Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1906-02-28
Mcguire and the
Deaf Man
BY WALLACE RAYMOND COMP
Copyright, 1925, By Joseph 3. Bowlss.l

NNoPyLignI 1928, ~ Joseph D. 0owlesl
Il tell you, doctor, the mans as
deaf as post! We've tried all the
old tricks on him, but they didn't
work; I'm for discharging him as
soon as possible"
The major in charge of the Second
Reserve hospital in Manila looked up
from his morning reports"
Tried shooting a gun beside his
bed?"
They tried that in the company
| quarters before we got him." an
swered the contract doctor. We've
yelled fire. in his ear at night, and
everything 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
did SO:
John Earle. private, cavalryman,
tall, light"
Under the heading of Remarks" he
read:
While in company quarters Private
Earle, reading letter he had just
received, suddenly turned to another
soldier saying: Why did that bugler
stop in the middle of stable-call?
The man answered. but Earle insisted
that 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
surgeons recommendation for trans
fer 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
gone
Ten minutes later Steward Mcguire
stood at attention before the major
He was red-haired. freckled-faced,
short, thick-set young Irishman The
major knew Maguire's record; he
knew If Earle was deaf, Mcguire
would know it before another day
passed
His eyes were again on the morn
ing reports" and he did not look up
as he handed Mcguire the papers re-
lating to the Earle case.
Il want to know by tomorrow
morning whether that's fake was
his only remark
Eyes, sir" answered Mcguire, as he
slipped the papers into his hip-pocket.
"Pll do my best"
AS Mcguire left the room a smile
fitted across the majors stern face,
and leaning back in his chair he said
to himself:
"Pd 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?" infused Ma
guire, as he pulled the package Of pa
pers from his hip pocket and began
reading while he walked along,
If thought he said aloud, that
the OF guy worked on the theory that
it takes 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 man wants to de-
sert, i say, let him desert; it's none
Of my rations But when he deserts
and don't stop long enough to pay
the four-flfty what he owes Mcguire
as one o them did--it's no case for
peace commission"
Mcguire stopped; he had reached the
coast artillery barracks. AS he Cd.
tered the first sergeant's Office he re-.
moved his hat saying
I'm Steward Mcguire from tho First
Reserve Can you let me See the man
Private Earle was talking to when he
suddenly got deafg"
over there on the third bunk clean.
Ing his gun: his name Is Kelly See
! him responded tho FIRST sergeant
Mcguire ala and moment later
was seated On the opposite bunk
esay, said Mcguire; were going
ID discharge your friend Earle, and
Is the doctors n the states want q
full history Of the cases. i've got 70
make full report On Earle's Seer
Namwf kheroin trnmnn0rt nniln kO-mOrs