The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1890-09-25


The colonel Of the Eleventh cavalry
was gentleman who had some pecul-
iarities Of temperament and disposition
This fact is not cited rs q thing at all
unusual, for the unbiased testimony o.
the subalterns and even the troop COM
mAnders Of every cavalry regiment in
service would go far towards establish
ing the fact that all colonies Of cavalry
are similarly afflicted. One Of the salient
peculiarities Of the commanding officer
Of the Eleventh was q conviction that
nothing went smoothly In the regiment
unless the captains were all on duty with
their companies; for, while at any time
Col. Riggs would approve an application
for a lieutenant's leave Of absence, 1t
was worse than pulling teeth to get him
TO do likewise for Q gentleman with the
double bars on his shoulder. "Con-
found the mani" growled Capt. Greene,
"here I've been seven years with my
troop, saving up for q six months leave,
and the old rip disapproves It'll What on
earth can fellow SayT'
you didn't go about It right, Green
ey," was the calm rejoinder Of . COM
rade who had been similarly "cut" the
year previous you should have laid
dege to him through madame . month
or so. What she says as to who goes on
leave and who doesn't IL law at head
quarters, and l know It. Now, you
watch Noel. That fellow Is wiser in his
generation than all the rest Of us put to-
gether. Il isn't six months ince he got
back from his staff detail, and see how
constant he is in his attentions to the old
lady. Now, I'll bet you anything you
like the next plum that tumbles into the
regiment will go to his nav and nobody
else's."
Riggs wouldn't have the face to give
anything to Noel-in the way Of detached
duty, l mean. l heard him say when
'Gordy' was coming back to the regiment
that he wished he had the power to
transfer subs from troop to troop; he'd
put Noel with the most exacting captain
he knew and eif he couldn't get little
square service out Of the fellow"
That's all right, Greene. That's what
he said dx months ago, before Noel was
really back, and before he had begun
doing the devoted to her ladyShip at
headquarters. Riggs wouldn't say 90
now-much less do 1t. She wouldn't let
him, comrade mine; and you know 1t.
"Noel has been doing first rate since
he got back, Jim," said Capt. Greene.
after q pause.
"oh, Noel's no bad soldier in garrison
at drill or parade. It's field work and
scouting that knocks him endwise; and
II there's an Indian within q hundred
miles Well, you know IS much a.
I do on that subject"
Greene somewhat gloomily nodded as
sent, and his companion, being wound
up for the day, plunged ahead with his
remarks;
"Now, I'm Just putting this and that
together, Greene, and I'll make you Q
bet. Riggs has managed things ever
since he has been colonel 90 that . leu
tenant is ordered detached for recruiting
service and never . captain. II won't b0
long before Lane gets his promotion;
and I'll bet you even before he gets II
Riggs will have his letter slimming to
Washington begging his immediate 70
call and nominating Q sub to take his
place. III give you odds on that; and
III bet you even that the sub he names
viii be Gordy Noel"
But, though he secuted the idea,
Greene would not bet, for ct that In
slant the club room was invaded by Q
rush Of young officers Just returning
from target practice, and the jollieSt
laugh, the most al psrvading voice, the
oheerisSt personality Of the lot were
those Of the gentleman whose name
Capt Jim Rawlins had Just spoken.
"What you going 10 have fellowsr he
called Here, Billy, Oldham, put up that
peltor; l SteeEsd thogang IN hare, and it's
ny troak Don't %. Forbes; come back.