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Colonel Harrison’s resent the previous summer when, in a vile mood, the colonel had ordered a man who had done no more than oversleep reveille to be punished with twenty lashes He was sick unto death of the drunkenness of his nored the looks of hatred froan to hurt He wasn’t a bad man; he just wanted to enforce discipline at his post

When Captain Montgomery stepped forward to protest the punishment, Colonel Harrison saw red He infore of the fort and unless the captain meant to take the man’s punisho his jacket that the colonel realized what he meant to do

It was the worst o back to bed and start the day over Captain Montgoomery—took all twenty of theto have a mutiny on his hands when all the enlisted men refused to wield the whip In the end a second lieutenant applied the whip to Montgomery’s broad back, and when he was finished he threw the whip into the dirt and turned on the colonel, his eyes blazing with hatred “Anything else…sir?” he’d asked, sneering the last word

For teeks hardly anyone on the post spoke to the colonel—including his oife and daughter As for the captain, he was back on duty the next ri him That he wouldn’t even commit himself to the infirmary for a few days was the last straw Fro to conceal his loathing for the captain Of course the captain never once betrayed what he felt for the colonel; no, perfect huive ahat they feel He just continued to be the perfect officer: a friend to theescort to the ladies A man trusted by all A s Aside of the bed A man who never tripped on his horse’s stirrup orto shoot A man ould probably smile in the face of death

But now, Colonel Harrison thought, noas going to get rid of this perfect ton had requested an escort for so to send the illustrious Captain Montgomery “I hope she’s fat,” the colonel said aloud “I hope she’s real fat”

“Sir?” his corporal asked from his desk on the other side of the room

“Nothing,” the colonel barked “Send Captain Montgonored the look the corporal gave him

Proo There wasn’t a speck of dust on the captain’s dark blue uniform, which he suspected had been privately tailored to fit the captain’s six-foot-three-inch frame

“You wanted to seeat attention

Colonel Harrison wondered if the ton Ever hear of him?”