Who is Carlier from Short Story Masterpieces and what is their importance?

Carlier is a character in the story, Outpost of Progress. He is the assistant chief of the outpost station in Africa. Carlier is described as a tall man with long, thin legs. He is a military man by nature and has only come to the outpost because his family, tired of his laziness, has given him no other option. Carlier is often moody,and quarrelsome.