the government granted Kansat'
appeal to raise troops for the SpauUh
American war, Jack was among the Brit
to volunteer, raised a company, and was
elected captain, lie loved a soldier's li'i
The aight previous to his departur foi
Topeka he called upon Mabel. Illi unlfcrm
Iv't off bin mauly proportions, and Mabel
was so stirred she could do nothing but
kiss and hug him.
"Yosb uiil lob m fits yen all right," wea aid
man Browalee's only remark, ''but hit
depen's wsuthah th' front or th' otUah
aide la shown to th' eaemy ! Dao't fergtl
that, youag man! Duo' yeah come prow lis'
roun' heah any moh If a bullet doa' ait
' yon squah f"m iu front."
Mr. Brownies permitted Mabel to go to
Topeka (accompanied by Uer mother) to
see Jack away, and the old lady eried, too,
when the train left.
"Shoot straight. Jack!" she shouted at
him, "an' don't ketch cold!"
"I'll Just give Jack a aurprl.se," said
Mnbel to herself, as she lay in her bed
that night at the hotel. He'll take me to
tho Philippines just the same!" and her
mind being mad up, she went smilingly
to sleep. When little Mabel once made
up her mind she waa as "set" aa ber old
father, and the latter knew it. He was
glad when Ja,ck volunteered for service fn
the army, for be was perfectly aware that,
sooner or later, Mabel and Jack would
marry, and the old gentleman wanted, a
son-in-law who wss "wuth sump'n."
Great was Captain Bertrand's surprise
when Mabel put in an appearance one
day at the camp near the Presido, at San
Francisco. She was prettier than ever;
she waa so pretty, In fact, that officers
and men of the Twentieth made the most
ludicrous mistakes In tactics and other
things because they couldn't keep their
eyes off of her Instead of attending to their
military duties. Even old Major Bowers
issued an Incorrect order one day, much
to the surprise of the regiment and the
chagrin of the veteran.
"I've come to be married. Jack, and I'm
going to the Philippine!!" was the astound
ing announcement, delivered calmly.
That was all there was to It, and there
being bo way out of It, Jack told the
major, and the major told the colonel.
The major did not neglect to inform the
colonel also (whose mind was busy with
other things) that Captain Bertrand waa
the luckiest dog he ever knew. "It ought
to be a regimental wedding, colonel," said
the nwjer.
"Why?" asked the colonel shortly. "This
regiment Isn't a matrimonial bureau."
"No other regiment here, colonel, has
ever had one," suggested the major, "and
we'll beat 'em all out."
If there was anything the colonel loved
it was to beat the other fellow, whoever
he might be, and so he agreed to the plan.
The colonel wasn't a man of many words.
"Hut bow the devil Is she to get to the
Philippines?" asked the colonel suddenly.
"Oh. she'll get there somehow." answered
the major wisely. "That girl'd marry the
czar if she made ber mind up to do it."
Then be told the colonel the whole
story; how he bud reprimsnded Jack at
Topeka. and how the girl bad "showed
up at San Francisco," and the colonel
laughed until bis Bides were sore.
"Go ahead!" said the colonel, plunging
into the mass of business before him, and
the major, who made himself master of
ceremonies, went ahead. It was the most
elaborate function of the season In San
Francisco, aod more than a mere regi
mental affair; for the general officers and
their staffs, and the colonel and all his
officers, and the regiment and high the
high-up society people of the city were
there; aod Mabel received presents val
uable ones, too from all sides.
The regiment gave ber cheers tare times
three, and all through the ceremonies (the
wedding and the reception) Mabel waa
as cool as rose oa a dewy morning, while
Jack swore the heat was something tre
mendous. "It must be eight thousand In
the shade!" said he.
Mabel, although now a married woman,
had thirteen hundred ardent admirers,
bound tightly to her by knots of admira
tion, among whom was the first sergeant of
Jack's company th Little Tonga Sergeant,
tltey called him. O, but be waa tough!
There wasn't the slightest doubt of It! He
wax wicked, too; ia fact, he was so bad
the regiment couldn't cvea take pride In
him.
This Little Tough Sergeant inspired ter
ror among the men, sad commanded re
xpect on the part of the officers. He sever
lid anything because It was right.' nor re
f raised from doing anything because It
might be wrong; he exhibited llttl or BO
moral sense, but he was a desd shot, quick
on the trigger and absolutely devoid of
fear.
While the Twentieth was being drilled,
put ia order aad recruited at Topeka, he
slouched into the recruiting office one alt
craooo and said he wanted to enlist. The
recruiting officer, a veteran of the reg
ular army, asked him if he could handle
firearms, and be ai-J he could. Could he
ride? Yes. Had he ever scooted? Yes.
Had he ever been In th raak? Yes. The
recruiting officer Jumped at the chaace, aad
put the newcomer on the roster. He had
fuoght Isdlaas for twenty years, sad rould
distingaUh a uui of Ashing breed at a
glance.
What name th recruit assigned himself
dueaa't matter. This is a story cootalaiag
sum facts, and the-Basse gives) by the re
cruit was doubtless bo fart.
He was ssade Brat sergeant of Jack's
cosa pa ay. aad whea the asea under hiss
lobkej tale hia eyes they coarlaaled to
obey say asd every order he chsa to give
aod obey it la a hurry. WW a oa doty
tltry called hiss "Sevgeaal." aod said "Yea.
sir." aad "No. sir.' whea ho pot isooiries
to them; when off duty they said nothing
to him. whatever, for he waa uoi ia the
leant companionable; never joked, never
laughed, nor had words with any one.
Although bo' was a blonde and a
freckled as the firmament oa a clear, sum-
mcr night, the men did not call him
"Sandy," even to themselves; very thin he
wsh, and yet he was never dubbed "Fatty;"
low in stature, he was never referred to as
"Lengthy." It was feared he might resent
those familiar and endearing diminutives
common among soldier comrades, and as no
man In the regiment could "draw" with
him, the Little Tough Sergeant was al
lowed to wend his way in peace and quiet.
Colonel Funiton was tickled to death
when be heard of him. "He'll be a treasure
when we get to fighting in the Philip
pines!" was the only comment of the llttlu
red-headed commander.
The angry glance of the Llttlo Tough
Sergeant was a death warrant.
Mabel was passing a squad bne day, the
Little Tough Sergeant being in command.
Ho was a thorough disciplinarian, and the
"awkward squad" under him was soon re
duced to obedient, well-drilled ni' n. Mabel
smiled upon the men, and the order was
at once given "present arms!"
"Thank you," said Mabel, as she parsed
along tho line. "May I give you a rose,
sergeant?"
The Little Tough Sergeant, standing
erect and motionless, made no sign, and
then Mabel, with her own pretty fingers,
pinned the rose upon his breast. When
she had passed from sight the drill was
resumed. It was whispered about the com
pany tents that night that the Little Tough
Sergeant was seen to carefully unpin the
rose, press It to his lips, and then hide it
under his coat.
"He's the beet man In the company,"
said. Jack, "and I'll bet he's the best In
tho entire regiment."
After that Mabel never failed to smile
upon the Little Tough Sergeant when she
met htm, and he always stood at "atten
tion" as she passed.
At last the wt?.ome order to sail for
Manila came, and the men of the regiment
were in a perfect frenzy of delight. Thero
was one sad and heavy little heart, how
ever. Mabel knew there waa an order
which prohibited women from sailing on
the transport. Sorrowful, also, were tho
men of Captain Bertrand's company. S.i
sweet and dainty a woman as the wife of
the captain would be like a bit of sun
shine on board during the loug and weary
voyage.
The day before the regiment sailed
Mabel met the Utile Tough Sergeant, and
was seen to stop and speak to him. He
said nothing, but she was much In earn it
through it all. He stood at "attention"
a't the time and when they parted he had
not said a word.
The day the regiment sailed was a mem
orable one for San FranelBeo. Down Mar
ket street from the Presidio to the wharf
the troops marched proudly, Jack at the
head of his company.
"That fellow'll be a fine mark for some
sharp shooter." remarked a gray-beaded
spectator in a pitying tone, and many an
other looker-cn thought so, too.
To Jack's surprise (and relief. also)
Mabel did not take the parting so hard a3
he feared. She was tearful, as might have
been expected, but not downrast.
"You're a brave little one, after all!" he
declared, "and I want you to pray for me.
Your prayers will do for both of us. I'll
be too busy for much else than fighting.'.'
"I'll see you again, some of these days.
Jack," she said, as she kissed him good
bye. "But I'll be brave, as becomes a sol
dier's wife, until we meet again, my darl
ing." Jack bogged and kissed her heartily and
sprang aboard. He turned to wave his hat
to her, but she was nowhere to be seen.
"Poor sweetheart!" he thought. "I'll bt
she's crying ber little eyes out. She bore
up before me, but when my back was turned
ho Sew to some quiet place to have a good
cry. I Just know the did."
Probably the transport had traversed 200
miles when strange and startling ronton
regarding a stowaway (a woman at that)
began to circulate throughout the ship.
She was pretty, too, it was said, la spite
of her badly-ntttcg uniform.
"Ill put up a month's psy I know who
. Is It." chuckled the major ia reply to aa
Inquiry from the colonel.
"Well, out with it! Who ia "lie?" de
manded the colonel, half laughing, half In
dignant.
"If it's aobody. colunel. It's that little
wife of Captain IVrtrand!"
"It won't be so funny when I get thrcugh
with him!" remarked the cole net unpleas
antly. Captain Bertrsisd was ordered to appear
sefor the colonel, and he straightway
obeyed. Oa hi way to the colonel's eba
a great light broke in upon him. "Mabel
said she'd see me before long," he mused.
"asd 1 ws a big fool aot to know what
ah meant. I'm no match for h-r! Shs's
the stoosway. as sure aa I'm ci this boat."
"We have a woosaa oa board," remarked
the eotaateL
' "So I hove heard, eolonef," he answered
respectfully.
"Any Jdea, alio she may be?" aiked the
colonel, with a barely perceptible talnkle
lu his eye.
'Til risk my life that it's my wife!" Jack
bursts out.
"And of course you didn't have any notion
she was on board, eh?"
"On my honor, colonel, I did not!"
"Well," the colonel went on to sny,
"knowing what a fearless little thing she
Is, I believe, with you, she's the stowaway.
Let us find out."
The little stowaway, accompanied by the
Little Tough Sergeant, was brought to
the colonel's cabin, and lo! It was Mabel.
Blushing, crying and happy, she ran Into
Jack's arm, and stood looking defiantly at
the colonel and the major. The rumor
that her clothes didn't fit her was very
much of a fact, while her beautiful hair,
having broken loose from Its moorings,
flowed in long ripples down her bark.
"Orders regarding women on board army
transports are rigid!" said the colonel,
endeavoring to be very stern. He then
began turnlig over several sheets of paper
relating to supplies, munitions of war
and ether th!:;;; regarding stowaways on
army transports. "She can't remain here."
"I want to die with you. Jack," she whis
pered; "let's ask the colonel to throw us
overboard together!"
"What's that?" demanded the colonel.
"No whispering here."
"We want to be thrown overboard to
gether, if you please, colonel!" faltered
Mabel.
"There Is nothing In the orde' justifying
me In throwing your husband ovetbotrd,
madam," rejoined the colonel, "but I don't
see anything else to do with you."
"I am compelled to obey the orders of
the colonel, Mabel." said Jack, "and he las
ordered me to go with him to Manila. I'm
needed, you know. The regiment can't af
ford to lose a captain!"
There was a burst of laughter from Ihi
colonel and the major, and Mabel knew
the matter was settled tlrtit overboard sha
was not to go.
"If I had a wife liVe that," growled the
major. "I d "
"That isn't the question," Interpoeed tho
colonel, "what nrc we to do with Mrs.
IUrtrand?"
' If you please, sir," the major said, "the
regulations permit women as nurses upon
transports, and "
"I think the matter may be compromised
la some way." tbc colonel asserted re
flectively, and to Mabel went through to
Manila with the regiment. The men were
dinloycl to their country in being loyal
only to Mabel; the rules and regulations
went ailril't; the sailors were looking at
her when they should have been attending
to their duties; aul it was a wonder the
transport didn't run into a continent or
something before ii reached its destina
tion. Mabel went ashore in great state, several
warships in the harbor firing big guns at
her, but there were no courts martial over
the matter.
"Now tell me, hoto6tly, M1." said Jack
the night of the discovery, "whr put you
on board this transport?"
"Ho won't get into trouble, will he?'
queried Mabel.
"He's apt to."
"Why, I wouldn't get tho Little Tough
Sergeant Into "
"Oh, he's the one. is he?"
"I didn't say It was, if you please, sir!
Tou won't speak to him about It, will
you, Jack?" Mabel pleaded.
"No-o," answered Judt renVetlvtly. "I
won't. The regiment might loae a captain
after all."
When the regiment entered upon duty
In Luzon the prophecy of the colonel that
the Little Tough Sergeant would prove a
"treasure" wti fulfilled. Nothing seemed
to tire him: be was. apparently, on duty
all day and night; he hungered anl thiis oi
for no place but the very front of (ho
firing line; whatever be could e h could
hit, and he could spot a Filipino s far as
his rifle carried. Whenever hi Krag Jor
geasen spoke it meant business.
There was not a man In th: brig.ulo
ski could gt a wagon and tram out of
the mud like ti Ultle Tough Sergeant.
He even put life into the torpid Luxon.te
oxen. Each one is slower than two snsi'.s,
slrnag as Atlas and ranch disclined to any
sort of exertion. Whenever a wagon be
came firmly rcoted In the mud they sent
for the Liitle Tough Sergeant, whrse in
fluence over animals was untually s'.roog
wonderful, in fact. As soon as he openr.l
up. each individual ox seemed Imbued with
elee.lric life, and it Is said the records of
the Twentieth Kansas show that on un
usually hot day a double, team of oxen not
only pulled a wagon loaded with ammu
oi'icn out of the deepest rut in the miriest
rort of all Luxon, but pulled the rut out
. also, clear up on the dry land.
The Little Tough Sergeant waa the
mules' delight. These usually obstinate
creatures would break their backs for him.
They love a bus who knows what be is
talking about, although they hsve ssull
ear for ordinary oratory. And they never
failed to appreciate what ihs Little Tough
ierrer( had t ir.
Busy enough were th men of the Twen
tieth in Luxon. When it was possible Jack
too a run to Manila, h"re Mabel was. but
this was not often. One day the LittM
Tough Sergeant being with him, he told
Mabel he was to take a, small scoulii g
