Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1901-01-12
urgency. and on the outside was VIII
90 an bip bold hand, captain

urgency, and on the outside was wiz,
ten, in q big, bold hand eap'a'"
wood-speak."
"He'u do most of the talking, 1 ex-
pect," went on Swete Thornhill mai
%ciously. He's fit to be tied. Go H.
man, at once, and take your puh'sh-
ment." ~
The distinguished officer at hat time
mead and chief OF our department was
Major General Sir Charles Collingham,
V. c., X. c. b., one OF the most Hota-
BILE soldiers Of the day, ardent feariess'
highly skilled, strong in counsel, 1ore-
most in the field, who had served al
most everywhere, in all the wars great
and small, of recent years ana nau
made a close study of the science OF ms
profession as well. He had traVeleu
far and wide, knew men and many cl-
ties. was rs much at home at court as
In camp, popular In society, which he
cultivated in his spare moments al
though he allowed nothing TO stand IN
the way OF his work. The service came
first, and first in the service was the
all important, transcendently useful
department, as he thought IL, over
which he presided.
Sir Charles expected-nay, exacted-
q like devotion from US, his staff off,
GERS, whom in all matters Of duty he
ruled with q rod Of iron. None or us
liked to face him when he vas put out,
which, 1t may be said, was not sell
dom, for he was choleric, although not
cross q aimed. Under a stern face and
rough manner he had a kindly nature
far down, for he did not wear his heart
upon his sleeve, certainly not for an
erring subordinate, as he considered
me just then.
l felt rather sheepish and uncomfort-
able as l appeared before the great
man. The general was tall in stature,
very thin and straight, while his
strong, weather-beaten face-the deep
bronze contrasting sharply with the
bristling white mustachios and long
projecting eyebrows, over fierce, steely
BILE eyes-commanded respect.
He began on me at once. BY the
Lord Harry, this won do, Wood he
cried, with amazing Volubility and
force. What have you got to say for
yourself? Slept late? OF course you
will sleep late If you waste the night
flirting and philandering with that lit
tie madcap devil, Frida Fairholme,
But, / tell you, l won't have the bust
ness OF this Office neglected. Now you
are late for parade, and you know | In
sist upon punctuality. And l practice
what preach. i was here as the clock
struck 10 this morning, and I'd already
been to Hounslow n back on my
bike But there, you'll end by putting
me out OF temper. Don't do 1t again
Il won't, Sir Charles" i said meekly,
vet wondering why j a man OF millions
submitted to such slavery, n ]
turned TO &c.
"Ah, by the way, Wood, bring me
that report Of yours, will you, on the
defense of the Canadian frontier. 1t Is
ready, l SUPPOSE
We'll, no, Sir Charles, not quite.
have been delayed by
Great Scott" he roared, instantly
blazing INTO a white heat. You lazy
idle young villain! j believe you wan
to drive me mad. You know as wei
as | do thai the foreign office is press
ing for the paper, that l promised 1
to Lord Salisbury within a week, anC
here you, you oh, go away! l wan
none Of It. You shall go back to you
groveling, guard-mounting routine
and when you are grizzling your sou
out In that beastly tropical hole, Der
muda, you may be sorry for the chance
you've lost. Go away, / say. I've don
with you. | hate the very sight OF you.
CONTINUED Next Week.)