Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1901-06-14

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Drayton undertook to explain.
"Well-see here" He took his feet
down from the rail, in his earnestness
and Strengthened his cap. Its like
this. You and J have got one rooia
each In this house. haven't we. same
as the most Of the other bachelors ."
Such was the case. And we're en-
titled to two rooms each. aren't we?9
Bartlett agreed that they were. And
we've been keeping these ones because
we've been too lazy and good natured
TO ask for more, haven't we? Well we
won't be lazy and good natured any
more. II the Collinses move into the
Lawrences' set. I'll vacate my ROOM.
turn it over to you-and I'll apply for
the upstairs floor of the I.awrenees
house. OH I'm entitled to it, all
right" be chuekled. Il know my
rights as citizen OF these United
States and as a first-lieutenant OF
cavalry. Tho Collinses. the whole
sweet seven of 'em. may have the low
er floor. It's all they can claim under
law. That's four rooms, including the
kitchen. | dare say they won't mind
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 nights-particularly their
nights-beautiful I'll have suppers
up their every evening. and do songs
and dances until reveille. if have t.
hypothecate to pay my commissary
bill. and if my health breaks down
You watch," He stood up and began
to button his blouse so you are
warned If the Coilinses move in. such
is my devotion to them that I'll move
in. too. And Ill put in my formal ap-
plication for those two rooms. No
other two in the post will suit, either,
you understand"
And IL all came about exactly as he
said. There was a hegira of Law.
rences and an ingress OF Collinses,
and great was the latter's wrath when
they found Drayton taking possession
OF the upper floor. They protested to
everybody in general, and to the COM
mandant 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 applied for
the quarters In virtue of the general
turning-out that d troop was causing
Ing the post, and he was entitled to
occupy them. There was nothing more
| to be said.
81 can't pretend to be sorry for them
| exactly Mrs. Lawrence confided to
Drayton, when he advised her not to
try to settle in her new quarters very
deliberately; I'm. only human. after
all. and my house did look so sweet,
and my garden. But I'm sorry for
you. | think those children are the
very imps of evil"
Drayton nodded There are Others .
he said.
1t was emigmatical, but Mrs. Law
renee looked doubtful and ready to be
hurt. "You don't mean miner" she
said.
mo, my dear lady" Bartlett reas-
sured 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 prob
ably he doesn't know himself"
Don't II" queried Drayton, enigmat-
ical still. Don't ! iust?"
Perhaps said Bartlett, you mean
Jimmy O'Brien. saw you hobnob-
bing with him today. Would it be
Jimmy now?'
DTayton would not commit him
self But is was Jimmy and one other.
nevertheless. Drayton had come upon
him when he was playing duck-on-a-
rock all by himself. near the suffers
store. The duck was beer bottle, and
Jimmy was pitching stones at it. with
Indifferent aim. The father of Jimmy
was first-sergeant OF Drayton's troop
enough in common to warrant a con
| versation.
II began by a suggestion as to a
better way to throw a stone, and it
| ended with bargain struck. Then,
said Drayton, eff promise to pay yoL
two bits for every centipede. four bits
for every tarantula. ten cents for every
lizard. a nickel for every toad and a
cent for every big spider. you will
catch all you can and bottle them for
me?"
Jimmy nodded solemnly.
And you won't say anything about
1t to any oneg' A quarter was pressed
into chapped and grimy hand.
Nit" said Jimmy, the instinct of
political race to the fore. There was
another race instinct strong in Jimmy.
too. 1t was that of the contractor.
The very next morning before guard
mounting. ne ciambered up the stair
way to Drayton's rooms. Drayton was
only just dressing. He had kept late
hours. Bartlett had helped him. and
until 2 o'clock they had alternated
pacing heavily to and fro with drop
ping weighty bodies on the floor
The Collinses were kept awake.
| II a uueotiVn VI cHuuTdnCet Oe-
cause we are two," said Drayton: "but
| | expect we can hold out"
He inspected Jimmy's first catch.
There was a centipede, two lizards and
three toads Jimmy's pockets bulged
with bottles. There were also five
large and unpleasant spiders.
Good boy said Drayton. and paid
as per schedule.
Mrs. Colline and the mother-in-law' &
nerves were not ealmed, any way, by
the wakeful night II was the harder
for them when they found three large
toads in their rooms that day TIC
have a toad hop at you from a dark
corner Is not nice. II is still less tc
step on one and crush it. II gives a
peculiar sensation. Mrs. Collins founs
it So There was a lizard in the mill
bottle, and another on the back Of q
chair, whence it climbed into a moth
er-in-law's hair. Big spiders infested
the place.
Toward noon Drayton came down
stairs carrying on the end Of a pin
and examining It critically, a cent?
pede. Large, isn't III" he asked, will
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