Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1901-07-18
AN ADAPTATION OF EXODUS.
Why There Were Many Plaques the Captains Quarters
ovERToN.
By GwENDoLEN ovERToN.


only to be known as saint by the
halo above his brow, and the Prince of
Darkness himself would be devoid of
identity without a pitchfork and
cloven hoof. To such as these the
knight-errantry of Drayton and Bart
lett may seem problematical; but a
knlght-errant> is one who succors beau
ty in distress, and who rides abroad
redressing human wrongs. Whether
he employs an obnoxious insect rath-
er than sword, as Drayton did,
or whether he rides a S. G. govern
ment mule, as Bartlett was wont to do,
is neither here nor there.
Bartlett was riding the aforesaid
mule shortly after the time my story
begins. He rode it up the line. it's long
gray ears waggling evenly and rest
fully, and came to halt in front Of
the set of quarters where Drayton and
he roomed. Drayton was sitting on
the porch, his feet on the railing, his
chair tipped back, and the visor of his
cap pulled down on his nose. He
pushed the cap to the back of his
head as Bartlett came slowly up the
steps.
Il wish you woud get horse" he
complained. IF you could just realize
the figure you cut on that old ele-
phant."
That's mule" corrected Bartlett,
his arm around pillar and letting
ais heels dangle as he perched on the
railing. Its also very nice mule.
1t is no longer a shave-tail, but has
reached years of discretion. The mo-
ment man or animal does that, his ap-
preciative country straightway has
him inspected and condemned. Horses
may do for some, but not for one who
has the duties of post quartermaster
to perform. And, besides, believe in
the infantry and scorn horse
The scorn," observed Drayton,
"of the fox for the grapes"
Don't rub it in," said Bartlett, de-
iectedly; I'm miserable enough as it
Thought you looked rather triste.
I'm all sympathy. Go on"
Bartlett released his hold upon the
pillar and folded his arms on his breast
in an attituue combining stern endur-
ance and precarious balance. "The
Collinses are going to rout the Law
renceS out"
Now, the COllinSeS were the family
Of Captain Collins-wife, mother-in-
.aw on both sides, and three small
children. They had that morning ar
rived in the post Collins was in COM
mand of Troop L, which had been
moved on some weeks before. If he
had been well-disposed his entry
should not have put the whole garri-
son, below his rank, in the throes of
bar OF a progressive turning out"
For there were empty quarters into
which he might have moved exactly
as we'll as not, and no one have been
any the worse Off
But Collins won't see it that way"
Bartlett went on. "He ranks Law
renee, and his wife ranks him, you
bet; and it IS the wife and the mother
in-law who are going to have the Law
rences' set or bust
Throw them few buckets of paint
and calcimine, by way of sop" Dray-
ton ventured to suggest.
Did" said Bartlett, briefly. "Of-
fered them half the quartermasters
department, and carpenter, and a
blacksmith, and farrier, too, if they
happened to need one. Told them they
could have any or all of lne colors of
paint in the rainbow, if they'd just
De good-but those three Graces are
going to have the Lawrences' house"
Drayton opined, with a little of the
placidity, nevertheless, with which we
all bear one another's burdens, that it
was very great and very profane
shame. There's that poor little wom-
an with those little bits of kids, and
just moved into those quarters, and
got them all fixed up so prettily, and
her garden started, too. Then, those
Coliinses; They're mean lot of cat
tie, anyway" He made gesture of
disgust, which turned the visor around
over his left ear, and was silent for a
minute through sheer wrath.
Il told Mrs. Lawrence they would be
serpents on the wood cutters
hearth"
"Serpents, now?" asked Bartlett;
"they were cattle before; and you
called that"-he pointed over his
shoulder-'an elephant, whereas, in
point of fact, it's mule
81 told her" continued Drayton,
unmoved, that it wouldn't pay.
know all about the Collinses-served
with them in Texas. l was sitting on
Mrs. Lawrences steps-I know that
| usually am, so you can save yourself
Il was sitting on her steps when the
Collins outfit drove up. The ambu-
lance stopped in front Of the c. Os
house, next door, and Collins jumped
out and went in. The rest of them
just waited. All would have been we'll
if Mrs. Lawrence hadn't become
tender hearted in most unnecessary
way, and hadn't chosen to disregard
any advice" He assumed the look of