The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1897-07-30
CAPTAlN CLOSE
BY CAPTAIN CHARLES KING.
lCopyrighs, 1894, by J. B. Lipfincott Col
u.-CoNTISUED.

H.-SONTlSCED.
This said Lambert to himself, sis
possibly one of the scrub oaks. 1 as
sumo he doesn't imagine me TO be an
officer, and, in any event, he could say
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
yoral." said he. HE also made the uni
form which 1, perhaps, should have put
on before coming salt to camp" TIhat
ought to fetch him. thought he)
Where will find Capt. Close?"
DO Hes over there" said the corporal,
with a careless Jerk of the head in the
direction of the opposite wall tent.
''Then 1 s'pose you're the new lieuten-
ant the felle1>s have been talking
about?''
Il am; and would you mind selling me
how long you've been in service?'
Me? Oh, I.reckon about two months
Longer n you have, anyhow. You
amt Joined yet, have your And the
corporal was nibbling at Il twig now
and looking up in good-humored inter
est. Then as Lambert found no words
Gaps awake, ii you want to see him..
And, amazed at this reception, yet:not
knowing whether to be indignant cor
amused, Lambert sprang down the
pathway, crossed the open space be-
tween the tents, a dozen Of the men
starting UP to stare at but none to sa-
lutte him, and halted before the;tent OF
his company commander.
Sitting just within the half1opened
flap, a thick-set, burly man of middle
age was holding in his left hand acoarse
. 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 Iarnbert's footfall NOT noted his
coming, and the lieutenant, while paus-
ing a moment iTresolute, took quick OBJ
servatinRn of the stranger and his sur
rountiiErrs He was clad in the gray
shirt and Hight-blue trousers such as
were worn by the rank and file. An or
binary soldiers blouse was thrown over
the backsUf the camp-stool on which he
sat, and his feet were 'encased in the
coarse wooden socks and heavy brogans
and ieathern thongs, just exactly sucn
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 Zap seat uppermost and showing
a rent three inches in length, were a
pair of uniform trousers. with narrow
welt of dark blue along the outer seam.
They were thin and shiny ike bomba-
zine. in places, and the patch which
seemed destined toccover the rent was
five shades too dark for the purpose.
His handsMvere brown and knotted and
hard. He wore Ia silver ring on the
third finger of the left. His face was
brown as his hands, and, clean shaved
(barring the stublofe of two days
growth) everywhere, except the heavy
''goatee," which, beginning, at the cor
ners 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 ,sp-inKIed, with gray, was
almost BLACK.
The morning air was keen, yet no
fire blamed in the little campSstove 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:
Il am looking for Capt Close"
Where1pon the man engaged N
threading the needle slowly, opened the
left eye he lrad screwed tight shut. and.
as slowly raised his head. calmly looked
his visitor over and at last slowly re
piled:
That's any name"