Santa Fe daily New Mexican., 1897-11-26


water and bed him with straw until
further orders.
eyes, sir. Carswell saluted and led
my good timber away to obey that or
der, from which there was no appeal.
Rather bad beginning for man |
had picked from the batch to make
corporal" I smilingly said when we
We're alone again.
''Oh, you can't tell" the colonel re-
piled, and then we talked about the
Wint saddle and the new carbine we
were trying and other post subjects un-
til he left my stables.
Knowing that his order would be
obeyed, paid no attention to it and
really forgot all about it among the de-
tails of life more affecting my welfare.
wondered if we would get scouting or
ders just as my next years leave of alb
sence became due; if there was really
any chance to get back that half month S
pay had dropped in the little game
last night; if she meant what she said
she was laughing so I could not make
out at the time if the mail would bring
me the check which my kind old dad
sometimes sent.
Meantime the day was done and an
other was begun. In the semidarkness
of morning stables I saw Laufer lying
OH his straw in the stall. believe l did
wonder if he was cold, but knew if he
had been I could not in any way remedy
it, and so two OF three days and nights
passed, one very like the other.
Again l walked down to afternoon
stables with the colonel. He had not
been in my stables since he had ordered
Laufer tied up We slowly sauntered
down the long side-opposite the one
the new horse was masking questions
here and there of the men, the 'non-
coms'' and the farrier and looking over
the horses. Then crossing over we wan
dered up the other side in the same way
till we came to the last stall.
Sergeant, how is your new horse
coming along?" said the colonel as he
passed into Laufer' S stall, where the pri
vate was eating the supper which had
been chucked into the feed box. He
was apparently oblivious of our presence
and paid no attention to the old man a.
he brushed his hand along his back.
"Seems we'll groomed serg- uh mt uh
h-oh I" grunted the colonel as he fell al
doubled up out of the stall
Lightning was not quicker or more
astonishing. That youngster had PLACED
both hands Oh the rail Of bis hayracl
and with that springy foundation hat
planted both feet with electric vigo
fairly in the old mans stomach.
Sergeant Carswell had Laufer fiat o.
his back i'll a second, probably to bea
the life out of him I helped the colone
up, when he quickly called. Sergeant
sergeant! D--n it man, don't yol
hear me? Get away from there and lie
that man alone!'
"But he kicked the colonel, sir, F" saic
Carswell, who started as if to repea
the operation on Laufer.
Sergeant Carswell, go to your quar-
ters!'' roared the colonel, an ordc
which saved the lucky Laufer from fur
ther trouble. AS it was he had not beel
punished at all, and | was utterly dun
founded when the colonel promptly OF
dered his release. Taking me to on
side, he said, Captain, you said yo
had intended this man should be con
poral?''
Eyes, SIR"
"Well, have his warrant made on
and send it into the adjutant. /" Salut
ing, he went into the next stable Will
J dismissed my men. noticed the me
all gathered about Laufer and wa
pleased that he, waving them aside
went at once to his bunk and his books
where he had spent all of his spar
time that first day before he was tie
up. The next day his corporal's stripe
and chevrons were issued to him. Fl
was constantly kept on some special dr
ty which prevented his being at stables
After time needed a sergeant, an
at the colonel's suggestion sent i'll Coz
poral George Laufer's warrant. In les
than year afterward received eth
compliments OF Colonel and Mrs. Gree
ory, who request the pleasure Of You
company at dinner, Saturday, Aug. II
1878, at 5 o'clock p. M, to meet Secon
Lieutenant (late sergeant) George Lat
fer of the Tenth cavalry, U. S. A.
attended the dinner with pleasure
Laufer never groomed his horse. Rus
sell Francis in Brooklyn Eagle.
Russia's Future.
All that Russia requires is farsigh
ed heroic czar who comprehending til