Connecticut western news., 1906-12-27
A Faculty for Detail :
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lOrfGtnal.l Colonel Mark Murdock prided him. self on his attention to detail Atten- ton to detail Is certainly a good trait In d commander, but where he permits his attentions to interfere with system and the good work of his subordinates he makes trouble for them and him. self. Colonel Murdock antagonized them. If his quartermaster bought a lot of blankets he was sure to learn sooner or later that his commander knew more about blankets than the manufacturers. If the commissary bought coffee the colonel would drink a cup of 1t and was sure to find some thing the matter with 1t. Besides, no one could tell when he would inspect the mems mess and, tasting the food. condemn every article on the table.
 One day while Theodore Drake, cap- tain and commissary,, was quietly smoking his after dinner cigar the coloners orderly appeared with a per emptory order for him to report in person immediately at the mess of the enlisted meH.
 What's he got on to nowT' mutt tered Drake, snatchlng up his sword and buckling it on as he hurried away to the mess. 'I wish to heaven he'd buy something himself and get sold on spoiled meat" The commissary found his colonel in . high state of military severity.
 Captain Drake, what do you mean by feeding my men such stuff as this?"
 He held a plate of pudding in his hand, which he was tasting and smell Ing and grinding in his fingers.
 Its made of as good meal as I could find, colonel" replied the captain, biting his lip to prevent adding, ''You old foolr'
 'Meali Do you mean to tell me that pudding's made of meal? More likely Why don't you give 'em an india rub Der pudding and be done with itT
 Perhaps the cook'-
 ''The cooks all right I've eaten his cooking at my own mess often. It's the material. I'll prove what I say by sending him a barrel of meal of my own selection. Have a pudding made of 1t for tomorrow's dinner. I'll be here to inspect 1t"
 With that the colonel turned on his heel and went away. congratulating himself that he had won the hearts of his men by showing zeal in their in- terest. The unmilitary part he had played in bringing discredit on an off cer did not especially trouble him.
 The next day he allowed thirty min utes after dinner call. then strutted across the parade to the mems mess. Drake was there. The pudding was being served Those who had their pudding before them sat silent, but with frown on each face. Those who were being served tasted the dish, took but one mouthful, which they ejected on their plates, then sat In an ominous silence like the others. Soon after their commander entered each and every man sat with a plate of pudding before him, which he left untouched. The colonel was astonished.
 "Give me plate of it!" he ordered.
 A plate of pudding was handed him. He took a large spoonful and, like the men, immediately ejected 1t.
 "What's this?" he cried to Drake.
 Pudding made of the material you sent the cook. colonel" replied the con- missary respectfully.
 Material I sent the cook?" inquired the astonished commander.
 "Yes, sir. A barrel of meal was sent by your order to the cook this morning. He sent to me to know what 1t had been sent him for. I replied that you had ordered that pudding be made of 1t for the mems mess today. He sent word back that he didn't think 1t would do for pudding, to which I re- piled that in the army orders were to be obeyed without question as we'll by cooks as any one else"
 The colonel stood with the plate in his hand and a puzzled expression on his face
 "Who brought the barrelf" he asked.
 "The post teamster."
 "Send for him."
 An orderly went for the teamster, who reported hurriedly.
 Did you haul the barrel you were told to take from the shed in the rear of my quarters to the cook?" asked the colonel.
 ''Yes, sir"
 (Which shed?"
 "The one in which the bricks are piled, sir"
 The faces of the men sitting at the table were turned with interest to their commander. The commissary stood looking at him with an imperturbable expression he had certainly not worn twenty four hours before. A color suf- fused the coloners face, deepening as the truth dawned upon him. Then, turn ing contemptuously to the teamster, before whom rose vision of real and imaginary military punishment, he snapped:
 You stupid ass! You took a barrel