The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1901-06-06

that's any comfort to you. For the
Collinses are not only going to have
those quarters, but they're going to
have them quick. Even the c. O. got
at Collins. But il wasn't any use.
Ny wife likes the quarters sAys he>
And that's ALL"
They sat in meditation for some
time. Then Drayton spoke
81 Ike those quarters. too. I'm go
ing to 1--we some Of them myself" he
said.
Bartlett did not understand, and
Drayton undertook to explain.
"Well-see here" He took his feet
down from the rail- in his earnestness,
and Strengthened his cap. "It's like
this. You and have got one room
each in this house, haven't we, same
as the most of the other bachelors 2"
Such was the case. "And we're enti-
tied TO two rooms each, aren't we?"
Bartlett agreed that they were. "And
we've been keeping these ones be-
cause we've been too lazy and too
good-natured to ask for more, haven't
we? Well. we won't be lazy and good
natured any more. If the Collinses
move into the Lawrences' set, I'll va
cate my room-turn IL over to you
and I'll apply for the upstairs floor Of
the Lawrence house. Obi I'm enti-
tied to 1t. all right" he chuckled.
IL know my rights as n citizen of
these United States and as a first
lieutenant of cavalry. The Collinscs,
the whole sweet seven of 'em, 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 mind living like that
any way. They're pigs"
Pigs, too?" asked Bartlett.
prayton went on unfolding his plan.
"Once l have that top floor, you
watch the interest in life I'll provide
for them. I'll make their days pleas
ant and their nights-particular
their nightS-beautiful. I'll have sup
pers up there every evening. and do
songs and dances until reveille, il I
have to hypothecate to pay my COM
missary bill, and if my health breaks
down. You watchl" He stood up
and began to button his blouse. $50
you are warned. II the Collinses
move in. such is my devotion to them
that III move in. too. And I'll put
in my formal application for those
tive rooms. No other two in the post
will suit, either. you understand"
And It all came about exactly as he
had said. There was hegira of Law
rences and an ingress of Cslllnses,
and great was the latters' wrath when
they found Drayton taking posses
sion Of the upper floor. They pro-
tested TO everybody in general. and
to the commandant and the quarter
master in particular. And the com
mandant and the quartermaster said
they were sorry. but that Drayton
was certainly within his rights. He
had applied for tho quarters in virtue
Of the general turning-out that d
troop was causing In the post. and he
was entitled to occupy them. There
was nothing moro to be said.
II can't pretend I'm sorry for them,
exactly" Mrs. Lawrence confded to
Drayton, when he advised her not to
try to settle In her now 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. 'Aere are 9TH
ers." he said.
1t vas enigmatical, 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 arc 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, enig-
matical still. Don't I just?"
"Perhaps," said Bartlett, "you mean
Jimmy O'Brien. saw you hobnob-
bing with him to-day. Would It be
Jimmy now?"
Drayton would not commit himself
But 1t was Jimmy and mono other,
nevertheless. Drayton had come upon
him when he was playing duck-on-
a-rock all by himself, near tho suffers
store. Tho 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, and so the lieutenant felt they
had enough in common to warrant q
conversation.
It began by . suggestion as to bet
ter way to throw a stone, and it end
ed with Q bargain struck. "Then,"
said Drayton, IF I promise to pay
yoa two bits for every centipede, four
bits for every tarantula, ten cents for
every lizard, o nickel for every toad,
and . cent for every big spider, you
will catch all you can and bottle them
for me?"
Jimmy nodded, solemniy.
"And you won't say anything about
A.