The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1907-02-28
A Faculty For Detail
O % GO Q Q o Q o
LOripinal ]

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
lot of blankets he was sure to learn
sooner or later that his commander
manufacturer. If the commissary
bought coffee the colonel would drink
a 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 OH to now?" NUT
tered Drake, snatching up his sword
and bucllling it on as he hurried away
to the mess. Il wish to heaven he'd
buy something himself and get sold on
spoiled meat"
The commissary found his colonel in
q 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.
It's made of as good meal as l
could find, colonel" replied the captain,
biting his lip to prevent adding, you
old fool!'
Meal! Do you mean to tell me that
pudding's 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
''The cooks all right. I've eaten his
cooking at my own mess often. It's
the material I'll prove what say by
sending him barrel of meal of my
own selection. Have pudding made
of it for tomorrows 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 hat
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 struttet
Drake was there The pudding wa
being served. Those who had thei
pudding before them sat silent, bu
with frown on each face. Those VIII
| We're being served tasted the dish. too
but one mouthful, which they ejecte
on their plates. then sat in an ominou
silence like the others. Soon afte
their commander entered each an
every man sat with a plate of puddin
before him, which he left untouched
The colonel was astonished.
"Give me plate of it, he ordered.
4 plate of pudding was handed hin
He took a large spoonful and, like th
men, Immediately elected it.
"What's this? he cried to Drake.
pudding made of the material 70
sent the cook. colonel replied the con
, mssary respectfully.
"Material I sent the COOKE" inquire
the astonished commander.
eyes. sir a barrel of meal was SCI
by your order to the cook this morning
He sent to me to know what it ha
; been sent him for. l replied that 70
had ordered that a pudding be mac
of it for the mems mess today. 81
sent word back that he didn't think
would do for pudding, to which l r
piled that in the army orders were
! be obeyed without question as well /
cooks as any one else
1 The colonel stood with the plate
his hand and a puzzled expression {
his face
= 10 brought the barrel?" he aske
, The post teamster.'
S Send for him."
r An orderly went for the teamste
who reported hurriedly.
did you haul the barrel you we
told to take from the shed in the re;
E of my quarters to the COOKE" asked Il
i. colonel.
Eyes, sir
5 (Which shed?'
!, 1.-The one in which the bricks a
! piled. sir
! The faces of the men sitting at t
table We're turned with interest to the
commander. The commissary sto
i looking at him with an imperturbah
9 expression he had certainly not wo
twenty-fo hours before. A color ST
fused the colonels face, deepening
the truth dawned upon him. Then, tur
!. ing contemptuously to the teamste
| before whom rose vision Of real al
e imaginary military punishment,
y snapped
t, "You stupid ass! You took barr
I of cement
S; Turning quickly on his heel, he g
N out of the place as quickly as possib
y The commissary stood rigid, salutil