Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1894-11-24

nervously ut the wheeling fiank-man
with n little Malacca riding cane that
he held in his hand for pointer. The
cane was topped with thin silver over
lacquer and the silver had worn through
In one place, leaving n triangular flap
sticking up. had Just time to see that
Ouless had thrown away his commits
sion by striking soldier when ] heard
the rip Of cloth and piece Of gray
shirt showed under the queens shoddy
ON the mans shoulder. II had been
the n,crest nervous flick Of an cxasper-
ated boy-but quite enough to forfeit
~ commission, since II had been dealt
IL anger to volunteer. and no pressed
man who could not under the rules OF
the service reply. The result Of 1t,
thanks to the natural depravity OF
things, was as though Ouless had cut
the mans coat off his back. Knowing
the new draft by reputation, ] was
fairly certain that every one OF them
would swear with many oaths that
OuIcss had actually thrashcd the man.
In that case Oulcss would do well TO
pack his trunk. His csrecr us serv-
ant of the queen in any capacity was
ended. The wheel continued and the
men halted and dressed Immediately
opposite my resting place. Oulcss' face
was perfectly bloodless. The thanking
mans was dark red, and could see
his lips moving in wicked words. He
was Orthcris- After seven years serv-
ice and three medals, he had been
struck by boy younger than himself.
Further, he was my friend and good
man. u proved man and an Englishman.
The shame of the thing made me MS
hot rs II made Oulcss cold, and II Or
thcris had slipped in cartridge and
cleared the account ut once ] should
have rcjoiced. The fact that ortheris
OF all men had been struck proved that
the boy could not have known whom
he was hitting; but he should have re-
mcmbcrcd that he was no longer boy.
And then was sorry for him. and then
was angry again. and Orthcris stared
in front of him and grew redder and
rctdcr.
The drill halted for moment. No
one knew why, for not three men could
have seen the insult, the wheel being
end on to Oulcss Mt the time. Then,
led conceived by the hand Of fate,
Brandcr, the captain. crossed the drill
ground, and his eye was caught by not
more than square foot Of gray shirt
over n shouldcr-bladc that should have
been covered by well-titting tunic
Heavens and GARTH he said, cross
ing in three strides. "Do you let your
men come on parade in rags, sir? What's
that scare-crow doing here? Fall out
that flank. man. What do you mean by
you, Orthcris! of all men. What the
deuce do you mcan?"
"l,eg y pardon, sir" said 0rtheris.
~ scratched 1t against the guard-gatc
running up to parade"
SCRATCHED it! Ripped 1t up. you
mean. It's half way up your back"
at was n little tear ut first, sir, but
in portin' arms it got stretched, sir. an
can't look behindmc. felt it givin',
SIR
'iIa!' said Brandcr ~ should think
you did feel 1t give. thought it was
one Of the new draft. You've q good
pair OF shoulders. Go on
He turned to go. Ouless stepped aft
or him. very white, and said something
in a low voice.
"IIcy, whuy? What! ortheris"-thc
voice dropped. ! saw ortheris salute,
say something and stand ut attention.
DISMISS" said Brandcr, curly. The
men were dismissed. II can't make
this out. You say"-he nodded ut Gu
less, who said something again. 0rther-
is stood still. the torn flap of his tunic
falling nearly to his waist-b,lt. lie had,
us Drandcr said, good pair of shout
ders, and pridcd himself on the fit of his
tunic.
beg v pardon, sir" | heard him
say, but think Lieut.. 0uless has been
in the sun too long. lie don't quite re-
member things, sir. come on p'radc
with bit of u rip. and it spread, sir,
through porting arms, us ] have said,
sir
Erandcr looked from one face to the
other. and suppose drew his own con-
illusions, for he told Orthcris to go with
nc other men who were floclsing back
to barracks. Then he spoke TO Oulcss
aad went away, leaving the boy in the
middle of the battle-ground fumbling
with his swort-knot.
lie looked up, saw me lying on the
run, and came TO me biting the back Of
his glovcd forelngcr, SO completely
thrown of his balance that he had not
sense enough to keep his trouble to him
self.
IL say, You saw that, SUPPOSE" lie
jerl,ed his head back to the square
where the dust left By the departing
men was settling down in white cir
clcs.
Il did," ! answered, for I was not
feeling polite.
",yhat the devil ought to do?" He
bit his finger again. 81 told Brander
what had done. hit him."
'I'm perfectly aware Of that" said,
land don't suppose ortheris has for
gotten 1t already"
"Ye-es: but I'm dashed II know
what ought to do. Exchange into an-
other company, ] suppose. I can't ask
the man to exchange, ! suppose. lIey?"
The suggestion showed the glimmer-
ings of proper sense. but he should not
have come to me or anyone else for help.
II was his own affair, and ! told him SO.
lie seemed unconvinced and began to
talk of the possibilities Of being cash
tered. At this point the spirit moved
me, on behalf Of the unavengcd Orther-
Is, to paint him q beautiful word-picturc
Of his insignifcance in the scheme OF
creation. lie had papa and mamma
seven thousand miles away, and per-
haps some friends. They would feel
his dieOTuca lint m one else vvOuld care