The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-04-01
LOVE MY DOG.

the light of an inheritance, having come
down to him from Wentworth-of the
same-when the latter had been ordered
away.
Caldwell went into Wentworth's
quarters at once and found Duffy rub
bling up pair of his masters dis
carded boots. with view to using them
himself. He liked tho mans looks, and
he liked the condition of the vacated
quarters. with their slate gray painted
woodwork, so he took the quarters and
agreed to take Duffy at striker o usual
rete Of remuneration.
Duffy entered promptly upon his du-
ties, and was entirely satisfactory. He
had no membranes in the way Of fam
lily or sweethearts, and he was faithful
to degree that was occasionally exas-
perating. For six months he served
Caldwell in singleness of purpose, hav-
ing in that time been incapacitated only
for six days-that is, for 48 hours after
each Of the paymaster's visits, and
Caldwell, knowing the ways Of strikers,
made no objection. Duffy slept uproar-
iously in his rooms. and Caldwell made
his own fires. and brushed his own
clothes, and went with unblacked boots.
In the interim no hour was too early for
rising, none too late to sit up and keep
logs ON the andirons that the rooms
might be warm and cheerful for the
''leftinant," no duty imposed too ardu-
Gus provided it served Caldwell's ends.
Blackstone, seeing the excellence Of
Duffy, departed from the strict code Of
honesty in the matter Of servants which
governs the army and made overtures
to the model striker. Blackstone had no
business to do it, and Duffy knew It,
ana q fine and inscrutable grin came
upon his Hibernian mouth.
Blackstone had said, with an assump-
tion of off handedness. Duffy. what do
you get?"
Having due regard for his employers
credit in the world, he answered calm
ly, "Twinty dollars, sor."
"Get out ~ said Blackstone
eyes, sor." replied Duffy.
II want to know the truth. not lies
like that.
You'd best ask the leftinant. sor. ]
disremember.
"He works you deuced hard"
"Does he, then2"
my man is no good. Suppose you
come to me. You won't have to sit up
to all hours for me-"
Duffy only smiled, but the smile was
not pleasing.
"What do you think Of it, Duffy"
81 niver think, sor. The leftinant
Gays I'm to do as I'm told and not
think.
Upon this Blackstone went away, and
Duffy saluted him respectfully. In JUS
tice to the officers common sense, il
must be said that it was only partial in
toxication which could have led him to
place himself in such position toward
soldier.
Duffy did not repeat the conversation
to Caldwell. because he knew it would
make trouble between the two men, and
Caldwell-wbose disposition was not OF
the mildest-had several quarrels on his
hands as it was.
The lieutenant fell into the habit OF
keeping the striker up very late, night
after night, so Duffy inspected his pock-
cts several times in succession while
Caldwell was sleeping as soundly as If
justice had been the soporific, and not,
as was the case, suffers whisky. and he
Judged, from the fact that sometimes
there was much loose change and again
| almost nothing, that his master was play
| ing too much at cards. There was moth
| ing to be DONE Duffy did not consider
| that his duties as striker included the
| moral guidance Of his superior. He re-
fected that it would be good thing il
| Caldwell should get married; only then
he, Duffy, would very likely lose his
place. SO BIO sat up night after night,
| and it grew monotonous.
| Just at this period there came into
Duffy's life a yellow and white dog.
| Exactly why it should have wandered
| to the door upon one wet and freezing
night, when Duffy was in particularly
weary frame of mind, and where it
came from he never knew. 1t was well
after midnight and Duffy was sprawled
| in leather chair of the troop saddler g
manufacture. DOING. with both ears
open, when there came scratching at
the door. Duffy thought it was the lieu
tenant trying to find the knob. 1t had
never been so bad as that yet neverthe-
less the striker went and opened tho
door, to be rewarded by the sight Of an
extremely small and miserable dog,
with piteous eyes
Now, Duffy was only soldier, and q
soldier loves nothing ON earth or In
heaven as he does a cur. So Duffy called
the dog in and warmed IL and fed II
and watched it with satisfaction beam.
ing all over his face. It was spotted
and dirty aud wounded and woefully
thin, but Duffy took it to his heart He
spent three nights before the fire, nc
longer lonely, contentedly trying to find
a name for that dog. At last he deter
mined to call il Bessie" after thu
much admired daughter Of the com
manding officer and with q c0npler'
disregard for the entire inappropriate
ness of the name.
After he had settled this to his salts
faction he tried to discover accomplish
ments in the creature. Here. Bessie
old boy. Set mp now. set up. Cant yoV
set up? We'll, then, give us your paw
hare. paw. paw. now. Cant You CIV