Daily Arizona silver belt., 1907-11-28
What Was the Matter
 With Colonel Prim
IOriginal.l


 commander showed an especial par tality for the young officer, who was the most popular man at the post The change can only be accounted for in that distaste of father to giving up his daughter to any man.
 The colonel carried his antagonism against the captain so far as to keep his eye open for derelictions of duty on the part of his inferior. Did tho captain when called upon to report in person at his commanders headquar- ters do so with single button on his uniform coat unbuttoned he was sure to receive a snarled reproof. Was there a speck of dirt on any of the men composing the captains com papy on parade the colonel declared thd .shole company disgrace to the service. Plumer soon saw the neces- sity of constant watchfulness, but he was very absentminded, and no care was sufficient to head off the coloners reprimands. The whole garrison was cognizant of this injustice. and, since all the world loves lover, every one sympathized with the captain.
 One morning when Plumer was off cer of the day. Colonel Prim, looking out of the window of his quarters, saw him crossing the parade without his sword. Raising the sash, he ordered his subordinate to come up. Fortu- nately for the captain, an officer was passing. and 2lumer, borrowing his sword, hooked it to his belt, then mounted to his colonel, whom he sa- luted respectfully.
 Captain" growled Prim, "why in"-
 He stopped short, his eyes fixed upon the sword.
 Captain" he continued in a more subdued tone, "I didn't like the ap- pearance of the men at guard mount ing this morning. Tell the sergeant that If he marches guard on again without every mans boots being black ed I'll break him.
 "Yes, colonel. didn't see you ct guard mount"
 "I wasn't there, sir, but-I saw them from my window"
 This was said shamefacedly, for the guards backs were turned to the colo neps quarters.
 The same afternoon the colonel again saw the captain from his window pass ing over the parade and again without his sword. He called the delinquent officer to come up. Before his arrival Marian came Into the room.
 Sis" snapped her father, do you see Captain Plumer coming?"
 "Yes, papa"
 Has he a swordT
 The girl was about to say no when she remembered that for her lover to would be delinquency and would ln- cur a reprlmand. Then she wondered why her father asked such question. The result was prevarication. She looked up Tn felgned surprise.
 Whats the matter with your eyes. papaY
 The colonel sank into chair. "Y knew 1t. It isn't my eyes," he moan ed I've had queer feelings in my head lately. Something's going wrong in my brain. saw Plumer awhile ago crossing the parade. I thought he hadn't sword and called him up here. He had bis sword. Now I see him again, and he hasn't But he's coming n. of fhfg v
 There was a knock at the door, and the captain entered. A sword-borrow- ed again-hung from his belt.
 Captain" said his commander, "you may I called you up to say-that there win be no dress parade this even. Ing"
 As soon as plumer had gone the colo nel turned to his daughter and in 6 faint voice said:
 "Call my orderly, Sis. and send hin, for Todd"
 Todd was the post surgeon, and Miss Prim, instead of calling the orderly, went to Surgeon Todd's quarters and told him the story about her fathers sudden symptom.
 "Leave him to me-" said the doctor, and, first completing his uniform so as to be presentable to his colonel, he went to the latter's quarters.
 Todd" said Prim lugubriously, I'm going down hlll fast" and he told tho doctor all the symptoms he had and more besides.
 Colonel" said the surgeon after asking multitude of questions, %n case this should turn out as fear. would you leave your family In com fortable circumstancesW
 You don't mean itT' gasped Prim. 'Is 1t as bad as that?"
 'It would be no harm to put your house in order"
 q haven't cent in the world; pay accounts discounted"
 "It's pity Marian hasn't married"
 Mary that puppy Plumer! She shall starve first"
 But the doctor was an old friend of the colonel's and knew his foibles. The result of the interview was that the colonel was ordered to depart the mex, morning on surgeons certificate for rest and change of air, and the news of Marian Prim's engagement to Cap tain Plumer was promulgated by Mrs Todd as soon as her husband rejoined her after leaving his patient.
 Before the colonePs departure Sur geon Todd, it being too late for Prilr to recall his consent to his daughters wedding, told him that he need givs himself no uneasiness as to his condi ton. for rest and change would doubt less bring him back well man. Ip deed, he returned for the weddins greatly benefited. And now-well, now