Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1898-08-26
THE SUBALTERN.
THE DAY had been overcharged
By THEODORE ROBERTS.

THE DAY had been overcharged
with sun and Unframed by any
wind; the white sand in the streets
had attained 10 such heat that people
moved across it hurriedly. But at
eight o'clock fresh breeze blew in
from the bay, and Sandy McDutf barred
his forhead TO ii with a sigh of relief.
Sandy was sitting in front of the head
quarters of one of the infantry regi-
ments, talking with the colonel, two
captains and subaltern. The camp
was set up in grove of Florida pines.
McDuff listened very attentively 10
everything that the colonel and the
captains had to say; tor these men
had smellcd powder, felt steel and
heard the Indian war whoop. But he
closed his ears to the sub (who talked
a great deaD, and put him down as a
windbag. Perhaps the reason for this
was that Sandy was a, scribbler. and
felt that there was good copy in what
the other men had TO say.
He lit Cuban cigarette, and men
toned the recent victory of the Amei-
can fleet over the Spanish. The sub.
slapped his knee and turned to the
colonel.
by thunder, sir" he exclaimed;
"those fellows deserve all they get.
1t would give me keen pleasure to meet
one face to face and shoot him down
like a dog"
The colonel looked at him for few
seconds without speaking. Then he
said: "NIr. Brown, YOU may hate a
man, and think nothing is too bad for
him; but when you have had 70 kill one
you will not consider it such "A keen
pleasure"
Brown did not reply to this, and the
colonel seemed lost in somber thought,
Sandy was rather pleased with what
he considered the sitting upon" of
the young lieutenant. One of the dear
est clauses of his philosophy was that
the men who talk least about fighting
are the ones who fight best.
One of the captains. who had served
in the cavalry against the Indians, told
a story OF major Of Irish extraction.
I'VE were out on rather a rough
campaign. with this major in com
mand," he began. Twenty friend
" Blackfeet, hired as trailers and
scouts. were put in my charge. One
night the major sent q note over 10 me
which read something like this: Send
over six Of your lazy Indians TO do
guard duty.
II resented this term when applied
70 my OWE men. 50 the first thing in
the morning ! went over with them
myself. l saluted, reported the men
ready for duty. and then told the
major that, first Of all. my command
was not crazy. and second. that they
were here 10 act as scouts and trailers.
and knew nothing Of regular military
work. The major requested me TO re-
member that we were a long way from
the post and that he was my superior
officer. | bowed. and returned 20 my
own tent. Half an hour later those
six Indians were back in their quarters.
| returned with them Immediately and
tried 70 make excuses for them. saving
again that they were unfit for sentry
duty. The major was in a woeful rage.
"'You say they are trailers, he cried;
then bring them over here double
quick
"Ile called 20 one Of his men and
ordered him 20 drive two stakes into
the ground at distance of about 200
yards from one another. Then the
major gave a carbine 20 one of the red
skins and told him 20 shoulder il. Now,
you red IDIOT he said; do YOU see this
I L. I,
"The man looked and grunted.
"'All right; spend the next two hours
trailing from this one TO that one.
See?'"
They tried TO laugh AT the captains
story, and then McDuff said Good
night" and started back for the town.
At the hotel one Of the regimental
bands was playing. and the grounds
and the rotunda were gay with summer
dresses and dapper uniforms. Sandy
seated himself in a quiet corner and
talked "war" with Billings. of the Ex-
change.
I'VE will start for the island within
seven days" said Billings.
That's been the time ever since ]
came down here. Why don't you make
II ten for changer" replied McDuff.
At that moment the band struck into
THE Star Spangled Banner" and
everyone arose. While standing thus
McDuff noticed a familiar head and
shoulders at the other side of the room
surrounded by attentive uniforms. He
left Billings and hurried across, and the
uniforms made way for him.
The band played its last selection
and retired. The newspaper mel
drifted off to make copy for next day.
papers. The giAl in white and blue sa'