Los Angeles herald., 1906-04-29

fee, and had sent the wire, it was one O'Clock
and still no sign of the sheriff.
AT two o'clock he received an answer to hi
inquiry. Headquarters, with its usual brilliant
misunderstanding of the situation, and its regu
lation red tape fear of what was extraordinary
told him to cultivate friendly relations with tht
popuace and the local authorities, and that h'
must under circumstances, take supplies o
any kind forcibly. Furthermore, it said, sub
sistence had been ordered sent from the capital
and would reach him at haf-past five o'clock
This time the other officers and the men helped
the captain express himself; and the whole com
mand dug into the recesses of its haversacks fof
forgotten sandwiches.
With the aid of the drinking fountain in the
square, the men Of the command began poor
substitute for dinner. just as they did so, a
man came along one side of the square. He kick
ed open little iron box, thrust long iron rod
down into the hole thus uncovered, and the
fountain ceased to- flow The first sergeant was
the one who caught the man, but it was the
captain who found out that he was the village
engineer in charge Of the water works, and that
he had shut off the water from the fountain, on
the ground that the faucets were out of order,
and needed refttng. When they went to the
earestprivatehydrant the soldiers were promptly
informed that it was contrary to the rules of the
water company for consumers to supply water
to nonpaying persons, and that they could not
get water there, because the owner of the hy-
drant did not wish his supply stopped on ac-
count of an infraction of the rules and, further,
that he did not propose to have it stopped for
anybody
When he heard this the captain looked slowly
around the square, and those nearest him listen
ed in eager expectation. The flow of his Ian
guage at various times during the day, had ex-
cited their admiration, and this, they thought,
would bring the days finest burst of unstudied
eloquence but without saying word. the cap
tain 81, -bnx and ct1lcly
hands deep into his pockets. The first lieutenant
looked at the assistant surgeon.
"We' he said, ri didn't think the old boy
would take it so easy"
"Easy?" echoed the assistant surgeon. Easy?
He's SO mad that words aint in it"
"No food, no fire, no water" said the lieuten-
ant. "All it needs now is for someone to come
along with the bell, book and candle
SIS there a pump anywhere around?" inter
rupted the captain and the assistant surgeon de-
parted in search of one. He found it, an old
wooden pump, with an iron handle, at
the side. which worked up and down; but on
the pump was tackled red card, and on the
card was printed: "The water OF this well is
lady contaminated. All persons are hereby
not to use the water for any purpose
BY order of the Board of Health" He returned
and reported to the captain, and that officer
opened his lips as though to anathematize the
whole town, then closed them firmly, and walked
down to the telegraph office, where the soldier
operator still held the key After an hour, and
a half of telegraphing, the captain came back to
the square, carrying a slip of yellow paper in
his hand. The yellow slip told him to remain
where he was and to await the return of the
sheriff. In the meantime, headquarters would
make inquiries after the sheriff, and he, the cap
tain was to do nothing which might irritate
the people of Oropolis. The captain, assisted
by the two lieutenants and the assistant surgeon,
said things about headquarters and the officials
there which would have insured the prompt
and dismissal of the four of them,
mad there been any to report proceedings.
The command sat or sprawled about the
SQUARE, and watched the gilt hands of the town
,lock. On the shady side of the square small
,rowd had congregated to jeer and laugh. The
captain called to passing newsboy, and asked
or paper When the boy refused to sell him
me. the crowd grew hilarious. The assistant
surgeon wrote out prescription, which, he said,
contained certain soothing constituents, and
ook it across to get it filled at the little drug
tore on the corner. He accused the druggist
# refusing to fill it because he soldier, but
he druggist explained carefully that he refused
lot because the assistant surgeon wore a uni
orm. but because he the druggist, had no guar
ntee that the prescription was made out by
egular DOCTOR and that he preferred to run no
isks in dispensing liquid which he was allowed