Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1901-10-08


see out Of those eyesT
Eyes, SORT" replied Murphy, wiping
! the perspiration of his stiff upper lip
with the back Of his hand. "The gray
Is all right again, SOFT, but one Of the
new horses-the one with the bald spot
lis going to throw sphlint I'm afraid,
sorr."
Murphy had dismissed the subject OF
the eyes politely, but firmly.
"I'll come over and look at him this
afternoon. Didn't have much luck
with that last bunch, did weT
mo. sorr; we did not"
'Ts there anything else, MurphyT
mo, sorr."
"Thats ALL"
Then Murphy, with shoulders erect,
but to all appearance as blind as bat,
strobe of on his little bow legs down
the board walk toward the stables.
The lieutenant picked up his paper,
saw that his sister had just given q
big party on board Of her husbands
yacht and read over the names Of the
winners at the Rockaway races. Then
he heard footsteps and, looking up, saw
that q colonel's orderly was standing
where Murphy had stood but few
minutes before.
"What is 1t. my manT asked the
lieutenant.
Colonel would like to see you, SIR"
the orderly replied. "at your conven-
ience, SIR"
"I'll be over right away"
He stepped into his hot, stuffy little
room, hid the newspaper under the pill
low of his cot, hooked up his Jacket
and hooked on his sword and started
for the colonel's quarters.
The colonel sat at his desk putting
away at q great cigar. He would blow
down the smoke on the table and It
would roll off the edges, scarcely rising
in the still, heated atmosphere. The
room was filed with filmy, blue
strata. The colonel was little man,
with face like an American eagle,
with q heavy gray mustache. He
smoked a deal too much. He had a
liver and was cognizant Of 1t. He also
had voice that was entirely misfit,
so far as the colonePs appearance went,
for 1t was deep and sonorous, and at
the same time sharp and clear. No one
ever mistook the colonePs orders be-
cause he could not hear them.
"Dress parade and inspection this
afternoon, Mr.. Carter" said the colonel.
"Yes, sir; I saw the orders this morn.
ing"
"Much cooler today.9
think so, sir?"
Carter wondered II the hard, dry
flesh on the coloners bones ever felt
any changes In the thermometer at all.
"Have a chair, Mr.. Carter" went on
the colonel, looking up, and this time
blowing mathematically correct smoke
rings toward the ceiling. "How are
the new horsesY'
"Only a middling lot sir; might be
better"
"Humphw said the colonel 'That's
in your department."
Eyes, sir"
IT didn't say It was your fault But
see what you can make Of them"
Ibid you wish to see me on some
thing particularT asked the lieutenant
"Oh, yes; bandmaster reports that
one of his nags turned very lame this
morning. want you to send up good,
quiet horse In time for dress parade.
Have you got one that can stand mu'
sicT
Eyes, sir; think 80. What instru.
ment, sirT
"Bass drum, I believe"
every good. sir. win have q mount
for him."
THAT'S ALL"
"Thanks, SIR" The lieutenant hun.
ried out.
The post prided itself very highly on
its mounted band. It was considered
by all means the best in the service.
The bandmaster was German OF some
musical education, and he had sur.
rounded himself with company OF
good performers, the majority OF them
Of the same nationality as himself.
Colonel Shepard used to brag q good
deal about the band.
Lieutenant Carter smiled to himself
as he crossed the parade ground on his
way to the stables half hour later.
He was thinking Of Murphy's appear
ance. The bass drummer had the rep
utation of being something Of a fighter.
He was not exactly popular in the regi-
ment. and the mental picture OF little
Murphy engaged In single combat with
him caused the lieutenant's smile. As
he came out of the stables he was met
by Murphy himself at the door OF the
big corral. The little Irishman was
favorite among the officers because ne
was polite. eager and willing, and be
could ride anything that had hide and
hoofs. There he was standing at atten'
ton with about as much expression on
his battered, swollen countenance as
one finds on bronze image Of Buddha.
Murphy" said Lieutenant Carter,
lifting one foot to the lower rail OF the
corral fence. II want your advice"
Eyes. SORT"
"Havrn't we got a good. quiet horse
that will stand music" the lieutenant
asked
"Sure th"y all have to learn, SORT"
We'll. the colonel has asked me to
pick o,,t sober. quiet mount for one
of the band men. Let's see-l think Il
Ia the iNss drummer"
sThe bass drummer, SOFT" Muf.
phys eyes opened the merest fraction
Of an inch.
Eyes. Can't you recommend good
animal for him to ride at this even
ing's dress parade"
Lieutenant Carter looked full into
Murphy's face and slowly winked, not
once, but three times. It might have
been the sunlight
II have Just the horse, SOFT!
(which one?"
"Well, he has no name yet that you
could use in polite society,"" Murphy
returned, though he has been called a
great many. to be sure"
"Is he well up to weight"' the leu
tenant asked.
"He will carry anything, SOFT" re-