The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-03-30

{. men played poker. But Scott's conscience
was not quite clear In the matter Of poker
for no had played for the second and las
time several months before and had lost
months pay inside Of an hour; 80 the in
nocent Sin had struck vulnerable spot
How the dickens did you know that
calculated the lieutenant. Sin smiled
coaxingly. Scott wavered for moment
then drew forth % In gold. Here, take
IL and clear out" he said.
. After that, the precedent being estab-
lished, Scott found himself called upon
, for IS at the first of every month. 1t was
never more than that, but 1t necessitated
economy in the matters of flowers for the
blond and her successors, and candy for the
} Youngster. But once O month at least
the lieutenant found his rooms in perfect
order, and that alone was worth s5 He
always paid Sin for other Jobs, such as
mending shoes and making bookshelyes,
and cleaning his saddle, and ironing his
cuffs and collars, and even painting his
buggy. That thing which the Celestial
could not do, II he were 80 minded, Scott
had yet to find.
Had 1t not been for his gaming procliv.
tiles Sin would have been a rich man at
the end OF six months and would have
been able to go back to China for life of
luxury. Besides his pay, the sums OBJ
tained from Scott and occasional tips
from the others, he had another means Of
livelihood. He had not been In the post
TWO weeks before he had gotten permission
rom the commanding officer to trap all
such wild animals as infested the heavily
wooded reservation. 1t was an exclusive
privilege. He caught foxes and wildcats
and rabbits, but these paid poorly In COM
parison with polecats, The rabbits he dis
posed of In the garrison, the foxes and
Wildcats he inclosed in the back yard,
where they served to keep out intruders
better than as many bulldogs But the
polecats--soid for their skin, flesh and
medicinal properties In Chinatown
brought many dollar to Sins exchequer.
II was because he found the post such a
mine of wealth that hes staid on in the
mess. A large part of the time he was
quite uncomfortable, but whenever the dis
satisfaction of the bachelors began to
manifest itself too plainly then Sin would
mend his ways, cook his best-which was
only half had--grin his most amiable and
have his meals on time for several days in
succession. This line Of conduct would |
lul the officers and put them In frame
OF mind to endure yer another month.
But at last there came time when the |
mess rebelled. "See here, Scott, that
blooming Celestial Of yours is reducing me
to dyspeptic old age" complained Mat
thews on the morning of Feb. ~. 1--WE
haven't had meal on time in week."
added Warner. 1.-THE dishes are abomi-
nably dirty, said Brooks "What on earth
makes you hang on to him so, Scottp"
Matthews asked. "He does Jobs for him.
answered Brooks. Scott turned and looked
at Brooks with fire in his eye. "For
which pay him." he retorted with dan
gerous quiet. Maitland interposed: eve
all know you pay him, of course But
You must admit we are being slowly re-
duced to skin and bones and sallowness,
and three times in the last week haven't
had any luncheon" II know I've spo-
ken to him about it," Scott answered rue
fully. Its your duty to your fellow men.
II you don't like the job, I'll do it,"
We've monkeyed with him about long
enough. Come, get rid of him tonight;
do" In the end Scott promised. He liked
Sin, and then-he was long suffering by
nature. Moreover, he knew that Sin liked
him.
Scott amused himself with the Young
beer most Of the morning and refused to |
think of the task before him. He left the |
boy screaming "more' Justify from his
arms and went off to drill Aft
or drill he went first to his room for a few
and thence to the mess hall. He
was the first to arrive and there was not
Sign of luncheon. The breakfast dishes
were still on the table, and Sin was asleep ,
On the bunk In his room. Scott caught
him by the shoulder, shook him roughly
and inquired forcibly what he meant by
being asleep at 10 o'clock when they were I
III waiting for luncheon. The Chinaman
ooked at him duly SECT up, why don't {
our" Sin rose to sitting posture, raised
lis narrow black eyes to Sootts face and I
answered, smiling coaxingly, "Me no can
aisee de debil alice night and workee alice q
lext day too" "Get upl'' commanded g
'cott. g
That night, at the behest of the rest of
he mess, he gave the cook notice. Sin
rotested and begged, but Scott was firm.
Inc breakfast next morning was tri-
mpii III ills culinary art--as Sin under
TODD it-and the Chinaman's face was
'reathed in deprecatory smiles. But his
Employers continued obdurate. He reflect B
that he had still two days in which to m
'ften their hearts and regain the right to II
'pture polecats on the reservation. He a.
aohSe VINO Dlcdhlubu IN many and |
iceeding hot waters, put them away neat o.
, and, having finished his tasks by half &c
lst 8, he went down to watch muster. til
There was large crowd of the post and &c
ty people standing along the edge of the sh
Ill ground following the maneuyers I'm
18th much interest, and the fates willed it wi
at the Chinaman should happen to take ~,
} his position beside the Youngster and gu
$ nurse. The Youngster, as has been Aux
fore stated, did not appeal to Sin. New.
theless he realized that the surest way to thl
cit Scott was to be kind to this silky S
ired child. As for the Youngster, he the
md Sin most engaging. of
But Scott on his big horse gorgeous In tin
yellow plume Outweighed the attrac- :
n of even the Celestials cue. As he 1.
Hoped by the Youngster watched him Vic
tn open mouth and when he had gone enc
ne distance the baby, whose round blue VIII
IS saw nothing else-uttered piercing VIII
lore' and toddled forward at the top Of cur
speed. 1t was done so quickly that aid
ny one In the crowd could only gasp
recoil, and the negro nurse jumped back
n scream. Sin alone kept his head
thought faster than no had ever cou
ught before. He disliked the child, ON
Scott liked 1t, and Scott held the reins 6
the mess in his hands. Therefore, Sin nor,
ted no longer. He, too darted for ~ W..
d. reached out his thin yellow hand lno ~
caught the long flaxen hair, throwing
Youngster back with a fearful jerk, conl
then went down himself under the +
'es' hoofs under the wheels of the ard
'ging light batteries guns thir
f eau ON was wei enough to leave the CAPT
arm was out of the sling and the scar 49,.
lis head was only white seam, Mrs. eoui
d went to him and offered to take him CelV'
her own cook, as the mess had dis 81
ged him. toun
n disliked women even more than he high
babies He turned away ungraciously Sc
grunted: me go back to mess Missa tries
he tellee me dis mo'ning. Gwen Btant
1 Overton in Short Stories has 4