The Red Cloud chief., 1901-05-03

right" he chuckled. II know my rights
as citizen of these United States and as
hrst lieutenant of cavalry The Col
| linses, the whole sweet seven OF EN-
may have the lower floor It's all they
can claim under the law. That's four
rooms. including the kitchen. | dare say
they won't mini living like that any way
| They're pigs"
Pigs. too" asked Bartlett
Drayton went on unfolding his plan
'Once have that top floor. you watch
the interest IN life I'll provide for them
I'll make their days pleasant and their
ntghts-particularly their nights-bcauti-
full I'll have suppers up there every
evening. and do songs and dances until
rereillc. If | have to hypothecate To pay
my commissary bill. and If my health
breaks down. You watch" lie stood
up and began to button his blouse. so
YOU are warned II the Colinses move In.
such is my devotion to them that I'll
move in. too. And I'll put in my formal
application for those two rooms No 9TH
or two I'm the post will suit, either. you
understand" :
And IL all came about exactly as he had
said. There was hegira Of Lawrences
and an ingress of Collinses and great
was the latters' wrath when they found
Draytou taking possession of the upper
floor. They protested to everybody In gen
eral. and to the commandant and the
Quartermaster In particular. And the
commandant and the quartermaster said
they were sorry, but that Drayton was
certainly within his rights. He had ap-
piled for the quarters In virtue OF the
general turning-out that ID troop was
causing In the post, and he was entitled
to occupy them. There was nothing more
to be said
~ cant pretend I'm sorry for them, ex-
actly." Mrs. Lawrence connded to Dray-
ton, when he advised her not to try to
settle In her new quarters very elaborate
ly; I'm only human. after all. and my
house did look so sweet. and my gar
den----. But I'm sorry for you. think
those cildren are the very imps OF evil.'
Drayton nodded: There are others"
he said.
IL was enigmatical. but Mrs. Lawrence
looked doubtful, and ready to be hurt.
you don't mean mine?" she said.
mo. my dear lady" Bartlett reassured
her he doesn't mean yours. He thinks
yours are all that tender infancy should
be- don't know what he does mean.
however. And probably he doesn't know
himself"
Don't I?' quered Drayton, engmat-
ical still. Don't just?"
Perhaps" said Bartlett. "you mean
Jimmy OBrien. l saw you hobnobbing
with him to-day. Would 1t be Jimmy
now"
Drayton would not commit himself. But
1t was Jimmy and none other. neverthe-
less. Drayton had come upon him when
he was playing duck rock all by him
self. near the suffers store. The duck
was u beer bottle, and Jimmy was pitch
Ing stones at II. with Indifferent aim.
The father OF Jimmy was frst-sergeant
of Draytons troop. and so the lieutenant
felt they had enough in common to war
rant "A conversation.
1t began by suggestion as to a better
way TO throw stone, and it ended with
"A bargain struck. "1hen.' said Dray-
ton, "f | promise to pay you two bits
Tor every centipedc four bits for every
tarantula. ten cents for every lizard. a
nickel for every toad. and "A cent fer
every spider, you viii catch all you can
and bottle them Tor me?'
Jimmy nodded. solemnly.
"And you won't say anything about Il
to any one" y duar,er was pressed :Hto
chapped and srimy hand.
"Nit." said Jimmy, the instinct or
political race to the fore. There was
another race instinct strong in Jimmy,
TOO. IL was iha. of the contractor.
The very next morning. before guard
mounting he clambered up the stairway
to Drayton's rooms. Drayt"n was Only
just dressing. He had kept late hours.
Bartlett had helped him. and until
o'clock they la1 alternated pacing
heavily to and fro WIKI! dropping we'S iiy
bodies on the floor. The Collinses were
kept awake.
ITS lues.i,n OF endurance, because
we are two" said Drayton. but ex-
pect we can hOl' oct
He inspected Jimmys first catch. There
was a centipede, two lizards and three
toads. Jimmy's pockets bulged with bot
ties. There were also five large and un-
pleasant spiders.
Good boy" said Drayton. and paid as
per schedule.
Mrs Collins and the mother-ln-law's
nerves were not calmed. anyway, by the
wakeful night. 1t was the harder for
them when they came upon three large
toads in their rooms that day. To have
a toad hop out at you from a dark corner
liz not nice. 1t IL still less to step on one
and crush 1t. 1t gives peculiar sensa-
ton. Mrs. Collins found 1t so. There was
a lizard in the milk bottle and another
on the back of a chair from whence II
climbed into a mother-in-law's hair. Big
spiders infested the place.
Toward noon Drayton came downstairs
carrying on the end of a pin. and exam
lining 1t critically, centipede Large,
isn't he?" he asked. with some pride; II
killed II myself at the top of the stairs.
They always come In families of three.
The other two will be along pretty soon,
suppose
The mother-in-law shuddered. you
and Mr.. Bartlett made a great deal OF
noise last night, Mr., Drayton," she re-
preached.
Drayton looked concerned. These gSy-
ernment quarters were so thln-hoored. he
explained.
Did he always stay up until 2 o'clock?"
He admitted being of a restless disposi-
tion and given to insomnia.