Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1897-01-12

making reply. One OF his favorite In
structors at the academy had spoken to
the graduating class about the splendid
timber to be found among the rank and
file of the army. 'They are like so
many old oaks" said he, and some Of
Lambert's chums had never forgotten
it. Neither had Lambert. ~This, y said
he to himself, sis possibly one Of the
scrub oaks. I assume he doesn't im-
agine me to be an officer, and, In any
event, he could say so and I couldn't
prove the contrary. Ergo, I'll let him
into the secret without letting him Inn
agine I'm nettled."
''They We're made by my tailor, cor
poral," said he. "He also made the uni.
form which I, perhaps, should have put
on before coming out to camp" ('ThaA
ought to fetch him." thought he.)
"Where will I find Capt. Closer"
Hes over there" said the corporal,
with q careless jerk of the head in the
direction Of the opposite wall tent.
"Then I s'pose you're the new lieuten.
ant the fellers have been talking
about?"
lam; and would you mind telling mo
how long you've been in service?"
me? Oh, I reckon about two months
longer N you have, anyhow. You
amt joined yet, have you?" And the
corporal was nibbling at a twig low
and looking up in good-humored inter-
est. Then, as Lambert found no words
for immediate reply, he went ON:
Caps awake, ii you want to see him.
And, amazed at this reception, yet not
knowing whether to be indignant OF
amused, Lambert sprang down the
pathway. crossed the open space be-
tween the tents, q dozen Of the men
starting up to stare at but none to ss-
Lutte him. and halted before the tent Of
ms company commander.
Sitting just within the h~alf-opened
flap, a thick-set, burly mar Of middla
age was holding in his left hand coarse
needle, while with his right he was
making unsuccessful jabs with some
black thread at the eye thereof. So In.
tent was he upon this task hat he never
heard Lambert's football nor noted his
coming, and the lieutenant, while paus-
ing a moment irresolute, took quick OBJ
%servation of the stranger and his sur
roundings. He was clad in the gray
shirt and light-blue trousers such as
Were worn by the rank and file. An or
binary soldiers blouse was thrown over
the back of the camp-stool on which he
sat, and his feet were encased in the
coarse wooden socks and heavy brogans
and leathern thongs, just exactly such
as the soldier cook was wearing at the
kissing fire a few PAGES away. His sus-
penders were hung about his waist, and
in his lap seat uppermost and showing
a rent three inches in length, were q
pair of uniform trousers, with n narrow
welt Of dark blue along the outer seam.
They were thin and shiny like bomba-
zine, in places, and the patch which
seemed destined to cover the rent was
five shades too dark for the purpose.
His hands were brown and knotted and
hard. He wore q silver ring on the
third finger of the left. His face was
brown as his hands, and clean shaved
(barring the stubble of two days,
growth) everywhere, except the heavy
"goatee," which, beginning Mt the cor
ners of his broad, firm mouth, covered
MIN io SlIOaU iN WILL. i II cfS0
were large, clear, dark brown in hue,
and heavily shaded. His hair, close
cropped and sprinkled with gray, was
almost black.
The morning air was keen, yet no
fire blazed in the little camp stove be-
hind him, and the fittings of the tent, so
far as the visitor could see, were Of the
plainest description. Not caring to
stand there longer, Lambert cleared hia
throat and began:
IT I'M looking for Capt. Close"
Whereupon the man engaged in
threading the needle slowly opened the
left eye he had screwed tight shut, and,
as slowly raised his head, calmly looked
his visitor over and at last slowly re-
piled: (.
"That's my name" /;
UEH.