The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-07-28
HIS PR0TEGE.


southwest, and contentedly lOafng. as
particularly suits the climate and a sec
ond lieutenant, when the Office door op-
ened slowly and a head covered with an
old Grand Army hat was thrust in.
The lips moved. but made no sound;
then the head was withdrawn and the
door almost shut. 1t opened again. a
very little way, and disclosed part of
blue-clad figure some six feet in hight.
Then it closed again, and opened as be-
fore. only somewhat wider. The man
came into the room, but kept one hand
on the knob, to facilitate his escape If
necessary. it appeared.
1 held my peace and watched him. He
was worse than unkempt; he was, in fact.
about as seedy an individual as I have
ever seen covered by a Grand Army
coat. His eyes were red and his hand
shook badly. l suspected al once what
the trouble was, knowing the falling CT
his class.
Reconciling himself to the shutting Of
the door, and reIinquishing his grasp on
the knob at last he took off his hat and
sat upon the extreme edge of a chair.
He studied the window panes intently AMI
chewed his tobacco in a meditative fash
ion
There was no telling how long this
might last, so l faced about to my desk
again and began to write.
Fully ten minutes elapsed before the
silent figure gave any sign. I'm busted
again." IT began.
''Yes?" answered.
"Uh-hu."
went at my copying again. Five more
minutes.
where's the colonel att"
Hes sick"
"Oh. he is?" This in the tone Of a child
reading a primer. What's the matter
Hes got the grippe
"Whens he comm back?"
In two or three weeks perhaps"
ooh, damnm quite as you or 1 might
mildly say, "Pshaw."
rs there anything l can DO for your"
Nope" A resumption of the window
and tobacco. I'm busted again."
80 you said"
1--WE been drunk, too"
We'll, you look rather like it,"
do u"
Queer amt 1t. how you can most gen.
orally ten?"
VERY queer" I agreed.
Now, l thought l looked pretty good,
but ! reckon l was off,
you might be worse I consoled him.
| I've seen them look worse"
| yes. so'ye L." The pause was re-
| peated. Il told you I was busted, didn't
I? Well. what in blazes do you s'pose
told you for?"
Il really can't say"
Cant you, really? Wasn't you never
| busted?"
With truthfulness far greater than
| might be generally felt | replied that |
had been, sometimes.
well, what do you generally want
when you're in a hoie?"
Money"
That's what I want"
The deduction was logical and obvious.
1 felt my nerves trembling and fell weak
ly into the net. Il suppose you want
me to lend you some"
Nope; but l want you to give me some
You're going to give me some, amt your"
well, l really can't see why should"
"The colonel does"
1.-The colonel may have some reason for
it. Besides. how do I know he does?''
Il say So" The tone was above dis
pute. 60 t.
And does the colonel act as your pay
master whenever you are hard up?"
yep"
why does he help you go to the bad?"
1T does him more good than 1t does me
hurt 1 guess"
The colonel was not one deliberately and
in cold blood to care for the cultivation
of his soul; there must be some other rea-
son, and l said so.
Il reckon there is
what is it?"
81 done him a service once"
May 1 ask what it was?"
Il jest kept his little brother from get
tin shot" t.si :. a,ge rrs4
How was that?"
well, will you give me a quarter if l
tell you?"
What will you do with it?"
Get two drinks"
"All right; go on"
That's how l got that arm"
What arm?" inquired, looking at the
member.
THAT Don't you see / can't bend It?
The piece of shell cut through my arm
and along in here placing his palsied fin
gers his side
The colonel set an awful lot of store
by that brother of his. His name was
Kingsley and he wasn't more'n eighteen
He was a mighty fine feller too, and they
told lot of stuff about his havin'
young wife up there in the north They
SEE she was the very girl the colonel was
mashed on, too. The colonePs a good
hearted cuss, amt her
/ replied with conviction that he was.
II IL hau Deen me an my brother, I'd
have wanted him killed off, guess; but
the colonel he like to have went crazy
every time the youngster got In the hot
part Of fight. He SEE to him onct-I heard
him-lf you should be shot, IT 'ud Jest
end Dora and one time they got a letter
sayin' that Dora had little girl l guess
he wasn't as much in love with his Dora
as the colonel was"
The story came to an abrupt end here.
The veteran was thinking over his past.
In course of time, he went on:
"Once, just before the baby was born,
there was fight, and the colonel couldn't
make Kingsley stay where ii was safe.
The colonel he was charging around like
hen that's Matched ducks and sees 'eIn
swimmin'. But he couldn't get near his
brother He was by me for a minute. and
he SEE to me TO keep that fool boy out Of
trouble. Bout ten minutes later a shell
busted near us, and got in front of Kings
ley. That's all"
That was all. 1t certainly didn't sound
like much, as the laccnic old fellow put II.
l looked at his face which was to the last
degree battle Scared" as the soldiers
say; at his nervous hands and waverinr,