The Portland daily press., 1894-10-05
An OFFICERS DEBTS.

All, all that was in the good old times!
was young man then. Had just been
made sublieutenant and had debts to the
amount of Ell, 900.
Considering had only been two years
at the military college that was pretty stiff
81 900 of debts! But there, had found
all kinds Of ways to spend money at Sau-
muir. Why, when we are young and al
ways in good spirits, nothing in the world
is easier. How many times have we
amused ourselves, my comrades and l,
with smashing few things after supper
at the Budan hotel! Why, we used to drop
the plates through the window for the
simple pleasure of hearing the music they
made as they landed on the pavement be-
low.
Then, too, there was pretty little mil
liner in a shop in the Rue d Orleans. Her
name was Radegonde, and the trif1es /
gave to her cost money. l wonder, by
the way, what she looks like now? She is
good age, if she is still within the land
of the living.
had an uncle who was supposed to be
something like millionaire, and con-
sidered myself his heir, but this said uncle
was as sound as the bridge over the Gard,
and in the meantime my creditors were
clamorous, and my relatives showed no
signs of intending to quiet them. All
these things taken into consideration I
had thought it more prudent, in order to
keep these shameless creditors at a proper
distance, to exchange regiments and to
join the African light cavalry.
If / had remained in the Eighth hus-
sars-in which regiment certainly our
white and gold uniform was very fetch
ing-I should probably have finished my
days by being pensioned OF as an old cap
tain.
Fate is very strange, for who would ever
have thought that I should owe my mill
tary advancement to Radegonde-and
through her to my debts.
We had very good time of it in Al
giers, what with the balls which the gov
ernor gave and the cafes, where we all
used to meet in the evenings. And then
we had not to go far out Of our way in or
der to talk to the Arabs!
We only had to go out of the town by
the Bah Ayoum gate, and at the Maison
Carree, just two leagues away from the
Cafe de la Perle, the powder began to
talk as they say over there, and this
kind Of conversation continued without
interruption until the evening at the
bivouac of Bouffarick. Today there is
railway there, which is perfectly disgust
ing.
lived in the neighborhood OF Mustapha,
and was as happy as a bird in the air or
as fowl out in the meadows. For six
weeks / enjoyed perfect peace, but at the
end of that time bailiff living In Algiers
wrote to me, saying that he wished to
see me on business matters
I guessed what that meant, for I had
heard that phrase before, and felt sure
there was trap being laid for me, but
went all the same to the address given.
He lived in the Rue des Sotophages, this
bailiff, and his name was Marcassee.
don't know why, but all the time called
him M. Marcassin Ia young wild boar),
and it seemed to me that he was not very
well pleased. I should like to know,
though, what the vile old quill driver could
expect after tracking me out in this way.
Why, the wretch had got the bills had
signed at Saumur and had orders to pro-
coed against me ami what was still worse
to arrest me,
Our conversation waved warm, but /,
cOCl1lS ouC ACCCoSAUy AYE ~ uuOAoO anu
moderation, merely told him that the first
opportunity had I would give him such
a horsewhipping as he would long remem-
Der, and thereupon l left him. He follow
ed me to the stairs and called out that the
next morning he should go and see my
colonel, which threat he carried into ex-
ecution
Fortunately for me the colonel was a
man of the right sort, for he merely said,
ARREST him by all means if you can"
And then he sent me off Immediately
with detachment to join the third squad
ron, which was camping in the Hietidja,
on the shores of l'Ouedel- Ouloq lin Arabic
that means the Bloodsucker river, but our
men always pronounce it pOued- Laleg,
and the latter is quite cheerful tra-la-la
kind of name).
At POued- Laleg, then, didn't care a
brass farthing for the precious bits Of
stamped papers, the arrests and writs
and all the whole kit of humbug and trick
cry belonging to the pettifogging lawyers
and money lenders.
The Hadjoutes held the plain, and if the
bailiffs wanted to get at me they would
have had to do their business through
these Bedouins, who are, to say the least
of it, not exactly gentle in their dealings
The kind of life we led was charming, and
month passed by very pleasantly. Mere
,Champoreaus canteen was very fairly
stocked with provisions, and every time
we went foraging we had exciting Skin
mishes.
thought no more about Marcassin than
did about the first suit had ever WORN
and I certainly would not have changes.
lots with a peer of France (for French
peers existed in those days)
One morning, just as we had finished
breakfasting under a tree which served Us
for dining room, a colonist arrived
among us, just like bomb, exclaiming
that the Hadjoutes had just captured an
officer, who was moving toward our camp
IAN officer!'' shouted my captain
Lieutenant give the order To horse!
The whole squadron must be ready in five
minutes.
The order was already nearly executed,
for the colonist had told the men on his
way to u.s. and they, of their own accord,
had rushed to saddle their horses.
While the captain was buckling his belt
he questioned the colonist more closely.
tWhat officer can it be whom they have