The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1895-09-12

quarters that the
Inspector general, Col. Huling, would
visit the post forthwith, arriving, in
fact, on the afternoon train the follow
ing day. He was known to be mar
tinet of the severest type-not only
thoroughly conSersant with all the
little technicalities of the tactics, but,
what was still worse, insisting on the
minutest requirements of the "blue
book" With an eye like hawk,
nothing escaped him; and he never
hesitated from either courtesy or diff
fidence to call attention to any irregu-
larities that he might happen upon.
His visit at this time was totally I'M
expected, as it was not. the season when |
he usually started out on trip of this
character; but with Col Huling it was
the unexpected that happened. Al
though the post in general was in very
good condition, the officers, knowing
his peculiarities as they did, took ad-
| vantage of the short time intervening
to correct any little shortcomings to
which the inspector might take excep-
| ton. Troop commanders repaired to
| their barracks and stables to see that
| everything was according to regula-
tions; down at the corral the quarter
master was flying about, putting an
| inviting look on things in general;
while the post commander, Capt. Riv-
erton, rode hither and thither, a IA
tigue party under the plebe Lieutenant
doing such policing to the post as he
considered necessary. Such was the
| -4o fn1-
egram.
The expected train arrived the fol-
lowing day in due time, bringing with
it the dreaded inspector, who was i'm
medately driven to Capt. Riverton's
| quarters, where he was to be enter
tanned To the little knot of officers in
the traders store, who watched him
alight from the ambulance and disap-
| pear in the house, he seemed to war
rant the reputation given him by the
world. Nor were their feelings re-
lieved, five minutes later, by an ex-
clanation of the plebe lieutenant.
who, with bullying eyes, was staring
out of the window:
Great guns! he's beginning his in
spcction already"
Sure enough, the inspector emerged,
booted and spurred; an orderly brought
the postcommander's two horses around
to the door: and, although only an
hour and half of daylight remained,
the colonel and the captain rode off to-
gether to make critical inspection of
the general condition of the post
Two hours later they returned,
tired. their boots and clothing splashed
with mud, and, it goes without saying,
very hungry. To both of them the
warm and comfortable quarters seemed
very inviting. In the colonels bed
room a cheerful fire was burning,
while near at hand he found hot water
and slippers awaiting him. A few min
utes later the two officers-for Capt.
Riverton's family was in the east-sa
down to an appetizEg supper. And for
all these creature comforts Fathers
was responsible.
Private Fathers was Capt. Riverton's
cook. He had once been cook at one OF
the well-known New York cafes, but
! by strange chain of circumstances
had drifted into the army, and had I'll.
timately been assigned to the regi
ment in Arizona. For long time he
had hidden his talents under bushel
preferring to do straight soldiers duty
but at last he became known, and, for
a consideration which made a hand,
some addition to his pay, was induced
to act as Capt. Riverton's chef. Ir
that western country good cooks were
worth their weight in gold. 1t wa:
next to impossible to retain female
cook. Even though brought out from
. the east at considerable expense they
became matrimonially inclined after
few weeks stay, and were married
| generally surreptitiously, with provok
ing regularity. With this frontier cours,