The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1898-07-01

tblng is irresistible unless you happen
to be alone with him" And Mainwar.
ing would premise, and despite his
promise would fall for, as be frankly
admitted, he couldn't help wanting to
know, you know, and, as it never &C.
Cured to him that he could mispro-
nounce any word, foreign or domestic,
poor MainwariDg was eternally putting
his foot in it He and Tommy Hollis
were Blake's entire delight, and neither
man could resent his wittioisms, even
when they verged on the personal, for
Blake, like Ray, was regimental idol
because of deeds that won a tribute out
vying the Victoria cross or COMPRESSION
al medal of honor Mainwaring swore
by both as soldiers, and Hollis fairly
worshiped Blake But Tommy was
away on other duty Just now, and the
shafts of the long legged captain s ridi-
Guile fell most improperly on his slug
gish witted chief.
Blake did not thoroughly like him.
He thought Mainwaring selfish, opin-
donated and conceited. He admitted him
to be first rate soldier, a fine drill
master and tactician, truthful. honest
and pure minded man, a devoted hus-
band and father-in fact, ore Of the
representative men of the cSTairy. IL
wasn't that he was narrow ais toler.
ance on the whisky question was an evil
dence that he was not), yet he was
buttheaded, said Blake. Hes per-
petually referring to Ray and to me- as
the opponents Of the liquor habit, when
both ef Us quit long ago. We all Ike
Stannard, and he doesn't; at least he is
always ready 70 disparage anything
Stannard says or does, and if he were
STANDARDS senior instead of junior he'd
override any decision OF order of Stan.
nard's just because it was Stannard s.
So when he comes out with his bulls /
can't help goading him a bit. Some
body's got to keep him in check or we'll
be getting the laugh from those fell
lows of the Eleventh and Twelfth "
"They wouldn't see the plumbers,
Blake, only you show 'em up" said
Ray, in remonstrance, and with not q
little reason, for Blake was incorrigible.
"Some day you'll cut Mainwaring to
the quick, and he comes of a stock that
hits hard and doesn't forgive easy or
forget at all. Better hold off, Legs"
And "hold off" Legs had to for sew.
eral days of dreary homeward march,
dreary because the colonel meant to rest
the horses thoroughly after fierce and
furious chase and campaign, and so
made short marches where the officers
and men would gladly have made two
q day. The road was dusty, the October
sunshine was hot and dry, the nights
were swapping cold, but here at last
they were only one day out from their
new station, Fort Ransom, and Blake
had broken bonds again. Raising him
self on elbow and peering across the
blue shirted shoulder of his friend, Ray
could see that Mainwaring WAS still
glowering at him and evidently ponder
ing over that reference TO his having
time enough to learn anything AS yet
its full significance was not apparent,
but il was the policy Of wisdom to dis
tract his attention and set his wits to
work on something else. Like the horse,
which noble animal Mainwaring almost
worshiped, be could consider only one
point at time. So up rose Ray and
strolled over TO him. IF you've no OBJ
jections, major I'd like TO ask the colo
mel to let my quartermaster sergeant
ride into Ransom tonight, He tells me
his wife is quite i'll. The ambulance is
going and will give him lift. Well
lead his horse with the troop tomor-
VOW "
"Why not ride him in tonight?' ask
ed Mainwaring, who bad served but lit
tie under Atherton since the war and
knew not how strict were his rules re-
garding horses.
Because the colonel wishes every
horse to share and share alike. The ser
geant's horse would have an extra go
miles if ridden in tonight, Yonder
comes STANDARDS battalion now," he
said, pointing to the dust cloud sailing
slowly toward them from the north.
He'll bivouao above us, / reckon"
Eyes, and spoil our water, like AZ
not, growled Malnwaring but we'vs
got the grass and shade.
Devil doubt you, muttered Blake,
land you've got the best of both. -
Then aloud: "Ask the old man, with
my compliments, if may do him the
honor Of dining with him tomorrow,
Billy Mrs. Anterior has everything
ready for his coming, I'll be bound,
while your better half and mine and
the majors here can't come till we gel
there and choose quarters. "
MRS. Mainwaring will be there
quicker than WILL" said the msjoi
promptly.
THAT'S all easily explained. Mrs
Mainwaring knows the major quarters
can go to nobody but the major, ant
she can move in at once We poor devils
of troop leaders must wait till our sen
Tors have chosen. What's more, Mrs
Mainwaring has no nurse and babies Il
look after. -
mo, but she's bringing companion
with her in the shape of her niece tina
she's often talked to me about. l thinl
told you about her. Miss Leroy She
been abroad for q year and wants Il