Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1897-11-16
1897 NEW SERIES, VOL. XXXII, NO. 4e.

feed him in the trough. lead him out to
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 I
had picked from the batch to make a
corporal" I smilingly said when we
were 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.
1 wondered If wewould get scouting or
ders just as my next year leave of alb
sence became due; if there was really
any chance to get back that half months s
pay had dropped in the little game
last night; if she meant what she said
she was laughing so 1 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 semidarImess
of morning stables l saw Laufer lying
ON his straw in the stall believe did
wonder if he was cold, but knew if he
had been could not in any way remedy
it, and SO two or 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 mon
CONS" 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 ohucked into the feed box. He
was apparently oblivious of our presence
and paid no attention to the old man as
he brushed his hand along his back
Seems well groomed, erg-uh-nt-uh-
h-ohi" granted the colonel as he fell all
doubled up out of the stall.
Lightning was not quicker or more
astonishing That youngster had placed
both hands on the rail of bis hayrack
and with that springy foundation had
planted both feet with electric yigor
fairly in the old mans stomach.
Sergeant Carswell had Laufer fat on
his back in a second, probably to beat
the life out of him. helped the colonel
up, when he quickly called: Sergeant.
sergeantl D-n it man, don't you
hear me? Get away from there and let
that man aloner'
but he kicked the colonel, sir, - said
Carswell, who started as if to repeat
the operation ON Laufer.
Sergeant Carswen, go to your quar-
tersl" roared the colonel, an order
which saved the lucky Laufer from fur
ther trouble. AS it was he had not been
punished at all, and was utterly dunn
founded when the colonel promptly or
dered his release- Taking me to one
side, he said, Captain, you said you
had intended this man should be a cor
poral?''
Eyes. sir +"
"Well, have his warrant made out
and send it into the adjutant. Salut-
ing, he went into the next stable while
1 dismissed my men. 1 noticed the men
all gathered about Laufer and was
pleased that he. waving them aside,
went at once to his bunk and his books,
where he had spent all of his spare
time that first day before he was tied
up The next day his corporal s stripes
and chevrons We're issued to him He
was constantly kept on some special du-
ty which prevented his being at stables.
After a time l needed sergeant, and
at the colonel's suggestion sent in Cor
poral George Laufer's warrant. In less
than year afterward received 'the
compliments of Colonel and Mrs. Greg
ory. who request the pleasure of your
company at dinner, Saturday, Aug. 16,
1873. at o'clock p. M, to meet Second
Lieutenant (late sergeant) George Lau-
fer of the Tenth cavalry. u. s A
attended the dinner with pleasure
Laufer never groomed his horse. Rus
sell Francis in Brooklyn Eagle
-s-