The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1897-09-03
bureau duty, where they did not wan.

him. Then he appealed to Farnham.
and through him to Gen. Sherman
His wounds made him stiff and sore: he
couldn't drill or parade. 1t transpire 1
that he had no full uniform, and his
first and only frock-coat had been let out
to the last shred and was still too tight
for him. Then some queer yarns began
to be told. He was quasi executor for
three officers who had died intestatn,
and who had little to bequeath any
how. He rad nursed them in their last
illness, and such items of their property
as had not by medical orders been con-
demned and burned he had for sale.
Under the regulations the ma jor was the
proper custodian of the effects of de E
ceased officers. but the major was him
self almost victim and had been sent
north to recuperate after long and
desperate struggle. On an occasion when
he simply had to appear in full uniform,
Close turned out in plumed felt hat,
sash, and epaulets which, when uucs
toned, he said were the late Can't.
Stones, and so was the coat. If nobody
could be found to buy them. he would.
but he did not mean to buy such truck"
until it was absolutely necessary.
Respect for his fighting ability in the
field and his fearless service during the
epidemic prevented any "crowding" of
the old fellow. though there was no lit
tie talk about the habits he was disclos-
ing. The bachelors ami grass wild
overs of the infantry and battery
started Il mess, but Close declined to
yOfr III L..
to board with a French creole family
short distance away, as he wished
to learn the language" They gave a
big dance Christmas week and taxed
every officer ten dollars. Close had
nursed Pierce through the fever, and
Pierce was treasurer of the fund. Close
was accounted for as paid" both for
the origina ten and the subsequent as
sessment of five dollars that was found
necessary, but it came out of Pierce's
pocket, for Close begged off one and
refused the other. and Pierce would not
tell until it was dragged out of him by
direct questioning months after. It
transpired that Close went only once
day to the humble dwelling, four blocks
away, where he preferred to board. He
assiduouSly visited the kitchen of Com
pany &c" at breakfast and dinner time
to see that those meals were properly
cooked and served, and there could be
no question that he personally sam
pied" everything they had. He wore
the clothing issued to the men, until
the colonel insisted on his appearing in
proper uniform, and then had to rebuke
him for the condition of the paper col
lar and frayed black bow that were at
tached to the neckband of his flannel
shirt. He wore the soldier shoe, and
swore that no other kind suited his foot.
He had 10 write letters occasionally, but
when he did so he repaired to the COM
pany Office or that of the post quarter
master, and not one cent did he spend
for stamps.
Indeed it became a subject of unoffi-
cial investigation whether he spent
cent for anything. He bought nothing
at Finkbcin's, the suffers, where, in
deed, he was held in high disfavor, his
war record and fever service to the
contrary notwithstanding. He never
touched 9 card, never played billiards,
and never invited anybody to drink,
even when his brother officers called
upon him in squads of two or three to
see if he would. That he had no preju-
Gice against the practice. then as uni
Nersal in the service as it is now rare,
was apparent from the tact that he
never refused to take drink when in
vited, yet never seemed even family
,,xhilarated. You might as well pour
whisky in knot-hole,' said the sore
headed squad of youngsters that with
malice prepense had spent many hours
end dollars one night in The attempt tc
get Old Close loaded"
He had to go to town occasionally on
board of survey or similar duty, and
always sought a seat in somebody's am
bulance TO save the nickel for a siX-mile
i ide in the tram car. When he had to
take the car he would wait for some of
the youngsters, well knowing they
would p,y his fare. Once when three of
them put up a job on him" by the
declara ton after they were well on
their way, that not man in the party
had less than five-dollar bill, he Of
fered to change the five, but refused to
lend a nickel unless they gave their
word, on honor. that they were not
striving to make convenience of him.
But the closest" figuring he had ever
done was that which he carried out for
several months at the expense of a GER
tain bank Most of the officers on get
ting their pay check towards the end
of the month would take it to the near
est bank or broker and get it cashed.
Those were easy-going days in the pay
department. Many a time the impe-
cunious subs would prevail on the major
or his clerk to let them have their sti-
pend week before it became due, and
it would be spent before it was fully
earned. Close never spent a cent, that
anyone could see or hear of, but he
was on hand to draw it as early as
any of the rest. He would take his
check and vanish. The total footing
up of his pay, rations, servants allow
ance. "fogy," and all, was one hundred
and some dollars and sixty-eight cents.
They used no coin smaller than the
| nickel five cents) in the south in
those days, and it was the practice of
the banks and money-changers gener-
ally to give the customer the benefit
if the check called for more than half
the value of the nickel, otherwise to
hold it themselves If the amount were
SO cents the customer got only so; if
it were So cents he was paid SIS. Those