The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1901-10-04

the hot and narrow bed to steamer
chair on the starboard side. Even
then it was with the caution to
everybody that he must not be dis
turbed. The heat below and in many
of the staterooms was overpowering,
and officers and soldiers in numbers
slept upon the deck, and not a few
of the Red Cross nurses spent night
after light in the bamboo and wicker
reclining chairs under the canvas
awnings.
Except for the tropic temperature.
the weather had been fine and the
voyage smooth and uneventful. The
Sacramento rolled easily, lazily along.
The men had morning shower baths
and, few at time, salt water
plunges in big canvas tanks set fore
and aft on the main deck. On the
port or southern side of the promen-
ade deck the officers sported their
pajamas both day and night. and
were expected to appear in khaki or
serge, and consequent discomfort.
only at table, on drill or duty, and
which, abaft the captains room, was
by common consent given up to the
women.
They were all on hand the morning
that the invalid officer was carefully
aided from his stateroom to broad
reclining-chair, which was then borne
to a shaded nook beneath the stair
way leading to the bridge and there
securely dashed. The doctor and Mr..
Ray remained some minutes with
him, and the steward came with Il
cooling drink. Mrs. Wells. doctor by
courtesy and diploma, arose and
asked the surgeon if there were real
ly nothing the ladies could do-"Mr.
weak"-and the sisterhood strained
their ears for the reply, which. as
the surgeon regarded the lady's re-
mark as rejecting upon the results
of his treatment, might well be eX
pected to be somewhat tart.
Nothing to-day, Mrs.-er-Dr
Wells" said the army man, half
vexed, also, at being detained on way
to hospital. 1.-The ever has gone and
he will soon recuperate now, pro-
vided he can rest and sleep. 1t is
much cooler on deck and---if it's only
quiet"
ooh, he shan't be bothered, if that's
| what you mean," interposed DR..
Wells, with proper spirit. "Fm sure
nobody desires to intrude in the least.
1 asked for my associates from a
sense of duty. Most of them are
capable of tanning or even reading
aloud to a patient without danger of
overeXciting him.
"Unquestionably, madam" respond
ed the surgeon, affably, land when
such ministrations are needed I'll let
you know. Good morning" And.
lifting his stiff helmet, the doctor
| darted down the companionway.
"Brute!" said the lady doctor. ''No
wonder that poor boy doesn't "st
well. Miss Ray, / marvel that your
brother can stand him."
Miss Ray glanced quietly up from
her book and smiled. 'We have
| known DIR. Sturgis many years." she
| said. He is brusque, yet very much
| thought of in the army"
| But at this stage of the colloquy
there came interruption most merci-
| ful-for the surgeon. The deep
| whistle of the steamer sounded three
| quick blasts. There was instant rush
and scurry on the lower deck. The
| cavalry trumpets tore and aft rang
out the assembly.
It was the signal for boat drill, and
| while the men of certain companies
sprang to ranks and stood in silence
at attention awaiting orders, other
detachments rushed to their sta
lions at the life-rafts. and others
| swarmed up the stairways or clam
bered over the rails, and in less than
! a minute every man was at his post.
| Quickly the staff officers made the
| rounds, received the reports of the
detachment commanders and the boat
crews, and returning, with soldierly
salute, gave the result to the COM
| handing officer, who had taken po-
sition with the captain on the bridge.
For five or ten minutes the upper
deck was dotted by squads of blue
shirted soldiers, grouped in disci-
plined silence about the boats. Then
the recall was sounded, and slowly
| and quietly the commands dispersed
and went below.