Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1901-11-06

"Well, Murphy" said the lieutenant
acknowledging lazily the touch of the
finger ut the hat brim, chow are the
horsesY'
"The farrier made bad job of shoe
ing the crack hoofed nag of Captain
Agnew's, sorr. Sure told him 1t was
wasting time to monkey with It,"
"For heavens sake, Murphy, can you
see out Of those eyes?"
Eyes, sorr," replied Murphy, wiping
the perspiration off his stiff upper lip
with the back Of his hand. "The gray
is all right again. sorr, but one Of the
new horses-the one with the bald spot
lis going to throw a sphlint, IN 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 wei"
mo, SORT; we did not"
"1s there anything else, Murphy?"
mo, sorr."
"That's ALL"
Then Murphy, with shoulders erect,
but to all appearance us blind as bat,
strobe off 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 colonel's orderly was standing
where Murphy had stood but few
minutes before.
what is 1t, my MANI" asked the
lieutenant.
Colonel would like to see you, Sir"
the orderly replied, TAT your conven-
fence, 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 great cigar. He would blow
down the smoke on the table and 1t
would roll of the edges, scarcely rising
in the still, heated atmosphere. The
room was filed with flmy, blue
strata. The colonel was little man,
with face like an American eagle,
with a heavy gray mustache. He
smoked deal too much. He had a
liver and was cognizant of 1t. He also
had voice that was entirely misfit,
SO far as the colonels appearance went,
for 1t was deep and sonorous, and at
the same time sharp ard clear. No one
ever mistook the colonels orders be.
cause he could not hear them.
"Dress parade and inspection this
afternoon, Mr.. Carter" said the colonel.
Eyes, sir; saw the orders this morn
ing"
"Much cooler today"
"Think SO, sir?''
Carter wondered If the hard, dry
flesh on the colonels bones ever felt
any changes in the thermometer at all.
"Haye a chair, Mr.. Carter" went on
the colonel, looking up, and this time
blowing automatically correct smoke
rings toward the ceiling. "How are
the new horses?'
"Only a middling lot, sir; might be
better"
"Humphv said the colonel "Thats
in your department"
Eyes, sir"
II didn't say 1t was your fault. But
see what you can make Of them"
Did you wish to see me on some
IL. ~ ~,
ooh, 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-
sic?"
"Yes, sir; l think SO. What instru-
ment, STRIP
"Bass drum, believe"
every good, sir. l will have mount
for him."
'Thats ALL"
"Thanks, SIR" The lieutenant hur-
ried out.
The post prided itself very highly on
Its mounted band. 1t was considered
by oil means the best In the service.
The bandmaster was German of some
musical education, and he had sur
rounded himself with q company of
good performers, the majority Of then,
Of the same nationality us himself.
Colonel Shepard used to brag a 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 q fighter
He was not exactly popular in the regl
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 8
favorite among the officers because he
was polite, eager and willing, and ht
could ride anything that had hide and
hoofs. There he was standing at atten
ton with about as much expression or
his battered, swollen countenance al
one finds on q bronze image Of Buddha
Murphy" said Lieutenant Carter
lifting one foot to the lower rail of thu
corral fence. II want your advice"
Eyes, sorr."
Haven't we got good. quiet horst
that will stand musicT the lieutenan
asked.
"sure they all have to learn. sorr."
well, the colonel. has asked me tt
pick out sober. quiet mount for ont
of the band men. Let's see-I think Il
/ is the bass drummer"
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/ Iro BE Continued q: