The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1907-01-18
A Faculty For Detail
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Colonel Mark Murdoch prided him.
self on his attention to detail. Atten.
ton to detail Is certainly a good trait
J IN commander, but where he permits
MS attentions to interfere with system
and the good work of his subordinates
he makes trouble for them and him
self. Colonel Murdoch antagonixed
them. II 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 1t 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
coloners orderly appeared with a 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. II wish to heaven he'd
buy something himself and get sold or
i 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 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 foolv'
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 a pudding. made
of it for tomorrow's dinner. I'll be
here to inspect it,
With that the colonel turned on his
hoo1 on1 wont ovou CONGRATULATIONS
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
pudding before them sat silent, but
with a frown on each face. Those who
were 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 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 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
missary respectfully.
Material l sent the cook" inquired
the astonished commander.
Eyes, 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: 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 barrei?" he asked.
"The post teamster."
"Send for him."
Ap orderly went for the teamster.
who reported hurriedly.
"Did you haul the barrel you were
told 10 take from the shed in the rear
IT Inv quarters to the ceok?' asked the
colonel.
Eyes, sir"
(Which shed?"
1.-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 1T 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 tiawned upon him. Then. turn
ing contemptuously to the teamster,
before whom rose a vision Of real and
imaginary military punishment, ne
snapped:
"You stupid ass! lou took a barrel