The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1901-03-14

Y didn't do nothin to i'm
Ye amt no good" l says, and 1 lays
IN and knocks the kid about good
Now" says l when l was through
will We lick that bloke or will pound
ye again.? So he hunts up that
Dioke who was a heap bigger than
Sammy, and l seen it was a square do
and Sammy knocked i'm out in the
tenth round. See? If it hadn't been
Tor that lickin that l gave Sammy
owen that made i'm fight most des
pirate, that kid would have been dis
grace to the ward, so he would. l tell
ye, fellers, there won't be no monkey
business with Lieutenant Sammy Ow-
on from West Point, cause / seen to
that when Sammy was so high and |
was champion lightweight Of the ward.
was the maxim of Sammy, and he
thinks the world of me. SeeY
In the long lingering twilight of an
evening In midsummer q number of
troopers sat on the long porch of the
wooden barracks. Out on the parade
ground, retreat being comfortably over
and the days work done, the band was
gathered about the dagstaff, playing
away the beet Of the sun and welcom-
ing the cool shades Of night. Spud
Murphy was the especial object of in
terest to the men in that a new lieu
tenant had Joined the troop that day,
and Spud was, 1t seemed, well &C.
quainted with the young officers fam
lily history. Even the first sergeant so
Tar relaxed his dignity as to step out
from the orderly room and ask uues-
ton or two of the bullet headed, bright
eyed soldier from New York city.
Twas this way" said Murphy, my
father and Sammys father was pals
once, and when was tough young
Fellow, fghtin my way through the
old ward. took Sammy. who was a
little kid, and educated him In the
ways and manners of men as ia men.
Twas me as learned him to put up his
little lists drst. But say, old owen was
lulu, he was. and went in for bein a
politician, and got made an alderman
and waltzed in the Doodle for all he
was worth. My father hadn't that kind
Of get up. So when old man Owen got
rich, we didn't mix no more with their
crowd. see? Sammy he goes away to a
dude school and his dad goes to con-
gress. and they pulls out from our
block and moves up town, though, say,
the Owenses Is always our ward boys
and Yves proud of them, see? Then |
enlists In this here bloomin troop. Say.
that's nine years ago, but them BOYS
IN New York remembers me still, and
what's the matter with the time they
give me when go back on leave to see
them! Say twas great. Sammy goes
to West Point and here he comes. He
thinks the world of me- does Sammy
A tall, thin man, with the straps of a
second lieutenant, came out from the
last house, bachelors quarters on Of
hcers' row, and crossed the parade
ground, coming directly toward the
barracks
ITS him." cried Murphy In suppress
ed excitement. I'D know his meas]y
red hair mile Off. GeeI To think that
little Sammy would ever grow up to be
my lieutenant"
The officer passed the length of the
porch. saluted by the men, and entered
the orderly room. to which the first
49, 9~e>s-e PiS>COCu uiiu. Ill u lew MINI |
utes Spud Murphy was called and left
his comrades complacently expectant.
How do you do, Murphy?" said |
owen. nodding. and Spud felt chilled.
In the seclusion of the orderly room |
ne thought with sense of aggrieve-
ment. the new lieutenant, his old |
protege of the block" might have
condescended to shake hands. The
trooper stood, however, at atten-
ton and eyed the new subaltern curl
ously The lieutenant held himself
straight Tour years of stern training
at the military academy had given him
that soidlerly bearing which a West
Pointer can never lose entirely. He
was well set up, but to Spud Murphy's
critical eye, accustomed to the clean
and wholesome face colors of the plain
troopers. the dead dull gray of Owens
cheeks, their sunken leanness. the wa
teriness Of his uncertain, nervous ewes.
were as a cold cloth on the soldiers
enthusiasm over his old friends rise
IN station. Owen pricked at the blot
ting pad Of the desk before which he
sat. pricked aimlessly with long and
twitching fingers
Murphy" said he. 81 have asked the
sergeant about detailing man to look
after my horses. and so on. He has
suggested you. Would you be will
lngf 1t will be a considerable helm. of
course, as far as money is concerned,
to you"
Spud squirmed. Every officer has ,
his dog robber, or servant, but such {
details are not those which the smart I
er soldiers aspire to gain. There ia S
something mental about the position s
which Is to many a man offensive s
Spud had his opinion" Of dog rob ,
'ers In general He was, therefore
about to reject the offer peremptorily v
when the young officer looked at him t
With an appeal in his eyes which clos h
ID Spud's lips. +
Il have been ILL., Murphy" he said n
'iowly. "or should have Joined four S
months ago. am not quite well vet. S
Ind II should like some one not-a- a
completely stranger ahout mo - q,