Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1896-03-20

quite himself. He came home good
deal the worse for wine one night, and
Bessie, being in his way, got kick that
sent him crouching to his masters side.
Caldwell might far better have kicked
Duffy. However, the striker understood
and sympathized with the lieutenant's
condition. He himself could never have
kicked a dog, even after pay day, but
all men are not alike, so Duffy petted
Bessie and shut him up in his own room
and returned to look after the bodily
comfort of his master.
This, considering the wine, was par
donable, but the next offense could not
be condoned. It occurred in broad day
light. and Caldwell was sober. He had
been having an explanation with the
commanding officer, and that gentleman
had made reflection upon some Of the
ieutenant's fast growing habits that had
exasperated the already overworried
Junior almost beyond endurance. He
strobe into his quarters and found Duffy,
who was not expecting him, dividing
his attention between Bessie's charms
and the buckle of his master belt. Now,
oEE610 . ul6pOoltlOA 1dC4lACo I'LL W 4Ol
give. He ran to Caldwell, looked up to
his face with soft, affectionate eyes and
put his little paws, one yellow and one
white, upon his knee. Caldwell did not
dare to kick the commandant, but he
kicked Bessie-and broke the yellow
paw. It was the one always held out to
Duffy to greet him.
D,fFxy tho v,orr, ov,I k:,,,o
it grew WELL But Duffy hated Caldwell
with the most dangerous of hatreds-a
silent and waiting one.
Caldwell's habits did not improve.
His fondness for whisky, whether good
or bad, continued. He had good whisky
in his room, and Duffy knew it, for he
belonged to the old school of strikers,
who do not look upon cigars or liquor as
private property.
One day, after Bessie's foot was we'll,
Duffy went to get drink, because his
spirits were low. There was very little
whisky in the decanter, barely half a
glassful, and an idea suddenly flashed
into the strikers mind. Caldwell was
officer of the day. He never started to
make the rounds without taking enough
liquor to keep him warm, and Duffy
knew it and saw his revenge laid bare.
The striker took Bessie for walk
over to the hospital to show the steward
the mended paw.
"Say," said Duffy, "I've got the
toothache. I didn't sleep none last
night. Hev you got some-what's that
you give me once? Laudarum, was it?
Kin you let me hev a bit?'
"Why, yes. I guess so." the steward
answered and went into the dispensary
to get it.
"Shall I take all that?" inquired the
striker, with sweet simplicity.
Lord! No, man. Put some on cot
ton and stick it in the tooth. -
"Oh, and what wud it do to me if I
wuz to swallow it? Wud it kill me?"
"No, there amt enough for that. It
would put you pretty fast asleep,
though"
"Ohp' said Duffy again.
Then Bessie went through his tricks
for the steward and trotted back home
at his masters heels
That night Caldwell finished the
whisky in the decanter and grumbled
that the sutler was selling him vile
tasting staff, then started off a little
while afterward to make his rounds.
The next day he was under arrest-for
drunkenness ON duty.
And Duffy, who had, with we'll
played reluctance, given some of the
most damaging testimony in regard to
Caldwell's habits at the court martial,
which dismissed the latter, said goodby
to the disgraced man with sparkle
which was not of tears-in his eyes, and
he told Bessie to give the ''leftinant the
right paw" which was the yellow one.
-Gwendolen Overton in San Francisco
Argonaut.