The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-04-23

w nat, says i, u. rats says 1
1.-The bloke busted you in the jaw, and
ye didn't do notllin' to i'm! You AIM
no good" 1 says, and I lays in and
knocks the kid about good. Now,
says /, when 1 was through, will We
lick that bloke, or Will L pound you
again?' So we hunts up that bloke,
who was a heap bigger than Sammy,
and / seen it was a square do, and
Sammy knocked i'm out in the tenth
round. See? If ii hadn't been for that
lickin that 1 gave Sammy Owen, that
made i'm fight most desperate, that
kid would have been a disgrace to the
ward, so he would. | tell We, fellers.
there won't be no monkey business
with Lieutenant Sammy Owen from
West Point, cause 1 seen TO that when
Sammy was so high, an / was cham
pion lightweight of the ward. l was
the maxim of Sammy, and he thinks
the world of me. see?''
In the long, lingering twilight of an
evening of midsummer a number OF
troopers sat on the long porch of the
wooden barracks Out on the parade
ground, retreat being comfortably over
and the days work done, the band was
gathered about the Flagstaff playing
away the heat of the sun and welcom-
ing the cool shades of night. ''Spud"
Murphy was the especial object OF in
terest to the men, in that a new lieu-
tenant had joined the troop that day,
and "Spud" was, it seemed, well ac-
quainted with the young officers FAM
jly history. Even the first sergeant SO
far relaxed his dignity as to step out
from the orderly room and ask a ques-
ton or two of the bullet-headed, bright
eyed soldier from New York City.
Twas this way" said Murphy, my
father and Sammy's father was pals
N.rrl,
fellow, fighting my way through the
old ward, j took to Sammy, who was a
little kid, and educated him in the ways
and manners of men as is men. Twas
me who learned him to put up his little
fists first. But say, old Owen was
lulu. he was, and went in for bein'
politician, and got made an alderman
and waltZed in the Doodle for all he
was worth. My father hadn't that kind
of getup. So when old man Owen got
rich as a Jew, we didn't mix no more
with the crowd, see? Sammy he goes
away to a dude school and his dad he
goes to congress, and they pulls out
from our block and moves up town.
though, say, the Owens is always our
ward boys. an Yves proud of them, see?
Then L enlists in this here bloonin'
troop. Say, that's nine years ago, but
them boys in New York remembers me
still, and what's the matter with the
time they give men when / go back on
leave to see them! Say, twas great
Sammy goes to West Point. and here
he comes. He thinks the world of me,
does Sammy"
A tall. thin man, with the straps of
second lieutenant. came out from the
last house, Il bachelors quarters on Of
1icers' row, and crossed the parade
ground, coming directly toward the
barracks.
It's him. cried Murphy. in sup
pressed excitement. I'D know his
measly red hair a mile off. Geel To
think that little Sammy would ever
grow up to be my lieutenant
The officer passed the length of the
porch. saluted by the men, and entered
the orderly room, to which the first
sergeant preceded him. In a few min
utes "Spud' Murphy was called. and
left his comrades complacently expect
ant
How do you do Murphy said
owen, holding, and Spud felt chilled.
In the seclusion of the orderly room. he
thought, with a sense OF aggrievement.
the new lieutenant, his old protege of
the block might have condeScended
10 shake hands. The trooper stood,
however, at attention and eyed the new |
subaltern curiously. The lieutenant
held himself straight-four years of
SAtlL II dIiililS dI lllG IlllildTN dNduelllN
had given him that soldierly bearing |
which is a West Pointer can never lose |
entirely. He was well set up, but to |
Spud Murphy'S critical eye, accustomed |
to the clean and wholesome face colors |
of the plain troopers, the dead dull |
gray of Owens cheeks, their sunken |
leanness, the wateriness of his uncer- |
tain, nervous eyes. We're as a cold cloth !
on the soldiers enthusiasm over his |
old friends rise in station. Owen |
pricked at the blotting pad of the desk |
before which he sat. pricked aimlesslY |
with long and twitching fingers.
Murphy. said he. L have asked the !
about detailing a man to look |
after my horses, and so on. He has
suggested you. Would you be willing? |
1t viii be a considerable help. of course. /
as far as money is concerned, to YOU
Spud squirmed Every officer has his
dog-rubber. or servant. but such details |
are not those which the smarter sol |
diers aspire to gain. There is some
thing mental about the position which
is 10 many a man offensive. Spud
had his opinion Of dog-rubbers in
general. He was, therefore, about to
reject the offer peremptorily, when the
young officer looked at him with an
appeal in his eyes which closed Spud's
lips
II have been i'll. Murphy he said.
Slowly. or l should have Joined four
months ago. ] am not quite wei yet
and IL should like some one not-a-
a stranger about me for a
time at least.
Spud's memory. at the sound and
manner Of the appeal. flashed back to
years long past, when the man, now his
officer. came to him as little whining
boy for protection, always cheerfuily
accorded.
These dog-rubbing details amt my
style. Sam-lieutenant.' he said, but
I'll-l'll help you out"
The sergeant grinned. for Spud's
bluntness of speech was traditional in
The troop, but Owen smiled family. and
his eyes shot up at Murphy with a
passing CLEAN of kindness. rs the old
familiar mannerism fiickered, 1amelike,
from the dying embers of his boyhood's
fires.
Thank you" he said, as if greatly
relieved, and passed out.
The troop, doubtless, had many sneers
10 cast upon Spud Murphy's abandon
nent of principle. but it was not a safe
hing to speak too plainly before the
New Workers. face. Spud. therefore,
explanation. assumed charge
next day OF ovens horse, took his
supper and reported duty at the lieu .
enants quarters in the evening for
)rderS. he was amazed TO ma the OIL
;er a different creature. His cheek ,
vas flushed: his eye was bright; he was
filing his room with the music of his
whistle as he moved about. and he |
greeted Spud with gay familiarity. He .
alked garrulously of old times. of the
sidewalks of his childhood: he laughed ,
poisterously at remembrance of his ;
great fight, the penalty of losing which ,
would have been a severe thrashing ,
Gp116 l11I1.nl1U nrruhf RI f,al-o |
)een delighted. He was at first. indeed. |