Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-03-06
CHAPTER I.

thing of perturbation, if not annoy
 ance, in his grim, gray eyes. For the fourth time that week had Lieuten ant Field requested permission to be absent for several hours. The major knew just why the junior wished te go and where. The major knew just why he wished him not to go, but saw fit to name almost any other thsn the real reason, when, with 6 certain awkward hesitancy, he be- gan:
 Well, is the post return ready?'
 Tt will be, sir, in abundant time, was the prompt reply. r..
 'sYou know they sent it back for correction last month," hazarded the commander.
 And you know, sir, the error was not mine," was the instant rejoinder, so quick, sharp and positive as to carry it at bound to the verge of disrespect, and the keen, blue eyes of the young soldier gazed. frank and fearless, into the heavily am- pushed gray eyes of the veteran in sthe chair. It made the latter vince and stir uneasily.
 If there's anything I hate, Field, 1t is to have my papers sent back by some whipsnapper of clerk, inviting attention to this or that error, and I expect my adjutant to see to 1t that they don't" -.
 Your adjutant does see to it, sir. I'm willing to bet a months pay fewer errors have been found in the papers of Fort Frayne than any post in the Department of the Platte. Gen. Williams told you as much when you were in Omaha"
 The major fairly wriggled in his seane-bottomed whirligig. What young Field said was true, and the major knew it. He knew, moreover, there wasn't more painstaking post ad- jutant from the Missouri to the mountains. He knew their monthly reports-'returns" as the regulations called them-were referred to by a model adjutant general as model papers. He knew that it was due to young Fields care and attention, and he knew he thought all the world of that young gentleman. It was just because he thought so much of him he was beginning to feel that it was high time to put stop to some thing that was going on. But, it was a delicate matter; a woman was the matter; and he hadn't the moral courage to go at it the straightfor- ward way. He whip sawed" again. Thrumming on the desk with his lean, bony fingers, he began: t
 'If I let my adjutant out so much, what's to prevent other youngsters asking similar indulgence?"
 The answer came like the crack of a whip:
 Nothing, sir; and far better would 1t be for everybody concerned if they spent more hours in the saddle and fewer at the store"
 This was too much for one listener in the room. With something like the sound of a suppressed sneeze, a tall, long.legged captain of cavalry started up from his chair, an out spread newspaper still full-stretched between him and the desk of the commander, and, thus hidden as to his face, sidled staggering of to the nearest window. Young Field had fearlessly, if not almost impudent- 1y, hit tho nail on the head. and metaphorically rapped the thrum- ming fingers of his superior officer. Some commanders would have ragged and sent the daring youngster right about in arrest. Major Webb knew 1ust what Field referred to-knew that the Vaccinations of pool, pitch" and poker held just about half his commissioned force at all "off duty" hours of the day or night hanging about the officers club room at the post traders; knew, moreover. that while the adjutant never wasted a moment over cards or billiards, he, she post commander, had many time taken . hand or a cue and wagered his dollars against those of his de- voted associates. They all loved him. There wasn't mean streak in his whole system" said every soldier at Fort Frayne. He had a capital rec ord as a volunteers colonel and, later, brigade commander in the great war. He had the brevet of brigsdier general of volunteers. but repudiated any title beyond that of his actual rank in the regulars. He was that rsra avis-a bachelor field officer, and a bird to be brought down if feminine witchery could do it He was truthful, generous, high minded, brsve-a man who preferred 10 be of and with his subordinates rather than above them-to rule through affection and regard rather than the stern standard of command. He was gentle and courteous alike to officers and the rank and file. though he feared no man on the face of the globe. He was awkward. bungling and overwhelmingly. lavishly, kind and thoughtful in his dealings with tLe womenfOIk of the garrison. for ne stood in awe of the entire sister hood He could ride like a eentaur; .se cculdnt' dance worth a cent. He esuId snuff a candle with his Colt at % paces and couldn't hit a croguet baI to save his soul His deep-set gray eyes. under their tangled thsfch of brown eazed straight into the face of every man on the Platte. soldier. cowboy. Indian or half5re-d- but fell abashsd if Iaundress looked