Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1897-07-17
CAPTAIN CLOSE
ny CAPTAIN CHARLES KING.
Copyright, 1894. by J. D. Lippincott Col
u.-CoNTINUED.

This" said Lambert to himself, 81
possibly one Of the scrub oaks. / as
sumo he doesn't imagine me to be a
officer, and, in any event, he could sa,
so and l couldn't prove the contrary
Ergo, I'll let him into the secret with
out letting him imagine I'm nettled."
"They were made by my tailor, cor
poral," said he. HE also made the uni
form which l, perhaps, should have pu
on before coming out to camp" ("Tha
ought to fetch him." thought he.
where will I find Capt. Close?"
Hes over there" said the corporal
with careless jerk of the head in tn,
direction of the opposite wall tent
"Then I s'posc you're the new lieutcn
ant the fellers have been talking
about?"
lam; and would you mind telling mt
how long you've been in service"
"Me? Oh, Ireckon about two months
Longer n you have, anyhow. Yo,
amt Joined yet, have you?" And the
corporal was nibbling at twig now
and looking up in good-humored inter
est. Then, as Lambert found no words
for immediate reply, he went on:
Gaps awake, IL you want to see him.
And, amazed at this reception, yet moi
knowing whether to be indignant OF
amused, Lambert sprang down the
pathway, crossed the open space be-
tween the tents, dozen OF the men
starting up to stare at but none 10 So
Lutte him, and halted before the tent OF
his company commander.
Sitting just within the half-opened
flap, n thick-set, burly man Of middle
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 that he never
heard Lambcrt's football nor noted his
coming, and the lieutenant, while paus-
ing moment irresolute, took quick OBJ
servation of the stranger and his sur
roundngs. He was clad In the gray
shirt and light-bluc 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 cncased In the
coarse WOODEN socks and heavy brogans
and leathcrn thongs, just exactly such
rs the soldier cook was wearing at the
kissing fire few PAGES away. His sus-
penders were hung about his waist, and
in his lap seat uppermost and showing
n rent three inches in length, were q
pair OF uniform trousers, with 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 silver ring on the
third finger OF the left. His face was
brown rs his hands, and clean shaved
(barring the stubble of two days
growth) everywhere, except the heavy
"goatee," which, beginning ut the cor
ncrs of his broad, firm mouth, covered
thickly his throat and chin. His eyes
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 his
throat and began:
II am looking for Capt. Close"
Whercupon the man engaged IN
threading the needle slowly opened the
left eye he had screwed tight shut, and,
rs slowly raised his head. calmly looked |
his visitor over and at last slowly re-
piled:
"That's my name"