Barton County democrat., 1901-08-02
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ly to his party, and, loading up with
blankets, overcoats, haversacks and
canteens, the recruits speedily took
possession of their new quarters,
forced open the jammed windows to
let out the imprisoned and overheat-
ed air, piled their boxes of hard
bread and stacks of timed meat at
the ends and their scant soldier
goods and chattels in the rude sec
tions, then tumbled out again upon
the platform to enjoy, while yet
there was time, the freedom of the
outer air, despite the torrid heat of
the midday sunshine.
+ In knots of three or four they
sauntered about. their hands deep in
their empty pockets, their boyish
eyes curiously studying the signs and
posters, or wistfully peering through
the screened doors at the tempta-
tions of the bar and lunch counter or
the shaded windows of the dining
room, where luckier. fellow-passen-
gers were taking their fill of
the good cheer afforded. Two of the
number, dressed like the rest in blue
flannel shirts, with trousers of light
er blue and heavier make, tanning
their heated faces with their drab,
broad -brimmed campaign hats,
swung off the rear end of the objec-
tionable car, and with a quick glance
about them, started briskly down
the track to where the ssdiner" and
certain sleepers of the Southern Pa
cific were being shunted about.
"Come back here, you fellers!"
shouted the corporal catching. sight
of the pair. 'sYou don't know how
soon this here train may start. Come
back, say" he added, emphatically,
>as the two, looking first into each
others eyes, seemed to hesitate.
Then, with sullen, downcast face, the
nearer turned and slowly obeyed.
whose teeth cleaned as he laughed
his reply, still stood in his tracks.
"We're only going to the dining
car, corporal" he shouted. "That's
going with US, SO we can't be left"
you've got no business in the din
ing car, Mellen; that's not for your
sort, or mine, for that matter" was
the corporal's ultimatum. And with
a grin still expanding his broad
mouth. the recruit addressed as
Mellen came reluctantly sauntering
in the trail of his comrade, who had
submitted in silence and yet not
without shrug of protest. It was
to the latter the corporal spoke when
the two had rejoined their associ-
ates.
you've got sense enough to know
you're not wanted at that diner,
xuho he
That's no place for empty pockets.
What took you there?"
Wanted drink, and you said:
Keep away from the bar-room,' an
swered Murray, briefly, his gray eyes
glancing about from man to man in
the group, resting for just second
on the form and features of one who
stood O little apart, a youth of 21
years, probably. "It was Fosters
treat" he added, and that remark
transferred the attention of the
party at the instant to the young
ster on the outskirts.
He had been leaning with folded
| arms against lamp post, looking
somewhat wearily up the platform
| to where, in pairs or little groups,
| the passengers were strolling, men
and women both, seeking relief from
| the constraint and stiffness of the
long ride by rail. He had an inter
esting-even handsome-face, and
his figure was well knit, well proper
toned. His eyes were dark, soft
brown, with very long, curving
lashes, his nose straight. his mouth
| finely curved, soft and sensitive His
throat was full, round, and at the
base very white and fair, as the un-
fastened and Tapping shirt collar
now enabled one to see. His hands,
| too, were soft and white, showing
that at least one of the 20 came not
from the ranks of the toilers. His
shoes were of finer make than those
of his comrades, and the handker-
chief so loosely knotted at the open
ing of the coarse blue shirt was OF
handsome and costly silk. He had
been paying scant attention to his
surroundings, and was absorbed, evi-
IDENTIFY, in his watch on the tourists
up the platform when recalled to
himself by the consciousness that all
eyes were upon him.
whats this about your treatin,
Foster?" asked the corporal.
For a week he had felt sure the
boy had money, and not a little
Nothing would have persuaded him
to borrow cent of Foster or any
body else, but others, and plenty OF
them. had no such scruples.
i The young recruit turned slowly
He seemed reluctant to quit his scru
tiny of his fellow passengers. The
abrupt tone and manner of the ac
customed regular. too. Jared upo1
him. 1t might be the corporars pre-
rogative so to address his charges
but this one didn't like it, and mean,
to show that he didn't. His none,