The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-05-02
.pWReaT 1887 CHARLES KING

. ~
At, 1888 BY CHARLES KING:
sergeant, /" he adds, catching sight Of
the grizzled red face under the old
scouting hat, ''I'1l promise to let you
run the machine this time and not in
terfere, no matter what stories come to
us of beauty in distress. All ready?"
"An ready, sir, if the major is"
"He wasn't that civil to me in Ari-
zona," laughs the paymaster as he
turns to shake hands with the officers
about him.
.You see you were new to the bust
ness then,' explains a tall captain.
''Feeny considers you a war veteran
now, after your experience at Moreno's.
We all had to serve our apprenticeship
as sucking lieutenants before he would
show us anything but a semblance Of
respect. Goodby, major; good luck to
you"
"Goodby all. Goodby, Drummond.
Goodby, Wing. Herel must shake
hands with you two again." And shake
he does; then is slowly boosted" into
his wagon, where, as the whip cracks
and the mules plunge at their collars
and tilt him backward, the majors jol-
II red face beams on all around, and
be waves his broad brimmed hat in ex-
uberant cordiality ashley rattle away.
The group of officers presently dis
perse, two tall ieutenants strolling off
together and throwing themselves under
the spreading branches Of a big cotton
wood. One Of them, darker and some
what heavier built now, but muscular.
active, powerful, is Drummond; the
other, a younger man by a brace OF
years, tall, blue eyed, blond bearded,
wearing on his scouting blouse the
straps of a second lieutenant, is ~
old friend Wing, and Wing does not
hesitate in presence Of his senior officer
such is the bond of friendship between
them-to draw from his breast pocket
a letter just received that day when
the courier met them at the crossing Of
the Dry Fork. and to lose himself in
it's contents.
All well with the madam and the
kid?'' queries Drummond, after the
manner Of the frontier, when at last
Wing folds and replaces his letter. q
happy light in his brave blue eyes.
IAN well. Paquita says that Harvey
hoo rantnred fha entire household. and
that Grandpa Harvey is his AFFECT
slave. There isn't anything in Chicago
too good for that 2-year-old. They've
had them photoed together-the kid on
his grandfather's shoulder"
aren't you afraid his Arizona uncle
will be jealous for his own boys sake?'
laughs Drummond.
II don't believe Ned would begrudge
Fanny anything the old man might feel
for her OF for hers. He is generosity
itself toward his sisters, and surely ]
could never have found a warmer friend
out Of the army. You know how he
stood by me.
II know, and it wa most gratifying
mot but that / feel sure you would
have won without his aid. The old man
simply couldn't quite be reconciled to
her marrying in the army and living
in Arizona"
"a strange land for honeymoon GER
tainly-yet where and when was there
q happier? Do you remember how the
Apaches jumped the Verde blackboard
the very week after we were married.
land you spent half Of the honey
moon scouting the Tonic basin! !
should say so! What with a courtshlp
in a robbers cave, a marriage in a cav
airy camp and a wedding tour In sad
die, you had q unique experience, Wing,
but-you deserved her" And Drum
mond turns and grips his comrades
hand.
Wing is silent a moment. His eyes
are wistfully searching the elders half
averted face.
Jim, you told me awhile agoof your
sisters approaching marriage. Are
you not going on?"
"Yes. 1t will be early IN Oc1oDef.
She's blissfully happy, is Puss, and
he's a very substantial, solid sort Of a
fellow. I'm well content, at last, that
her future is assured"
And you are>afree agent practical
iy. Isn't it time we heard OF your own
happiness-your own vine and fig tree.
old man."
times gone by, I reckon" laughs
Drummond, yet not merrily. eve
had too much to think of-too much
responsibility-and probably have lost
my chance"
Wing looks as though he wanted
nightly to say something, but conquers
his impulse.
October is a long way off, The final.
" remarks, land l thought you might
find earlier opportunity of going east.
Now that Ned has entire charge of the
business IN Arizona the old gentleman
takes life easier. The winter in Cuba
did him a lot of good, and Fan writes
that he seems 80 happy now, having his
two girls and his little grandson under
L.