Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-12-22
DAILY. STORY.
A FACULTY FOR DETAIL.
IOriginal.1

ton to detail is certainly q good trait
in 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 Murdoch 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
manufacturer. If the commisSary
bought coffee the colonel would drink
cup of it and was sure to find some
thing the matter with it. 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
colonel's orderly appeared with per-
emptory order for him to report in
person Immediately at the mess of the
enlisted men.
whats he got on to now?" NUT.
tered Drake, snatching up his sword
and buckling it on as he hurried away
to the mess. 81 wish TO heaven he'd
buy something himself and get sold on
spoiled meat"
The commissary found his colonel in
a high state of military severity.
Captain Drake, what do you mean
by feeding my men such stuff as this 2"
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 /
could find, colonel" replied the captain,
biting his lip to prevent adding, "You
old fool!'
Meal! Do you mean to tell me that
buildings made of meal? More likely
from the refuse of some distillery.
Why don't you give 'em an india rub
Der pudding and be done with it?"
Perhaps the cook
1.-THE cooks all right. I've eaten his
cooking at my own mess often. It's
the material. I'll prove what 1 say by
sending him a barrel of meal of my
of it for tomorrow's dinner. I'll be
here to inspect it,
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
Ger 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
rYr1HinO hafOro fharn ell I,rrt
with a frown on each face Those who
We're being served tasted the dish, took
but one mouthful, which they elected
on their plates. then sat in an ominous
silence like the others. Soon after
their commander entered each and
every man sat with q plate of pudding
before him, which he left untouched.
The colonel was astonished.
"Give me plate of it!' he ordered.
4 plate of pudding was handed him.
He took large spoonful and, like the
men, Immediately elected it.
whats this?' he cried to Drake.
Pudding made of the material you
sent the cook. colonel" replied the COM
respectfully.
Material sent the cook?' inquired
the aStOnlSneQ commander.
Eyes, sir A barrel of meal was sent
by your order to the cook this morning.
He sent to me to know what it had
been sent him for. 1 replied that you
had ordered that pudding be made
Of it for the mems mess today. He
sent word back that he didn't think it
would do for pudding, to which l re-
Piled that in the army orders were to
be obeyed without question as well 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 barrel?" he asked. |
1.-THE post teamster."
"Send for him.
An orderly went for the teamster, |
who reported hurriedly.
''Did you haul the barrel you We're |
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
able were turned with interest to their
The commissary stood
ooking at him with an imperturbable
he had certainly not worn
hours before. A color suf-
fused the colonel's face, deepening as
he truth dawned upon him. Then. turn
ng contemptuously to the teamster,
before whom rose a vision of real and
imaginary military punishment, he
"You stupid ass! You took a barrel
If cementr'
Turning quickly on his heel, he got
tut of the place as quickly as possible.