Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-04-11

cyclopedia are months march away
l can't help wanting to know what
things mean. /"
"Then ask Captain Truscott or Cap
tain Freeman She knew too much to-
wound him by suggesting Stannard.
"Blake's propensity to burlesque every
thing is Irresistible unless you happen
to be alone with him" And Mainwar-
ing would promise, and despite his
promise would fall, for, as he frankly
admitted, he couldn't help wanting to|
know, you know, and, as it never &C.
Cured to him that he could mispro-
nounce any word, foreign or domestio,l
poor Mainwaring was eternal]y puttlngi
his foot in it. He and Tommy Hollis
were Blakes entire delight, and neither
man could resent his witticisms, even
when they verged on the personal, for
Blake, like Ray, was regimental idol
because of deeds that won tribute out
vying the Victoria cross or congression-
al medal of honor. Mainwaring .swore'
by both as soldiers, and Hollis fairly
worshiped Blake. But Tommyswas
away on other duty just now, and the
shafts Of the long legged captains ridi-i
oule fell most improperly on his slug-i
gish witted chief
Blake did not thoroughly like him.
He thought Mainwaring selfish, opin-i
donated and conceited. He admitted him!
to be first rate soldier, fine drill-i
master and tactician, truthful, honest
and pure minded man, devoted hus-l
band and father--in fact, one of the
representative men Of the cavalry. 1t
wasn't that he was narrow {his toler-
anoe Oh the whisky question was an evil
dence that he was not), yet he wasl
buttheaded," said Blake. Hes perl
petually referring to Ray and to me asi
the opponents of the liquor habit, when
both of US quit long ago. We all like
Stannard, and he Doesn't; at least be ia
always ready to disparage anything
Stannard says or does, and if he were
Stannard's senior instead of junior he'd
overrule any decision or order Of Stan
nard's just because it was STANDARDS.
So when he comes out with his bulls I
can't help goading him bit. Some
body's got to keep him i'll check CT Well
be getting the laugh from those fell
"They wouldn't see the blunders.
Blake, only you show 'em up, said
Ray, in remonstrance, and with not
little reason, for Blake was incorrigible.
"Some day you'll cut Mainwaring to
the quick, and he comes OF a stock that
hits hard and doesn't forgive easy or
forget at all Better hold off, Legs.
And "hold off" Legs had to for sew
erai days Of a dreary homeward march,
dreary because the colonel meant to rest
the horses thoroughly after fierce and
:, furious chase and campaign, and SO
made short marches where the officers
: and men would gladly have made two
day. The road was dusty, the October
: sunshine was hot and dry, the nights
:. were swapping cold, but here at last
they were only one day out from their
: new station, Fort Ransom, and Blake
:, had broken bonds again. Raising him
self on elbow and peering across the
:, blue shirted shoulder Of his friend, Ray
- could see that Mainwaring was still
= glowering at him and evidently ponder
ing over that reference to his having
> time enough to learn anything. AS yet
u
but it was the policy Of wisdom to dis
4 tract his attention and set his wits to
- work on something else. Like the horse,
~ which noble animal Mainwaring almost
- worshiped, he could consider only one
- point at q time. So up rose Ray and
- strolled over to him. "If you've no OBJ
- jections, major, I'd like to ask the colo.
80 mel to let my quartermaster sergeant
ride into Ransom tonight. Ho tells me
- his wife is quite i'll. The ambulance il
=, r going and will give him lift. We'll
=, lead his horse with the troop tomor
- row. -
. "Why not ride him in tonight ask
an ed Mainwarirg, who bad served but lit
-, tie under Anterior since the war ant
- knew not how strict were his rules re
~ garding horses.
I'd Because the colonel wishes ever
-, horse to share and share alike. The ser
20 geant's horse would have an extra 2
miles if ridden in tonight. Yonde
:, comes Stannard's battalion now, !" b
,,s said, pointing to the dust cloud sailin
- slowly toward them from the, north
no "He'll bivouao above us, reckon. !"
&c LES, anu spun Jul WoISt, Inv q
d not, growled Ma,nwaring But View
For get the grass and shade. -
nix Devil Gt.ubt you, muttered Blake
a land youNc got the best of both.
cd Then aloud Ask the old man, wit
as my compliments, if | may do him til
nd honor of dining with him tomorrow
fe Billy. Mrs. Attn lGn has eyerythin
in ready for his coming, I'll be bount
b,e while your better half and mine an
a. the majors here can't come till we g.
,.t there and choose quarters.
rar Mrs Mainwaring will be the
~. quicker than l will, said the maj'
an promptly.
ar THAT'S all easily explained Mr.
md Mainwaring knows the majors quartz
nv can 60 to nobody but the major, al
,al she can move i'll G5 once. We poor devi
no., Of troop leaders must wait till our Sc
nd iors have chosen. What's more, Mr.
Maipyyarino has no nurse and babies