Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-05-02

er, and between him and the foremost
noncommissioned officer in the -th the
expert eye could hardly have told which
was the more soldierly in build and car
riage.
For moment no one spoke. 1t was
Dana who finally broke silence.
Why-you've served before
"Onlyin militia regiment, SIR
"Where:''
"In New York city,"
The adjutant had dozen more cues
tons on the tip of his tongue, and the
visitor saw it.
81 have answered that, sir, because r
presume have to account for standing
attention, but there are many questions
that may occur to you that I do not
wish to answer. If 1 may speak with
Captain Ray, think I can satisfy him
without going into particulars.
Dana whipped his wooden chair
around and squarely confronted the
speaker. That he was man of eduoa-
ton and social position in the past. at
least. Dana saw at glance, and just asr
quickly did the companion thought
flash across his mind, Another case of
the prodigal son." Incredulity as to the
motives of man in enlisting in those
days was not confined to the rank and
file
N ,foS, Pow mo-, O,s ~ ,nfh fa =
istied, but in either event, as recruiting
officer of the regiment, l have to be, !"
said the young officer, with touch of
asperity in his tone. 1t was not good to
his ears to be told that would be re-
cruit declined to answer questions.
The newcomer, far from looking dis
concerted, smiled atfably and frankly.
His blue eyes twinkled, his white teeth
cleaned. "The best looking scapegrace
that ever came to US. Confound his i'm
pudence for grinning," said Dana to
himself.
"That is why wish to speak with
Captain Ray, sir, said the civilian.
HE might be able to satisfy you when
l, probably, could not. -
~ don't know how you make that
out, :" said Dana, curiosity betraying
him into half argument with the APP
plicant, which Dana very we'll knew
was mira dig.
POSSIBLY Captain Ray will explain
it,, was the answer, and the serenity
of the applicant remained unruffled.
ooh, very well, % said Dana, nettled
in spite OF his better nature. $50 see
Captain Ray if you wish, -
But even as he spoke the hall door
opened and in burst Major Mainwaring
There is no other way of describing the
major S method of entering room. 1t
has been said that he was blunt both in
speech and in action. A soldier for years
of his life, no amount OF domestic pol
ish had ever succeeded in smoothing off
the rough edges CT the camp. Mainwar-
ing prided himself on being direct in
everything he said and did. Men and
women who knew him we'll knew there
was a mine OF genuine kindness and
goodness under the rugged surface. Men
and women who heard him speak for
the first time declared him brute.
What you got here?" blurted Main
waring, glaring at the sergeant major
and his silent companion.
Man wants to enlist, sir, was the
reply.
Now, Mainwaring was not the re-
oruiting officer of the regiment. He was
in nowise responsible for their selec-
ton. He had been but few months a
member of the regiment himself, hav-
ing, as has been explained, been pro-
NOTED to it from another when Major
Barry became lieutenant colonel, but it
was popularity of Mainwaring that
he considered it his inalienable right to
have say in everything going on, and
it wasn't so much what he said as how
he said it that made it obnoxious. He
scowled at the very presentable new
conner as though words were inadequate
to express his disapprobation, then
gruffly demanded:
Where you from?"
A flush went up to the forehead of
the young man, and there was an in
stant's hesitation, then in very quiet
tone he replied, "The east
| Major Mainwaring was studying him
sharply, suspicious light in his black
eyes. Haven't seen you before?" he
presently asked, the words tumbliDg all
over one another's heels.
mot out here, certainly" was the
tempered reply, though the blue eyes
We're firing up and looking square into
the kindling black.
"Do you mean to tell me you haven t
been in service before:" The major
precipitate style of questioning left
barely time for answer.
| But the civilian took his time and
chose his words. II do not mean to tell
you-anything SIR -
| For moment Mainwaring simply
glared as though he could not realize
the full significance of the words.
| what in thunder do you mean by
that?' he finally growled.
"Just whats have said, sir, was the
reply. "Five minutes ago wished to
enlist in this regiment; now don't.
Good day to you, gentlemen. And, to
the speechless amaze of the sergeant
/ ~ 81 %