Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1901-03-28
A COMEDY OF ERRORS.
TOLD BY THE CAPTAIN.

| 0cutdliy, we ulucl Wluciy. lohu, 10
have limited, is painfully shy-shy, in
Iced, to the verge Of morbidness.
I'M, Oh the whole, best described az
'pusiful."
After We had spent some uneventful
fears in the l99th. we went campaign
ng in Burma. Tom so far Overcame
his shyness as to Stay three Dacoits
Iingle-handed without even being in
Iroduced to them, and incidentally
rescued Sergeant O'Finnigan from a
certain death. Indeed, as OFinnigan
said in another moment OF shud
la been left lamentin my own corpse,
but for the capt'n, Lard presarve
um." This earned Tom the V. G., and
The papers made much Of him.
| Not that Tom encouraged inter-
viewers. He winged the representa-
lives Of the Ma adalay Free Press, and
shased the RAJ coon Times man into
! reservoir. Z zen we, his brother
,fficers, congratulated him cautiously,
armed with polo sticks.
Burma is not the healthiest Of
.lines, and when the Dac0its had
:eased dacoiting, Tom and | went
home on leave with considerably less
hair and perhaps a little more sense
han when we first went out, two very
,allow subalterns am afraid,
though, in our own estimation, we
we're accomplished men of the world.
We were breakfasting in the dear,
lirty gloom of London hotel when
Tom groaned aloud and gazed blankly
It a letter he had Just opened.
What's up" | asked, taking gulp
It what we Englshmen facetiously
Term coffee.
"Reat that he replied in his usual
aconic way.
THAT" was request from the
mayor and corporation Of Westchest-
.r that Captain Thomas Cason, V. c.,
would be pleased to visit them in
order to receive the freedom Of the
lily. A luncheon and ball appeared
10 form part of the programme also.
Tom and | were born at Westchester,
but as we left there for good at the
nature age of two, the invitation was
10 unexpected as 1t was fattering.
well" said, that's all right
lpoils Of war-lucky man, you know"
SHUT up replied Tom, what am
to say?'
SAY" echoed why, say you're
highly honored, much pleased, etc, OF
course"
But I'm not going" said Tom.
r"ch me a good lie to tell them,
lack
This reliance on my imaginative
powers was not altogether compli-
uentary. and said so. further adjur-
Ing Tom. with fraternal candor, not
70 be so silly an ass.
But cant GO he said, helplessly;
'there'd be brass bands, and speeches,
and women--no I'm blessed II I'm 60
Ig."
And I'm blessed II you shan't,"
returned firmly; 1.-THE credit Of the
regiment and the family demands 1T,
md 60 you shall
| may interpolate that the family
credit was rather fictitious. as we were
prrkaEs, and had neither kith nor
kin. marched him of to the smok-
ng-room, and reasoned with the au-
lhority of an elder br0ther-I was a
minute or two ahead Of Tom In enter
ing this queer old world. As he re-
NAMED obdurate, clinched the mat
ter by writing an acceptance Of the
Mayoral invitation.
had to watch Tom pretty closely
Tor the next few days lest he should
write or wire a retraction, but at last
got him safely into the Westchester
train. We were In multi, for Pm
had jibbed at uniform. and | had not
considered it advisable to press him
loo hard. 1t was an uncomfortable
s.iIey. Tom was as cross as the
prsverbal bear, refused absolutely to
earn the neat little speech had pre-
pared for him. and sat glowering In a
corner, cursing me at intervals. II |
hadn't been pretty sharp. | verify be-
lisvS he would have slipped me at
Rushden. the only stop before West
chester; as it was, the tail Of his coat
and my new Lincoln and Bennett suf-
Tered badly.
Soon we were slowing into West
chester. There were flags hanging
out Of windows and small children sit
ling ON fences, yelling shrilly as we
passed.
As we ran along the platform | got
up to take my umbrella from the
rack. When turned round again |
nearly dropped. Tom was on the
"of" footboard, away from the plat.
Term.
Jack" he cried, II can't do it--you
must"
Must WHAT" | gasped. wondering
II my brother had gone mad.
Face them-gO through with It,
they won't know you from me. II
you don't | swear I'll bolt"
The bowling stationmaster, cap In
hand, opened the door. caught a
confessed glimpse Of red blaze. civic
robes. and nodding bonnets then |
stepped forth, and the good Westches.
TRANS gave evidence that their lungs
were In full working order.
Behind me | could hear Tom ex-
planning to the stationmaster, with
nusncy which surprised me. that he
bad stupidity dropped his matchbox
cut of the window OF the "off" side Of
The train; then became conscious
that was being addressed. have
been told that made an excellent
speech in reply. Personally, don't
remember much about 1t, though, as ]
have never lacked for . word or two,
| dare say 1t was all right. But what.
ever self-possession had was van.
ishsd to the four winds when the
prettiest girl in the world stepped for