Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1899-04-22

Here Rutiles' mother caught his fat
little chin in loving grasp and held it
for "a moment.
"You know" said she your daddy
had ridden to a kraal Is miles away,
where the Kaffirs had been ugly, and
he wasn't expected back until late i'll
the night. The whole garrison was
thrown into a perfect turmoil when
the news of your being carried away
reached the barracks. The men rushed
into the jungle without orders, some of
them only half dressed but nearly all
carrying their rifles. | stood at the gate
Of the klOOt until nearly midnight. The
soldiers began to return without having
found "a trace of poor little Ruffles, and
| prayed that | might die when the last
man had come in.
Among the officers who had gone
out to search for you was Captain Nc
Adams, and it was he who saw the stran-
Vest part of it all. He became separated
from the rest of the party, and on a lit,
tie knoll, where there was u big tree
with wide hollow in it, just little
higher than a mans head, he caught
sight of your daddy going through the
jungle afoot and carrying something in
his arms. Captain McAdams had been
so confused and Mortified by your ad-
venture that he was quite nervous. He
couldn t imagine why your daddy was
walking III the jungle, and for the mo-
ment he believed that daddy had heard
about the balloons carrying you away,
and that thp hal ,,a1o hin, 1,co
his mind. SO Captain McAdams just
stood perfectly quiet in the shadow of a
bush and waited. He saw your daddy
carefully lay a bundle right in the
hollow of the big tree, standing on his
tiptOes to reach high enough. Then
daddy went quickly away and Captain
MCAdams was quite certain that he was
demented. Captain McAdams was GO
ing toward the tree to find out what the
bundle contained when your daddy came
crashing through the bushes on Sui
tan's back Sultan was snorting and
rearing i'll Il way which proved that he
was badly frightened. Your daddy was
the best hOrseman in the regiment then,
as he is now.
'Tho best one in the world, mom,"
interrupted Ruttles excitedly.
Yes, of course, and he rode Sultan
right up to the tree, and leaning over
i'll the saddle picked up the bundle he
had placed in the hollow And what
do you think it was?''
''It was mcp' shouted Ruffles.
Indeed it was" laughed Ruffles
mother, giving him a good, tight hug
"Your daddy was just galloping off
with you when Captain McAdams called
to him. Ned! he shouted. Ned, old
man! Where did you find Ruflles?'
Upon my word, said your daddy
i don't know whether or not I'm Just
right i'll my head. A big baboon drop
ped the poor little beggar right in my
path
Is hc-is he hurt?' asked Captain
McAdams
"'Not a bitr said your daddy. He's
right as golden guinea
Ned, said Captain McAdams
we've been searching the jungle for
that blessed baby since O'Clock, ex-
pecting to find him torn to pieces The
balloons stole him right out of his per-
ambulator.
"Iour daddy took off his hat just as
he does when the colors march past
and then he kissed you.
But i'll the name of common sense,
Ned, sIid Captain McAdams, what
did you mean by putting the baby up
tree?'
The balloons that dropped Ruffles
gave Sultan such start, said your
dady, that | couldn't mount him with
Ruffles i'll my arms. So picketed Sui
tan, put Rut1les in the hollow tree and
then rode up and lifted him out. "
There was pause, and Rutfles said
MON, did they reduce Sergeant Brown
to the ranks?''
"No, said Ruffles' mother. Wasn't
it as much Nurse O'Brien's fault as
his?'
yes said Ruffles judicially, Il
guess it was, and it wouldn't be fair to
punish one without furnishing the other
and it wouldn't be military to punish
woman.
And Ruffies' mother only laughed
and said, "Bless my little man heartn
Cincinnati Enquirer.