The daily Alaskan., 1907-05-13
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What Was the Matter
 With Colonel Prim


 PIumer in his suit for the hand of the coloneTs daughter Marian no one in the garrison could find out Before the captain eyInccd such aspirations his commander showed an especial par Ealitv for the young officer who was the most popular man at the post The change can only be accounted for in that distaste of a father to swing 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 bis inferior. Did the captain when called upon to report in person at his commanders headquar- ters do so with a single button on his uniform coat uubuttoued he was sure to receive a suarled reprOof. Was there sDeck Of dirt on any of the men composing the captains com panv on parade the colonel declared fbs whole company a disgrace to the service. PIumer soon saw the neces- slty of constant watChfUness, but he was very abseutmlnded, and no care was sufficient to head of the coloneIs reprImands. The whole garrison was cognizant of thls injustice, and, since all the world loves a lover, every one sympathizcd with the captain.
 One morning when Plumer was otii- 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 Plumer, borrowing hI5 sword. hooked 1t to his belt then mounted to hls colonel, whom he sa- luted respectfully.
 Captain" growlCd PrIm, "why in'-
 He stopped short, his eyes fixed upon the sword.
 "Captaln," he continued in a more subdued tone. "I didn't like the aD- pesrance of the men at guard mount Ing thIs moruIng. Tell the sergeant that f. he marches a guard on again without every mans boots being black ed I'll break him.
 'Yes. colonel. l didn't see you at guard mount
 .'I wasn't there, sir, butt saw them from my window" Thls was said shametacedly for the guards backs were turned to the colo ners 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 COmmgE'
 "Tes, papa"
 Has he a swOTd:'
 The girl was Ubout to say no when she remembered that for her lover to be without sword while on duty would be a delinquency and would h. cur a rcprlmand. Then she wondered why her sather asked such a question. The result was prevarIcaton. She looked up in feigned surprise.
 Whats tue matter with your eyes papa%
 The colonel sank Into a chair. "I knew It. It Isn't my eyes" he moan. cd. i've had queer feelings in my head lately. Something's going wrong In my brain. saw Plumer awhile SEQ crossing the parade l thought he hadn't sword and called him up here He had his sword. Now l see him again. and be hasn't But he's coming un. Not a word of thls."
 There was a knock at the door, and the captain entered. A sword-borrow- ed ngaiu-hung from hls belt.
 "Cantaln.7 sad h.z commander, "you may called you up to say-that l there will be no dress parade this even Ing"
 As soon as plumer had gone the colo nel turned to his daughter and in a ! faint voice said:
 Gall my orderly, Sis, and send him for Todd"
 1 Todd was the post surgeon, and Miss 1 PrIm. Instead of calling tbe orderly, went to Surgeon Todd's quarters and told him the story about her fathers l sudden symptom.
 "Ieave him to me- said th5 doctor. and, first completing hls uniform so as to be preseutable to his colonel, he went to the latter's quarters.
 Todd" said Prlm lugubriously, "Im | g5lng down hill fast" and he told the doctor all the symptoms he had and more besides.
 "Coloncl," said the surgeon after ] asking d multitude of questions, 'ln case this should turn out as fear would you leave your family In com. fortable circumstances 20
 "You don't mean itT' gasped Prim "Is 1t as bad as that|
 "It would be no harm to put yOuI | house in order"
 'I haven't a cent iu the world; pay l accounts discounted"
 Its a pity Marian hasn't married" l Marry that puppy Plumcr!. She shal starve first"
 But the doctor was an old friend oi