New-York tribune., 1900-08-19
Captain Cara

way shivered
He began to remember different points in the
ldhuscape, the trees IN the hedges, the bends OF
the road. A few minutes more, and the dust
stained fly would turn sharp to the left jolt up
a marrow lane, and then-the red brick barracks?
he pulled out his watch and shivered again. 1t
was o'clock; he had fifteen minutes in which to
dress for dinner
The fly turned the corner, crawled slowly up
the lane, and presently ratified slowly over cob
oIestones through the barrack gates The sentry,
d smooth faced boy, looked up at the Captain,
Out dld not salute. The barrack square seemed
empty. Outside the officers quarters, a dull,
cheerless red brick building, a civilian was
and touched his forehead. Captain Caraway?' -
said he Yes" said our hero I'm Private
Moore, sir and I'm told off to be your servant.
1ou We got ten minutes to dress in, sir
Captain Caraway followed his servant mee4lly
up the steps, and climbed with HIM the echOing
wooden stairs. Full his mind of appre-
hension, he yet had there for thoughts OF
his home and the girl he had left behind him.
An! how greatly to be desired was that little
snug villa, with its thick carpets its pretty
curtains and the three comfortable Persian cats!
de looked about him, and his heart grew sick
Here was his room Moore had returned TO the
ny TOT MS luggage, and he stood alone IN pig,
pare, hldeous apartment; few seedy old wicker
chairs and dull deal table occupied the larger
naI or this roOn while on the other side of the
partition was untidy dressing table a mis-
cradle WaShStand and bed. The bed He took
a step forward mis- mouth open his eyes staring
from their sockets The bed There the
pillow. peeping w.ckedly out Of the sheets,
the handle of warming pan. warming pan!
and thrust his hand between the bedcIOthes.
They were warm, horribly. vilely
When Moore returned he was prepared for the
worst While the soldier kneIt over his boxes,
he undressed with a swiftness that surprised
himself plunged his face into warm water and
dried it on towels that were warm. too. After
all thought he, II only be for few weeks.
and l shall soon be back again with Jane and
the cats But his heart was aching very badly
when he hurried down the steps and passed out
into the open on his way TO the mess When he
opened the door Of the anteroOm his agony Of
mind was intense.
"Caraway." said a voice he seemed to remem-
Der, and the next minute he was shaking hands
with the Colonel. I'm very glad to you
again, my dear fellow. En- what? We're a
very dull party here. a very dull party, but you
mustn't mind that. Eh, what? You must speak
up when you talk to me; I'm as deaf as a post
you TO Major Bul!en D'yOu remember Bullen? =?
After your time. think. Eth, what?" very
fat old man with two stout walking sticks in
his hands extricated himself from the depths Of
an armchair and hobbed over to Caraway
Very pleased to meet you" he wheezed
Fear you'll find bit duh after town. The
ColoneIs deaf and I'm lame GOut- Anything
the matter with you
"A little sciatica at times" said Caraway
wishing TO make himself pleasant
'Sciatica! Cure you in two days Remedy of
my own. Perfectly simple. and no demmed
quackery. Come over to my quarters after din
ner, and I'll tell you about it,
And now" said the Colonel let me introduce
Captain Simmonds. He thinks because I'm deaf
he must shout: the greatest mistake in the
world can near we'll enough if people only
speak distinctly.
Captain simmonts came forward. He was a
big fellow, boasting a great chest measurement
and deep bass voice.
''BeaStly nuisance calling US out" he said Il
believe shall he here for couple of yearsi"
And then he burst out laughing. Caraway
laughed, too.
What does he say?'' asked the Colonel
He says. sir replied Major Bullen, asthmat-
CaIIy. that shall be here for a couple Of
years"
"A couple of what?" said the Colonel
A couple Of years, sir" cried Captain Sim
mOnds
Don't shout, Don't shout the Colonel said.
Well what if we are? We're four now, and
that's enough for a rubber"
You're still fond of whist, them" Caraway
asked
.Eh?"
You're still fond of whist he says" bawled
Smmonds.
'Oh. yes: very. Never lost my love Of q
rubber. How that fellow Simmonds does bel
low"
The mess sergeant threw open the door and
announced dinner Colonel Watt took Cara
ways arm and led him forward Major Bullen,
Wheeling horribly and stumbling painfully along
with his two sticks followed at a respecta BILE