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

years long past, when the man, now
his officer, came to him as little whin.
ing boy for protection, always cheer
fully accorded
These dog Robin details amt my
style, Sam-lieutenant," he said, .but
I'll-I'll help We OUT
The sergeant grinned, for Spud's
bluntness OF speech was traditional in
the troop, but Owen smiled family, and
his eyes shot up at Murphy with
passing CLEAN Of kindness as the old
familiar mannerism fickered, flame
like, from the dying embers of his boy
hoods fires.
"Thank you," he said, as if greatly
relieved, and passed out.
The troop doubtless had many sneers
to east upon Spud Lurphy's abandon
ment of principle, but it was not-a safe
thing to speak too plainly before the
New. Workers. face. Spud therefore,
disdaining explanation, assumed charge
next day of Owens horses, took his
supper and reported duly at the lieu
tenants headquarters in the evening
for orders. He was amazed to find the
officer a different creature. His cheek
was flushed, his eye was bright, he
was filling his room with the music of
his whistling as he moved about, and
he greeted Spud with gay familiarity.
He talked garrulously of old times, of
the sidewalks of his childhood; he
laughed boisterously at remembrance
of his great fight. the penalty of losing
which would have been q severe
thrashing from Spud. Murphy ought
to have been delighted. He was at
first, indeed, but the voice of Owen
was too hilarious. his words too tu-
multuous in their outpouring, his laugh
too boisterous. Ten years of garrison
and camp had made the trooper a
st]ckler for etiquette. He knew very
well that such familiarity with an or
binary "buck soldier was out of place.
He knew very well that that familiar
ity was the worst of all possible things
for discipline and order. Therefore he
waxed cold and eyed the loquacious
subaltern closely. Then he took the
big glass, of whisky offered to him,
drank it standing with punctilious re-
spect and withdrew, good deal wor.
ried in his mind as to the future of an
officer in whom, for the glory and hon.
or of the old ward, he felt the greatest
interest.
HE drinks he muttered as he
crossed the parade to barracks. .'That
little devil Sammy's taken to drinkin.
oh, ratsw
And long after taps the dog robber
lay awake, frowning at the mosquito
bar over him.
"The worst thing u.s." he pondered.
1.-THE kid didn't get that dose at the
club, like an officer and a gentleman.
He swallows his medicine all by him
self in his room. Sammy'sa lone fish
erman, and they're no good"
He was at Owens quarters before
reveille. The lieutenant lay on the sit.
ting room lounge, his blouse, open,
breathing stertorously. He had not
been to bed. On the floor beside him
lay an empty bottle. His fingers, hang
ing lifelessly to the floor, seemed to
feel for it. Spud shook him silently,
but with little effect. The sergeant
ran to the lhydrant in the yard and
came back with bucket Of water.
which he sluiced vigorously over the
lieutenant's face and chest. He nut
another coat on him somehow, gave
him artery gulp of liquor and hustled
him out on the parade just in time to
report his troop present and get down
to morning stables
This here racket's got to be stop
ped" said Murphy, eff either Sammy
Owen or mes goin to face New York
again and hold up our heads in the
ward. Gee, he'll be under arrest in
week at this rate!''
From that day Spud Murphy went
about his new work with an altogether
unusual reticence and with faithful
devotion which was novel. He seldom
now detained as he had been wont to
declaim on the valor and virtues of his
beloved city's inhabitants, among
whom he reckoned dearest his erst-
while neighbors, the prosperous Ow-
ems. But if the new lieutenant's name
was mentioned in his hearing his quick
eye turned sharply on the speaker, and
his big ears cooked up like terriers.
He heard little said against his master
and protege, for Owen attended to his
routine duties and did not attempt rad
zeal reforms after the manner of some
ambitious johnnies come lately.
Gradually feeling of pity spread in
the troop for the youngster, who was
SO quiet and courteous, yet so nervous
at times and always so gray faced and
unhealthy looking. AS for his fellow
officers they found that, in spite of his
apparent delicacy, Owen could do fair.
~ well all things that they did. He
rode, shot, danced, boxed, played poker
or billiards with that decent average
success which eXcites neither contempt
nor jealousy. He never drank and was
lmethodical in his duties, so that his
colonel thought well of him, as a man
who in time would make a model regl-
mental quartermaster or fill some such
place, where rivers were never expect,
Il 4.