Morris tribune., 1895-10-02

! INTO lakes, swamp nOmeSG6auS, Cnang
the course of all important creeks, ant
! it is no uncommon sight to see bridg
left high and dry, like some strande,
leviathan, rendered quite unnecessar.
by these arch practical jokers.
The most important individual in thu
| party referred to, not only in his owl
eyes, but by virtue of rank, was com
missioned officer of mounted police. Hi
eyes were dark his whole facial expires
sion might be summed up in three
words-red, round and vulgar. Indeed
he enjoyed the sobriquet of Pudding
Face Jamie, from the supposed resem
blance of the facial features aforesaid
to that popular but homely article OF
| diet He had at one time been q private
holding some subordinate s'staf job
in the force, but, having the necessary
influence at his back, had secured q
commission. Those of his old chums in
the force who had expected that when
Jamie became an officer he would at
least have some consideration for his
old comrades were grievously disap-
pointed; for, true to the old adage re-
garding the putting of a beggar on horse
back, when he tasted power he rode
roughshod over the unfortunates under
him. Fortunately most of his brother
officers (the exception being those drawn
from his own substratum Of society
were gentlemen by birth and education,
splendid, all round, good hearted fell
lows as one could wish to meet, SO they
providentially kept such characters as
Jamie in check and saved many gen
tly nurtured youth from martyrdo1n
of petty but calling annoyances.
For in the mounted police few years
ago a very large percentage of the men
belonging to the rank and file were gen
tlemen. Of course Jamie resented the
presence of gentlemen they offered too
great contrast to his own condition
condition which not even a gold crown
on the collar of his serge and goodness
knows how many yards of gold lace be-
sides could ever ameliorate. This was
where the shoe pinched with Jamie.
No wonder that the milk of human
kindness was somewhat soured in his
composition. The three others present
were police sergeant, a private and
French quarter breed scout named Pier
re, short, stout, dark eyed and pleasant
looking individual upon the whole He
had a weakness for saying what were
meant to be funny things while at the
same time his face bore look of prefer
natural gravity. But just then the fact
that Jamie had informed him that he
would recommend the commissioner to
discharge him ON the completion of the
trip had somewhat damped Pierre's nat
ural cheerfulness The sergeant was
smart, dark, handsome fellow, and, like
many more in his position, seemed born
for better things. Even now, although
his face was unshaven, although the
stump of an old brier pipe protruded
from between his lips and his seedy old
buffalo coat was buttoned up to his chin,
one could see at a glance that Harry
Yorke was a gentleman. The fourth
man of the party seemed rather young
individual to be policeman. He was
the son of a younger son-some army
officer, with large family and limited
means, who was only too glad to get one
of his boys disposed of even if it were
in the ranks Of the Northwest mounted
police, for then the youth would be self
and would give no further
trouble AS it was, Dick Townley, like
many more young men in q like posi-
tion, found the life was not exactly a |
bed of roses-when, for instance, an
officer like Jamie ordered him while in
the post to gather bones in q gunny
sack, round the barrack square. which |
had been deposited there by other peo-
PIES dogs, or to remove the refuse from
behind the officers quarters, in close |
proximity to an Indian who was orna-
nented with ball and chain attached
20 one leg.
Doubtless, SO far as the Indian was
concerned, the punishment was not un-
for he had probably got six
months for appropriating another Indi-
ms squaw and breaking his rivals
read when politely demonstrated with.
Az for the unfortunate priyate-welI,
'OAhOUVuy AuN W UO, Uu0 SCdF0uS0I IS
work It was not perhaps then to be
wondered at that his speech partook of
! certain cynical and sarcastic tone
when the conversation referred to his
hyperion officer. Indeed it might be al
most said to SAVIOR of his disloyalty; but,
hen, in the often circumscribed and
0neIy life Of the trooper there were
Kings said. done and tolerated that
voald. not have been dreamed Of under
lifferent conditions. In the ranks of the
police. partly on account Of
hat subtle affinity Of class, and con-
oious necessity Of mutual help and en-
engagement in life which is to GER
ain extent one Of exile, there was q
lealthful spirit of camaraderie, the like
{ which perhaps does not exist in any
tler force Of the kind i'm the world.
Between the noncommissioned officers
nd privates there was mutual under
landing aud good feeling that made the
uties Of the former comparatively easy
nd pleasant Perhaps it was this spirit
hat made the sergeant tolerant and
aused him to take no notice Of his jun {
3r's many colloquial Emergencies.
There were six saddle and pack horses, i
ard by, in little dump Of bushes {