The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-02-18

his age, it might have been % or 1t
might have been 80; at all events, it was
something between. He claimed to be 26.
1t was a "broiling hot day. which is
trite and usual description to convey the
idea that the weather was uncomfortably
warm. 1t had not rained for nearly three
months The river, that was within few
hundred yards of the northeast corner of
the parade ground, had dwindled down
10 a narrow little stream, that wiggled
along throughsa dusty bed. "A troop of
horses being 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 be-
yond the post was gray and brown and
matted. The deep shadows of the stables
and the barracks and the officers quar-
tiers looked to be painted on the ground
with dark blue pigment. They were the
only restful things for the eye to find.
Lying prone on the ground in the shade
back of b troops quarters was a group
of enlisted men. The uniforms were non
descript. Some wore their canvas stable
suits loose and open. one or two were
80 undershirts and faded blue breeches.
Some wore boots, some were in stocking
feet. They had ceased cursing the wealth
er, and were all absorbed in one discus
sion.
II seed the beginning of it, said a
lanky, rather tough looking lad, who was
smoking a cigarette, with another one
stuck behind his ear, pen-fashion. Il seed
the beginning of it. Murphy wouldn't say
why. but l know 1t was something about
the new girls at the majors The Dutch
mans 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.
''It was a damn good fight" he grunted,
''but the big fellow would have killed
him. The way he mauled him was unmer-
oiful.'
Just like a billygoat tackling a bull 1"
remarked a man on the outside of the
group, rolling over on his elbows. Then,
as II quite pleased with his metaphor, he
repeated it, "a billygoat tackling bull
Schneider made no report Of it,"
I'VE amt seen the end of it yet said
the lad who first spoke. The little fell
low'll take lot of poundin'."
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. A figure In uniform just then
crossed the open space that led from the
barracks TO the officers quarters. The
shuveling heat had not taken all the
spring out of this fellow; his shoulders
were well back; his tunic buttoned to the
throat, and he stepped briskly out, like
man with a purpose before him. But II
one had looked into the troopers face he
would have noticed a peculiar thing. Both
his eyes were apparently smut ught; but
it was not to 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.
Lieut. Blair Carter, who was sitting or
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 Il
had halted at the veranda steps. The
story of the fight although unreported
had reached his ears.
"Wel Murphy" said the lieutenant ac
knowledging lazily the touch of the finger
at the hat brim, How are the horses?"
THE farrier made a bad job of shooting
the crack-hoofed nag of Capt. Agnew's
sorr. Sure, told him ii was wasting time
10 monkey with it,"
For heavens sake, Murphy, can yot
see out of those eyes?"
"Yes, sorr," replied Murphy, wiping
the Precipitation off his stiff upper liT
with the back of his hand. 1.-The gray IS
oil roight again, sorr but one of the new
horses, the one with the bald spot is go.
ing TO throw sphlint, I'm afraid, sorr'
Murphy had dismissed the subject of the
eyes politely, but firmly.
i II come over and look at him this a n.
ernoon. Didn't have much luck with that
last bunch, did WEI"
mo, SORT we did not"