Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-05-09

the old troop over half dozen years.
Merriweather knew it would never do
to notice the remark, but it stung him
all the same. Find him, you, and tell
him the captain wants him at once"
said he to the would be sneerer, then
slammed the door behind him and
sprang out into the night. He had not
been home for nearly an hour, and he
needed, he told himself, drink, SO
thither he went.
Bright lights were burning in some
of the quarters, dim ones in others, but
in his own the light seemed lowered to
the verge of darkness. Not two yards
from his door the tall figure of man in
soldier overcoat doomed into view, and,
peering closely at him, Merriweather
discovered the recruit.
Where you been, Hunter" was the
sharp, stern demand.
Looking for you, sergeant, was the
quiet reply.
"Who sent you?" And there were
both anger and suspicion in the tone.
"Oh, no one. wished to speak with
you moment. l want some advice.
There is no need of your coming
here, then. You've seen me a dozen
times in the last two days. Why didn't
you ask it then:''
For a moment the younger man was
silent; surprise and disappointment
clouded his face. So. too. there crept
into it shade of indignation, and it
showed plainly in the tone of his reply.
II had no need of it then," was the
answer, as the younger soldier looked
squarely into the eyes of the senior.
Then, just as when angered by the over
bearing ways of Major Mainwaring,
Hunters high spirit overmastered his
resolution to take men and matters as
he found them, and his eyes, too, flashed
angrily. Whatever thought l had Of
it ten minutes ago." he said, sis gone
now. won't trouble you.
And with that he would have gone
his way, but Merriweather, smarting
with jealousy and suspicion, threw him
self across his path.
You go no farther, young man, till
you hear what I've got to say. This is
the third time in less than a week
you We been prowling here around my
door. Keep your distance in future.
Dye understand? No man enters that
house except on my invitation. Now
you go to Captain Ray and tell him l
sent you.''
For moment the tall young soldier
stood there, too astonished to make re-
ply. He had heard the men talk of Mer-
| rlweather as tough on recruits. - He
had understood that new men must
take a great deal of bullying from the
elders-that it was purposely done to
try their temper and test their sense of
subordination. Hitherto he had looked
upon Merri weather's asparities as hav-
| ing no personal signifi cance. II ow,. for
the first time, it flashed upon him that
he was singled out for harsh, overbear-
ing and abusive language from man
coarse by nature, mentally, physically
and socially his inferior. All on sud-
den the hot blood boiled in his veins,
and, forgetful of his new obligations,
reckless of anything but his wrath,
Trooper Hunter hit out straight, hard and
well, taking Merriweather squarely be.
tween the eyes and knocking him fat.
The resounding thwack of the blow, the
heavy crash of the fall, were echoed
from the doorway by woman S startled
cry, and the next thing Hunter knew
as he stood there still quivering, his
! fist clinched and ready to dash again at
his tioored victim, now feebly strug-
CLING to his knees, the slender form of
the sergeant's wife was bending over
the beaten man. Then she threw herself
upon her knees beside her PROSTATE hus-
band.
"Yau've struck him cruel hard,' she
moaned. "Oh, you shouldn't have
minded what he said, Mr.. Hunter.
He's awful jealous. There, Danny, sit
stlll--sit still, +" she pleaded soothingly.
run for a little water, Mr.. Hunter.
He's bleeding fearful. Do be still, Dan.
ny. Sure the gentleman never set foot
| inside your door nor spoke word to
me. You're foolish, Danny" She strove
to stanch the blood with her handker-
chief, but he was slowly regaining his
faculties and thrust her rudely away,
and then she saw he was fumbling in
side the breast of his coat, and fear
gave her strength. Hunter had taken a
dipperful of water from the barrel at
the side Of the little hut and was bring
ing it, dripping, wondering as he came
what would be the outcome of this mad
impulse, but she met him half way,
seized the dipper and babe him go.
"Quick, she painted, Don't stop an
instant now. Get away before he comes
to himself or he'll shoot. Go instantly,
please, Mr.. Hunter. or maybe he'll kill
me too"
II can't go if I've hurt him. l must
help him up, he began, but she clutch
ed his arm with trembling hands and
whirled him about toward the barracks.
"No, no; leave everything to me.
Don't come here till tell you. Don t
+ .eg A