Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1897-07-24
CAPTAIN CLOSE
BY CAPTAIN CHARLES KING.
Copyright, 1894, by ]. d. Lipplncott Col
III.-CoNTINUED.

Lambert looked squarcly ut the two
men nearest him as he rapidly ap-
preached, whereupon one OF them nerv-
ously tugged at the sleeve Of a third.
Others, after one furtiyc glance. pre-
tended they did not sec the coming
officer and became absorbed in the
game. Ten strides and he was opposite
the group and not hand had been
raised in salute, not man was stand
ing attention" Then he halted short,
saving not n word, but the two men
nearest knew what was lacking, and.
In a shamefnced, stumbling way,
brought their hands up to the cap visor.
One of these was q corporal, and two
other non-commissioned officers were
among the players. For n moment
there was an embarrassed silence. Then
Lambert spoke-rather quietly, too. for
lin:
Corporal. have these men never been
taught the salute and when to Use it?''
A sergeant among the players slowly
found his feet. Others seemed to try
to stink behind their fellows. The
corporal turned red, looked foolish and
only mumbled inarticulately.
"What say you, sergeant inquired
Lambert.
"Why, yes, sir" said Scrgt. Mcbride,
uncomfortably. $50 far us I'm con-
cerned, l can honestly say / did not
see the lieutenant coming; but. to tell
the truth, sir, we've got out of the habit
of it in the company"
"Then all these men who are still
seated here know they should be up
ind standing attention." asked Lam
bert, rs coolly rs he could, though his
blue eyes were beginning to flash. He
had heard some tittcring among the
gamesters, two more of whom were now
getting up.
"Yes, sir; at least most OF them do.
Only, Capt. Close don't seem to mind,
and"
"That'll dol am waiting for you
two" said Lambert. And the two who,
hanging their heads, had been t!ttcring
into each others faces, finding their
time had come. slowly and awkwardly
found their feet, but not the erect po-
sition of the soldier.
$50 far so good" said Lambert, calm
~. "Now, sergeant, explain the rest
TO them. ms they seem to be uninstruct-
ed recruits"
There was n general litter at this,
One of the two was an eX-sergeant OF
ten years service-one Of John Barley
corn's defeated wrcstlcrs. His eyes
snapped with wrath, but he knew the
lieutenant had the best OF him."
Don't make 1t necessary for me to
repeat the lesson" said Lambert, be.
fore moving on; especially you, sir
And the cx-sergeant was plainly the
man indicated.
Up at the end of the row serg.. Burns
Thought his broad palm down on his
thigh with n whack Of delight, then
glanced over to see how the captain
took IT,
The captain was carefully counting
over the "greenbaclis" ~ had just re-
oeived. and, with these in hand, turned
into the dark rccesses OF his farther
tent. The episode in front was of minor
Importance.
"You got q raliin' down, Riggs
laughed some OF the men MS the lieu
tenant was lost to sight beyond the
wagon. while the victim of his brief
Ieprimand glowered angrily after him
"Dam young squirt" snarled the fell
low. I'll learn him lesson yet"
"No, you won't, Riggs" was the
quick rejoinder of Mcbride. He was
perfectly right, rs you ought TO have
sensc enough to know. I'm glad. for
enc, to sec ii, for this company has sim
Fly been goin' 10 the dogs for the last
six months"