Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1901-05-09

OF k1GS, ana Just moved INTO those
quarters, and got them all fixed up SO
prettily, and her garden started. too.
Then, those CoIinsesi They're a
mean lot of cattle, anyway" He
made a gesture of disgust, which
turned the visor around V his left
ear, and was silent for a minute
through sheer wrath.
81 told Mrs. Lawrence they would
be serpents-on-the wood-cutters-
hearth
"Serpents, MOVE" asked Bartlett;
'Ethey were cattle before; and you
called thats-he pointed over his
shouIder-'an elephant, whereas. in
point of fact, it's a mule"
ST told her. continued Drayton.
unmoved. "that it wouldn't pay /
know all about the CoIlinses-served
with them in Texas. I was sitting on
Mrs. Lawrence's steps-I know that I
usually am. so you can save yourself
I was sitting on her steps when the
Collins outfit drove up. The ambu-
lance stopped in front of the C. O.s
house, next door. and Collins jumped
out and went in. The res of them
Just waited. All would have been well
if Mrs. Lawrence hadn't become ten
der-hearted in a most unnecessary
way. and hadn't chosen to disregard
any advice" He assumed the look of
prophecy fulfilled. Il told her TO sit
still and not get excited and do some
thing rash; gave her the benefit of
my knowledge and experience. But
it wasn't any use. She made me dry
up and hang On to the kids. while she
ran down TO the ambulance and in
vited the whole caboodle to come in
and rest and refresh themselves. They
came. You can bet your life they
came-or they wouldn't have been the
Collinses. [ saw Dame C.'s weather
V taking in the house. I could see
she liked it, and I knew there'd be
! trouble. Mrs. Lawrence kept them &c
luncheon-the whole seven of them
Asked me. too: but the kids were rails
ing Cain, and the abode of peace was
transformed, so I lit out"
well. I guess she's sorry now-it
that's any comfort to you. For the
COIlinses are not only going to have
those quarters, but they're going tC
have them quick. Even the c. o. got
at Collins. But it wasn't any use
My wife likes the quarters says he
And that's ALL"
They sat in meditation for som
time. Then Drayton spoke.
st like those quarters, too. I'm go
ing to have some of them myself" h,
said.
Bartlett did not understand, ant
Drayton undertook to explain.
"WeIl-see here" He took his fee
down from the rail. in his earnestness
and Strengthened his cap. It's lik'
this. You and I have got one room
each in this house, haven't we. sam,
as the most of the other bachelors?
Such was the case. "And we're emit
tied to two room each, aren't We?
Bartlett agreed that they We're. lane
we've been keeping these one be
cause we've been too lazy and to,
good-natured to ask for more, haven
we? Well. we won't be lazy and good
natured any more. If the Collinse
move into the L~awrences' set. III va
ate my room-turn it owe to you
and I'll apply for the upstairs floor o
the Lawrence house. OH I'm emit
tied to it, all right" he chuckled
"I know my rights as a citizen o
these United States and as a frs
lieutenant of cavalry. The Collinses
the whole sweet seven of 'em, ma.
have the lower floor. It's all the
can claim under the law. That's fou
rooms, including the kitchen. I dar
say they won't mind living like tina
any way. They're pigs"
pigs. too?" asked Bartlett.
Drayton went on unfolding his plaI
"Once L have that top floor, yo
watch the interest in life I'll provid
for them. I'll make their days plea:
ant and their neutrality-suspicious.
their nights-beautiful. I'll nave SUI
pers up there every evening, and d
songs and dances until reveille, if
have to hypothecate to pay my con
missary bill, and If my health break
down. You watchl" He stood u
and began to button his blouse "S
you are warned. If the Collinse
move in, such is my devotion to theI
that I'll move in. too. And I'll pu
in my formal application for thos
two rooms. No other two in the pos
will suit, either, you understand"
And it all came about exactly as b
had said. There was a hegira of Law
; rences and an ingress of Collinse
} and great was the latters' wrath whe
they found Drayton taking posse
= sion of the upper floor. They pr
tested to everybody in general, an
[ to the commandant and the quartz
master in particular. And the cor
: mandant and the q~uartermaster sal
{ they were sorry, but that Drayto
was certainly within his rights. E
had applied for the quarters in Writ
of the general turning-out that
troop was causing in the post, and
. was entitled to occupy them. The
i was nothing more TO be said.
"I can't pretend I'm sorry for the1
exactly" Mrs. Lawrence confided
Drayton. when he advised her not
nv to settle in her new quarters vel
y deliberately; I'm only human, aft
: all. and nv house did look so swee
I and my garden But I'm sorry Il
YOU. I think those children T q
q very imps of evil"
Drayton nodded. "There Ire OF
I ers,' he said.
v It was enigmaticaL but Mrs. La
. renee looked doubtful, and ready
e be hurt. "You don't mean mine?" 81