Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-02-07
Mcguire and the
 Deaf Man
By WALLACE RAYMOND COMP

| I
 T tell you, doctor, the mans as
 leaf as a post! We've tried all the Id tricks on him, but they didn't fork; I'm for discharging him as bon as possible"
 The major in charge of the Second deserve hospital in Manila looked up rom his morning reports"
 Tried shooting gun beside his Ied?"
 They tried that in the company
 uarters before we got him. an
 wered the contract doctor. We've felled fire in his ear at night. and Fverything else we could think of. but it's no use--he's deaf, that's all"
 The major hastily glanced over the papers in the case. muttering as he lid so:
 John Earle. private, cavalryman, |all, light"
 Under the heading of Remark" he lead:
 While in company quarters Private Earle. reading a letter he had just received, suddenly turned to another |oldier saying: Why did that bugler ktop in the middle of stable-callT The man answered. but Earle insisted hat he could not hear what was said. From that moment Private Earle has been to all appearances deaf; all tests have failed"
 Then the major looked over the post Furgeon's recommendation for trans. Ter to Manila and discharge, and tossed the papers aside.
 Orderly" he said, go down to the First Reserve and send Steward Ma Guire here"
 Yes, sir" and the orderly was zone.
 Ten minutes later Steward Mcguire etood at attention before the major. He was a red-haired. freckled-faced. |sbort, thick-set young Irishman. The |major knew Maguire's record: he |knew if Earle was deaf. Mcguire would know it before another day Ipassed. r- His eyes were again on the morn ling reports" and he did not look up las be handed Mcguire the papers re. Hating to the Earle case. q want to know by tomorrow morning whether that's fake" was |his only remark.
 Yes. sir" answered Mcguire. as he slipped the papers into his hip-pocket. "I1l do my best"
 As Maguire left the room smile fitted across the majors stern face. and leaning back in his chair he said to himself:
 "fd hate to have anyone give me those orders gave Mcguire. Wonder what he'll do?''
 "Now, what's m friend the major steerin' me up against?" unused Ma. guire. as he pulled the package of pa, pers from his hip pocket and began reading while he walked along.
 If I thought" he said aloud. that the or guy worked on the theory that st takes a thief to catch thief. I'd But it's dead plain that he don't: he heard about me catchin' them two de serters in Havana after they'd fooled everybody from the general down that's all. Now if a man wants to de sert. I say. let him desert: its none Of my rations. But when he deserts and don't stop long enough to pay he four-ffty what he owes Msguire- ks one O them did-itis no case for a peace commission"
 Mcguire stopped; he had reached the coast artillery barracks. As he en. tered the first sergeant's ofiee he re- moved his hat. saying:
 -rm Steward Mcguire from the First Reserve. Can you let me see the man Private Earle was talking to when he suddenly got dsaf7
 over there on the third bunk clean ing his run: his name is Kelly. See hin!r responded the first sergeant
 Nzxufre did. and a moment later vss seated on the opposite bunk.
 say said Mcguire. -se're going Co discharge your friend Earle. and ss the doctors In the states want a fuIl history of the cases. I've got to rste q full report oa Esrseis- Sce7 Nov there's a transport sails tonor- rs<. @ yoa see Tn in . hurry- They tel ms yo1 were vifk the poor esviI 'when ke lost his hearin'- ~Y0-Ae un reading . letter. yea !mvf 1ppr Trcu kfs uo<ner- pror-