The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1900-12-25

didn't do nothin to i'm.
Ye amt no good" says, and l lays
in and knocks the kid about good.
sNow," says when l was through,
will We lick that bloke or will L pound
We again! So he hunts up that
bloke. who was heap bigger than
Sammy, and seen it was a square do,
and Sammy knocked i'm out in the
tenth round. See? If it hadn't been
for that lickin that l gave Sammy
Owen that made i'm fight most des-
pirate. that kid would have been dis
grace to the ward, SO he would l tell
We, fellers, there won't be no monkey
business with Lieutenant Sammy Ow-,
en- from West Point, cause seen to-
that when Sammy was so high and
was champion lightweight Of the ward.
/ was the maxim of Sammy, and he
thinks the world of me. See?''
In the long lingering twilight of an
evening in midsummer a number Of
troopers sat on the long porch of the
wooden barracks. Out OIL 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 new lieu
tenant had Joined the troop that day,
and Spud was, it seemed, well ac-
quainted with the young officers fam
lily 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
once, and when was a tough young
fellow, fghtin my way through the
old ward, took Sammy, who was
little kid, and educated him in the
ways and manners of men as is men.
Twas me as learned him to put I'D his
little fists first But say, old Owen was
a 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 get up. So when old man Owen got
rich, we didn't mix no more with their
crowd, see? Sammy he goes away to a
dude school and his dad goes to con-
gress, and they pulls out from our
block and moves up town, though, say,
the Owenses is always our ward boys
and we's proud of them, see? Then
enlists in this here bloomin 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 me when l 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, a bachelors quarters on Of
fcers' row, and crossed the parade
ground, coming directly toward the
barracks.
tits him." cried Murphy in suppress
ed excitement. go know his measly
red hair mile off Gee! 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 few min
utes Spud Murphy was called and left
his comrades complacently expectant.
"How do you do, Murphy?'' said
Owen, nodding, and Spud felt chilled.
In the seclusion of the orderly room
he thought, with sense Of aggrieve-
ment, the new lieutenant. his old
protege of the BLOCK" might have
condescended to shake hands The
trooper stood. however, at atten-
ton and eyed the new subaltern Curl
ously. The lieutenant held himself
straight Four years of stern training
at the military academy had given him
that soldierly bearing which West
Pointer can never lose entirely. He
was we'll 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 wa
teriness of his uncertain, nervous eyes,
We're as cold cloth on the soldiers
enthusiasm over his old friends rise
in station. Owen pricked at the blot
ting pad of the desk before which he
sat, pricked aimlessly with long and
twitching fingers.
murphy" said he,"I have asked the
sergeant about detailing a man to look,
after my horses, and so on. He has
suggested you. Would you be will
ing? 1t will be considerable help, of
course, as far as money is concerned,
to you"
Spud squirmed. Every officer has
his dog robber, or servant, but such
details are not those which the. smart
err soldiers aspire to gain. There is
something mental about the position
which is to many a man offensive.
Spud had his opinion" Of dog rob-
bers 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 clos
ed Spud's lips.
I'll have been i'll, Murphy" he said
slowly. cor l should have joined four
months ago. am not quite well yet.
and IL should like some one not-a-
a Stra noar. ahnut mo for a