Waterbury evening Democrat., 1893-06-12

$50 ahead! What are you waiting
for?" hoarsely whispered the senior
captain.
waiting for the battery to Dress"
was the stanch reply. Then aloud the
shrill voice swept down the line:
Dress that battery to the rightp'
Cram looked over a glittering shout
der to the right of the line, where
stood the diminutive infantryman.
The battery had still its war allow
ance of horses-three teams to each
carriage, lead, swing and wheel-and
that brought its captain far out to the
front of the somber blue rank of foot;
so far out, in fact, that he was about
on line with Maj. Minor, though
facing in opposite direction. Perfect
ly confident that he was exactly where
he should be, yet equally determined
to abide by any order he might re-
ceive, even though he fully understood
the cause of brakes delay, Cram
promptly rode over to the guidon and
ordered right Dress" at which every
drivers head and eyes were promptly
turned, but not an inch of wheel, for
the alignment simply could not be i'm
proved. Then after commanding
front" the captain as deliberately
trotted back to his post without so
much as glance at the irate staff Off
Ger. 1t was just at this juncture that
the bay colt came tearing down the
field, his name and tail streaming in
the breeze, his reinS and stirrups dan
Cling. In the course of his gyrations
about the battery and the sympa-
thetic plunging of the teams some
slight disarrangement occurred. But
when he presently decided on rush
for the stables, the captain reestab-
lished the alignment as coolly as be-
fore, and only noticed as he resumed
his post that the basket phaeton and
Mrs. Cram had gone. Alarmed, posi-
bly,, by the nonappearance of her
warm friend Mr.. Warning and the ex-
cited gambolings of his vagrant steed,
she had promptly driven back to the
main garrison to see if any accident
had occurred, the colt meantime anus
ing himself in a game of fast-and-loose
with the stable guard.
Then it was that old Brax came down
and took hand. Riding to where
Minor still sat on his patient sorrel,
the senior bluntly inquired:
"What the DEVILS the matter2"
81 don't know" said Minor.
"Who does know"
"Well, Drake, possibly, or else he
doesn't know anything. He's been
trying to get Cram to dress his battery
back"
''Why, yes, confound it! he's mile
ahead of the line" said the colonel,
land off he trotted to eXpostulate with
the batteryman. Capt. Cram, isn't
there room for your battery back of
the line instead of in front of it?" in
/ quired the chief, in tone both aggrieved
and aggressive.
Lots, SIR" answered Cram, cheer
fully. "Just countermarched there"
"Then l wished you'd oblige me by
moving back at once, sir; you're delay
ing the whole ceremony here. I'm told
Mr.. Drake has twice ordered you tc
dress to the right"
Eve heard it, sir, only once, but
| have dressed twice, so it's all right,
responded Cram, as affably as though
he had no other aim in life than tx
crafty the whims of his post com
mander.
"Why, confound it, sir, it isn't al
right by a da-good deal! Here yol
are way out on line with Maj. Minor
and your battcry's-why it ism
dressed on our rank at all, sir. Jus
look ut it."
Cram resumed the carry with tn
sabcr he had lowered in salute, ca1m1
reversed SO as to face his battery, and
with pretcrnatural gravity of mien
looked along his front. There midwa
between his lead drivers sat Mr.. Doyle
lis face well-nigh as red as his plume
lis blcary eyes nearly popping out @
his skull in his effort to repress tn
emotions excited by this colloquJ
There midway between the lead driver
1 in the left section sat Mr. Ferry, gain
b, straight to the front over the erecte
/. ears of his handsome bay and doing hi
i, very best to keep a solemn face. thong
! the unshaded corners of his boyis
a mouth were twitching with mischie
n and merriment. There, silent, disc
|. plined and rigid, sat the sergeant'
d drivers and cannoneers of famous oil
: Light Battery OK" all agog with IL
J. terest in the proceedings and all lool
,, ing as though they had never heard
i word.
d "I declare, sir" said Cram, with exa
h perating civility, II can see nothin
Q out of the way. viii you kindly ind
q cate what Is amiss?"
Q This was too much for Ferry. In h
> effort to restrain his merriment ar
n gulp down rising flood of laught'
}, there was heard an explosion thi
Il sounded something like the sudde
r collapse Of an inflated paper bag, ar
II old Brax, glaring angrily at the DO
7, now red in the face with minglt
g mirth ndEconsternation, caught sudde
Is idea from the sight. Was the battel
o laughing at-was the battery col
% mander guying-him2 Was it possib
10 that they were profiting by his ignc
d ance of their regulations? 1t put hi
s. on his guard and suggested tent
r; tive.
le do you mean that you are right
a. being so far ahead Of our line instei
le Of dressed upon it?" asked he of t
rs big blonde soldier In the glitteril
IS uniform. where do you find authori
ID for FTP"
Of "Oh, perfectly right, colonel
I'll fact, for six years past I've never Sc
Mt 1t done any other way. You'll find