The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1898-09-18

T. ~
"Go home and try to sIeep," said the
colonel
tain Barclay queries as to the children
and their benefactorS, and that sweet,
tender hearted, motherly woman ought
to have softened to him, but didn't.
"He could have heard it all at San An
tonic for the asking" she declared,
"but he didn't stop two days. at San
Antonio.'' explained Mrs. Brooks.
"The moment he heard that Colonel
Riggs was going on by special ambu-
lance he begged to be allowed to go with
him. and Riggs couldn't see a way to
sav No and later confessed he was very ,
glad he had said Yes. y
Brooks, you were all growing at
the idea Of having any outsider, much F.
less a doughboy, take Lawrence's
place" were the bluff old veterans S ex-
act words, but you mark what say.
l was rather prejudiced against this
young fellow myself, and 1t has just
taken this Jolt together from San An
tonic to satisfy me he is grit to the
backbone and you are in big luck to get
him.
At least a dozen men called at the
majors that evening to pay their re-
spects to the new comrade. 1t was long
after taps when the last one left, but
almost to a man they gathered at the
clubroom later to compare notes. Hodge,
of course, had called among the first,
his claim of intimate or at least old ac-
ouaintance rendering it necessary. Bar
claws brown eyes certainly lighted at
the sight of the face he had known In
the far northwest. He chatted for a mo-
ment with the infantryman and ex-
pressed his pleasure at meeting him
again. Then Blythe entered, with his
grave. massive face and courteous yet
reserved manner, and Brooks spoke OF
the fact that Barclay seemed to shake
hands more earnestly with him than
with any Of the others, and to look at
him oftener, though striving to slight
no one. They sat there, as men will al
such times, somewhat awkwardly, only
one speaking at once, and generally the
same one. Hodge, for instance, ha6
much to say and many questions to asl
about fellows he had known in Wyo
ming, and when he left and others came
in, three or four went at the same time
having sat stolid listeners, calmly study
ing Barclay with their eyes and final.
saying good night and "hOpe to SCI
you when you get settled, " ETC.
They were talking Of him at tn
store and wondering when and wher
he would settle and whether he woul'
take Lawrence's quarters and wha
would then become tof Ada and lltt)
Jim, who with Old Nanny still occu
pied their rooms there and had all tn
furniture as poor dAddyileft it, but VIII
went over to the Blythes' three time
a day to take their Eations with thel
army chums and playmates, the llttl
Blythes. "What godsend it would
if he would buy poor Ned's books an
,furniturer r' said De Lancy. 1T woui
yield enough to send those poor bablt
home
"HomeI' said Blythe sadly. "Wh.
home has a child whose kith and kl
are all of the army: They have neith'
nome nor mother.
But no man made the fAinteSt COD
ment on facts the women remarked II
stanter, that Barclays watch was on.
silver and his guard an inexpensive Ii
tie cord or braid of fine leather, wol
about his neck; that his travelling So
was of rough gray mixture. aud d
shirt flannel negligee. But then,
Mrs. De Lancy explained in extenu
tion Of their blindness, he had doHn'
his uniform by the time they CALI
that second evening, and it became ri
very well.
CHAPTER V.
A week went rapidly by. CAPITA
Barclay had gone on duty, and NJ
Brayton, his sub, had not yet ''slz
him up" Lieutenant Trott, the ne
regimental quartermaster, had arrlV
by the Saturdays stage and was rea
to receipt to Lieutenant Winn for
property he had to turn over, but WI
had broken down under his weight
woe and taken to his bed. From Was
ington came tidings, telegraphed as
as San Antonio, that Lawrence
slowly mending and would soon be
ting up. Mrs. Winn, absorbed In
care of her suffering husband, had