The daily Alaskan., 1906-12-31
What Was the Matter
 With Colonel Prim
IOrIginaLl

Why Colonel Prim opposed Captain Plumer in his suit for the hand of the coloneTs daughter Marian no one In 1 the garrison could find out. Before the captain evinced such aspirations his l commander showed an especial par tIality for the young officer, who was the most popular man at the post The change can only be accounted for in that diStaste of father to giving up his daughter to any man. The colonel carried his antagonism against the captain so far as to keep his eye open for derelictlons of duty on the part of his inferior. Did the captain when called upon to report ln person at his commanders headQuar- ters do so with a single button on his uniform cont unbuttoned he was sure 10 receive a suarled reprOOf. Was there a speCk of dirt on any of the men composing the captains com Dauy on parade the colonel declared the whole company a disgrace to the service. Plumer soon saw the neceS- sIrv of constant watChfulneSs, but he was very aUseutminded. and no care was sufficient to head off the coIonefs reprImandS. The whole garrison was cornizant of this injustice, and, since all the world loves lover, every one svmpathiZed with the captain.
 One morning when Plumer was ofi- ce- of the day. Colonel Prlm. looking out of the window of his quarters, saw him crossing the parade without his sword. Raising the sash. he ordered his subordinate to come up. Fortu- nately for the captain. an officer was passing. and Plumer, borrowing his sword. hooked 1t to his belt, then mounted to hIs colonel whom he sa- luteL respectfully.
 Captain" growled Prim. why In
 He stopped short, his eyes fixed upon the sword
 .Captain." he continued in a more subGueG roap. "I didn't like the ap- peavance of tbe meu at guard mount. Ing this morning Tell Jle sergeant that If he marches a guard on aEatu without ayerg mans boots being black eG I'll brsaN ajm.
 Yes. co!onrl. didn't see you at guaNI mount,
 "I wasn't rh.-e sir but l saw them rom my viudo".''
 This wa~ sad shamefacedly. for the e7.arIs' backs wrrn turned to the colo ue.s quarters.
 The saur afternoon the colonel again saw tlv captain from his window pass ing over ,le parade and again without his sword lie called rAe delinquent officer Co ro,a, up. Brforc uls arrival Marian raia- into the room.
 Sis" snapprd her father, do you see Captain plumrr cUL.!uE:'
 Yes pap~."
 "Has he a SwOrd:'
 The girl wa> about to say no when she remembered that for hrr lover to be without sword while on duty would be a delinquency and would !n- eur rrpr.mand Then she wondered why hpr father asked such question. The result was prcvarcatioa. Sine looked up in telgucd surprise.
 What's rh" matter with your eyes, papa"
 The colonel sank Into rhalr. "I knew It IL Isn't my eyes" h" moan- ed. i've had queer feelings in my head la:cly. Something's going wrong In my brain. saw Plum"r awhile ago crossing the parade. thought hc hadn't sword aud called him up here. He had hfs >wori Now | See him again. and he ha>u't. But hos coming uD. Not wu~l of thIs."
 There was a E0o.k ar m" floor. and -hc captain rn;.rrI A SNu"d borrow ad again hrnc f~ru his h"lI
 .Captaiu." ~a.d lis commander, you may | called you up tn >ay-that there will ho TO dress p1rsrd" this ever ing"
 A Soru aS N|unrr had gou" the colo ael turned ro his daughter and in a saint voice Saii:
 "Cal my orderly. S'S. and send hlm for Told"
 Todd was thc post surgeon, and Miss rrim. instead of calling the orderly. went [, Surgeon Todd'S quarters and .old hrm rhr story about hrr Father'> sudden symptom.
 "Trayo him to ur." said ;hc doctor, ,ud. first completing his uniform so as b, prrsratabIr ro his colonel, he vent tO the Ntter'S quarters.
 "To;lG." SaiI prim lugubriously, I'm ;,fa- down hi,l fast" and h" told the '1,;o- aII tEr symptoms he had and .:.u.r heSid,'S.
 ",uloual." Said the surgeon after .s.iu. a uu5Mdr of questions. "in a>r ra.~ ~hpu.1 rUru ont a$ I fear .r.Hf y.9 l".. y"ur family in com 'nr.a.a. ..~rr.~ranrc~:
 "Yan Gon.r m"g iy:' gaspcd Prim ~l- l .- '.al a lhait"
 "l, 0"ua. h' "r haru to rut your lou~.. iu uy,irr.'
 "I haven't a rcuj ,n ,h' wurll; pay accounts discounted"
 Its pity Mar"u ha~1'l r-rrIrd."
 Marry that puppy rjumrr, She shah starvr first"
 But ihc doctor waS an old friend or th.. ,.nluur,'S and knew his fuibrS The