Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-02-17

1t might have been thirty; at all events, II
was something between. He claimed to be
twenty-siX.
1t was a "broiiing hot day." which Is q
trite and usual description to convey the
idea that the weather was uncomfortable
warm. 1t had not rained for nearly three
months. The river, that was within a few
hundred yards of the northeast corner OF
the parade ground, had dwindled down tc
a narrow little stream, that wiggled along
through dusty bed. A troop of horses be.
ing driven down to water raised a cloud
that drifted up the bank like the smoke OF
a fire. The buffalo grass on the prairie
that stretched out for miles beyond the
post was gray and brown and matted. The
deep shadows of the stables and the bar.
racks and the officers quarters looked tc
be painted on the ground with dark blue
pigment. They were the only restfui things
for the eye to find.
Lying prone on the ground in the shade
back of troops quarters was a group OF
enlisted men. The uniforms were monde.
script. Some wore their canvas stable
suits, loose and open. One or two were in
undershirts and faded blue breeches. Some
wore boots, some were in stocking feet
They had ceased cursing the weather, and
were all absorbed in one discussion.
Il seed the beginning of it," said a lanky,
rather tough looking lad, who was smok-
ing a cigarette, with another one stuck
behind his ear, pen-fashion. II seed the
but l know it was something about the new
girls at the majors. The Dutchman's got
a fine lip on him. It's a good thing he
doesn't play the horn"
Here another man, with a brick-red face
and a long, sunburned mustache broke in.
1T was a d-n good fight he grunted,
| but the big fellow would have killed him.
The way he mauled him was unmerciful' y
Just like bilygoat tackling a bull"
remarked man on the outside of the
| group, rolling over on his elbows Then,
| as If quite pleased with his metaphor, he
| repeated it; "a billygoat tackling BULL
| Schneider made report of IT -
I'VE amt seen the end of 1t yet" said
| the lad who first spoke. The little fellow
| ii take a lot o poundin'."
That's no lie,' remarked man with a
| red face; but the ugly Dutchman could
| lick three of him. He's too big to put on a
| horses back, anyhow"
| At this minute the dust arose again, and
| the horses struggled up the bank. A bugle
| sounded the stable call, and the group
| broke up. figure in uniform just then
| crossed the open space that led from the
| barracks to the officers quarters. The
| shriveling heat had not taken all the spring
| out of this fellow; his shoulders were well
| back; his tunic buttoned to the throat, and
I he stepped briskly out, like man with a
| purpose before him. But If one had looked
| into the troopers face he would have no.
! ticed a peculiar thing. Both his eyes were
| apparently shut tight; but 1t was not tc
avoid the glare of the sun. There was a
| slight abrasion on his upper lip; another
| at the corner of his ear, and his jaw was
! badly swollen
Lieutenant Blair Carter, who was sitting
/ on the veranda with his feet on the rail
| dressed as coolly as was compatible with
/ his usual devotion to neatnesS watched the
| approaching figure, smiling, until it ha6
1 halted at the veranda steps The story OF
| the fight, although unreported, had reached
his ears.
| well, Murphy" said the lieutenant, &C.
| knowledging lazily the touch of the finger
| at the hat brim, How are the horses?''
1.-THE farrier made a bad job of shoefns
| the crack hoofed nag of Captain Agnew's
| sorr. Sure told him 1t was wasting time
| to monkey with It,"
| For heavens sake Murphy, can You see
| out of those eyes?'
Yes, sorr," replied Murphy, wiping the
| perspiration off his stiff upper lip with the
back of his hand? THE gray is all roight
| again, sorr, but one of the new horses, the
| one with the bald spot, Is going to throw
| sphlint, I'm afraid, sorr."
Murphy had dismissed the subject of the
eyes politely, but firmly.
| I'll come over and look at him this
afternoon: Didn't have much luck with
| that last bunch, did WEI"
| mo, sorr; we did not"
as there anything else, Murphy"
| mo, sorr."
That's ALL
Then Murphy. with shoulders erect but
| to all appearance blind as a bat, strobe
| off on his little bow legs down the board
| walk toward the stables.
The lieutenant picked up his paper, saw
| that his sister had just given big party
| on board of her husbands yacht, and read
| over the names of the winners at the
| Rockaway races Then he heard footsteps
and looking up saw that coloners orderly