The Washington times., 1904-03-06

caused lovers of the manly art OF self
defense" to grOan with rsgrets could
they have realized what they missed
The mystery of the disappearance OF g
promising ''featherweight" from pugil-
istic circles in the East might also have
been solved had the witnesses included
one who had known him.
Lieutenant Denton. forgetting every
thing save what was Enclosed in that
ring OF tense humanity and lighted by
the Pickering lamps that swung and
swayed as the building shook under the
feet OF the contestants. leaned far out
of his box. absorbed as only the primal
and soul. Those of the Forty who had
recovered sufficiently to stand, felt rec
ompensed for the part they had taken
IN working I'D to such a climax. even
those who caught gIimpses of it through
swollen and half closed eyelids.
Brown weighed about one hundred and
seventy pounds. was taller than COSti-
gan by three inches. with supple, sea-
soned muscles. taking punishment
lightly. and hitting with the force and
aim that beftted a first sergeant and
the ruler of the Forty Thieves. Yet
drive as he might, his blows were avoid
ed with an ease and skill that amazed
the onlookers, while all his experie nee
did not save him from the lighting
Quickness Of Costigan's attack.
Acting solely on the defensive at first
the latter gradually began To force the
fighting, making IL slow and cautious or
fast and furious at WILL now landing a
blow on the sergeant's ribs that sounded
Ike a drum beat, again planting one
squarely between the eyes, next simply
parrying his opponents sleSlgehammer
blows. uut3 even Brown realized that
he was being played with.
He, first scrf cant Of Troop D, dictator
of the Forty Thieves. being played with
by a raw recruit whom he mad despised
for his white face. slight body and apol-
As the realization slowly filtered into
his brain, hammered into It by Cogtf-
gan's nsts, he resolved to risk all on one
cast.
Relinquishing any attempt at defense.
half blind with rage and blood, ready
20 take what punishment came, but re-
solved 70 put the man oct with one
skull cracking blow Of his huge fist
Brown flung himself like a battering
ram across the ring.
CoStigan's arms had been hanging
easily, apparently careIessIy~, by his side.
The sergeant rushed The recruit
smiled. stepped quickly to one side, his
arm shot up and out, ami
AS luck would have it, Major Gem
era1 French had selected ths following
morning TO inspect the garrison Of Fort
Niobrara-
The general had been raised in the
cavalry, and took especial pride in that
branch of the service-a pride that did
not rebound TO the comfort of those
cavalry regiments that came under his
inspection
Passing slowly DOWN the line. he re-
turned Lieutenant Dentons salute. and
then halted directly in front of Sergeant
Brown.
The lieutenant looked uneasy. So did
the first sergeant.
Now. a broken nose. however skiIlfulIy
repaired, does not add to the correct
martial appeara nee Of even a first ser
geant, especially when it is fianked by
Hack
there is added thereto a jaw that SHOWS
unreasonable cOnspiciously in size and
<-ifSeneral French adjusted his glasses a
tbit higher on his nose, until they were
almost hidden beneath the peak Of his
cap. and scrutinized the sergeant crtt-
cally.
Brown wished fervently that MS cap
had equal powers Of concealment.
HIM Sergeant, what is the matter
with vaur nOSeg
''BrUken. sir replied Bron, flush
ing painfully as he saluted-
Broken, Ell? How?"
Fighting. sir
''HmI Looks it. sth whom?"
Private Costigation, sir."
The general glanced down the line as
II looking for COstigatiOn. but his gaze
travelled no further than the man next
to Brown. whose eyes bore eloquent tes-
timony to their owners feelings
Your lame Cosugan?" asked the
general
mo, sir.
Your eyes are In bad shape"
Yes, sir"
who did it?"
Private Costigan, sir"
Again the generals eyes va ndered to
be stopped by the next mans cut and
swollen lip. which was past all conceal
ment of a muStache-
''Your name, my man?" asked the
general. with evident expectation that
this must be Costigan-
Jackson, sir
Have YOU been fighting too?"
Whom with?''
Private COstigan. sir"
The general looked around at Lieu
tenant Denton as If to make some in
quiry or remark, but instead asked the
wearer of badly damaged ear:
And you2"
Fighting with Private Costigan. sir"
HIM Whatever the translation OF
this may have been. the general kept it
TO himself. as, passing down the line,
he repeated his inquiries 70 each man.
and from each received the same mo-
notOnOus reply:
Private Costigan, sir
Lower and lower crept the brim of
the generals cap, higher and higher
profound became his curiosity to see
this mighty gladiator whose trophies
were borne by his victims.
Arrived at the end of the file of troop
ers lie passed around behind the rear
rank, with Lieutenant Denton a step
behind.
w ldl-Nl 4dN Is lnaL- ana Generll
French turned to Denton as he pointed
at trooper whose blouse hung in folds
from his shoulders, the trousers swathed
in many pleats and CreaseS about his
waist, and whose cap stood out about 4
thii- white face like the rim OF candle
snaf,er. The general noticed that the
man bore 10 mark Nof Disagreement or
other sign of having met Private Cos
tigan," while the expression on his face
was mild and inoffensive 70 the point OF
apology.
Thinking that he had misunderstood
the heutenants reply, the general re-
peated his question.
Sounding almost parrot-like came the
answer again:
Private Costigan, sir"
We'll. I'll be-forced to look into this"
calculated the general. by the way,
Denton. 1 want an orderly.
Yes, sir
you might
Yes sir"
GIVE me"-the general cousbed-''Pri-
rate Costigan.'