The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1908-07-19

ofioer had promised q visiting inspector
with influence In the War Department
that he would have some fresh straw
berries and cream for tea that our @. o.
ordered Bob to get rid Of the ranchman
teamster.
"A commanding officer may be an angel
whose epaulets conceal we'll sprouted
wings. yet he may display peevishness
berries and cream with canned pork and
beans for the supper Of q visiting brother
of1oer-who Ia influential in Washington.
Our @. O.'s peevishness was further en-
pressed. besides the command I have
as notably raised the temperature for miles
around, and the glass marked 100 In the
shade before he spoke.
Bob thought Of that poor little woman
and grieved.
"The NEXT day he rode over to that ranch
and told the teamster. who was too drunk
to know what he was told. that his relations
with the United States Army we're at an nd.
Then he made a new bargain for our sup
plies Of fresh stuff; he contracted for them
with the mans wife.
@The little woman drove into our post
twioe a week and the 9. o. oomplimented
Bob upon the betterment and regularity Of
the supplies, and the hot. dreary days
dragged on until the time for payment
arrived. Then the teamster came for the
money
sHe should have been shotl' declared
Mrs. Max.
1Y-e-e-s, perhaps admitted the Major.
aBut we shall see. Bob refused to give him
the money, saying hat the wife had earned
IL, and moreover she needed 1t to get decent
clothes for herself and her baby. The baby
needed medicine, too. The nan first threat
ened Bob. then went and complained to the
@. o.. said he didn't like the kind Of interest
Lieut.. Billings took In his wife.
sOf course Bob had no trouble in explain
ing matters to the commanding officer, but
he knew that there was other trouble when
the fresh supplies day came but did not
bring the little woman.
again Bob started of for the ranch, but
az I had heard Of tho teamster's threat I rode
along too. We reached the little shack OF
the rancher and found the woman half dead
from q beating. the baby half dead from q
raging fever.
81 have mover seen the gentle Bob wholly
angry but that one time. 1 hope never to
see him 90 again.
s'Where Is your husband2' he asked. and
though his voice was quiet enough there
was that In II which started the woman
into frightened li@-exouses for the man
the marks OF whose heavy hand dishgurcd
her face.
"Then. az II IL were another answer to
his question, came o pistol shot. and a bull
let scared q line across Bob's shoulder. I
stood nearer to the door where the husband
lurched in. raising his pistol to shoot again,
and I was able to grasp his arm n wrench
the weapon from his hand. I could have
shot him. as you were saying, but
'sThen Bob sprang at him. forced him out
Of the house and proceeded to give him the
most delightful thrashing a bully ever
received. Bob did not diminish the fury
Of his good work when the man first begged
for mercy, but continued with toe and spur
until the man. amid bowls Of pain, gave
precise and solemn promises az to his be-
hayior in future.
7 ~~I have seldom rejoioed more over the
repentance Of one sinner.
Next Bob ordered the man TO drive to
the post with notes / wrote to the surgeon
and to the commanding officers wife.
"while we waited we did what We could for
the sufferers; Bob bathing and tanning the
baby while I helped the woman as well
as I might. for she was angry with Bob and
would not accept his sympathy.
"The surgeon came with medicine and
the commanding officers wife with cloth
ing, and when we left them to ride back
in the moonlight o Of us had doubts.
Bob's spurs had penetrated into the very
conscience Of the man.
we remained at that post nearly q year
longer, and when we departed w knew that
teamster az a sober and industrious man.
the head Of q happy home. and a worshipper
Of Bob. He thought him q very herol' q"
'Well!' declared Mrs. Max, Il shall tell
Polly Slaneusr hat story. and II she doesn't
think Bob a hero-well, I'm surei'
'Tm % so sure as you are the Major
said. sWomen are somehow good. but
all how inoomprehensible. The Transfers
him.
There is the espressman.' Mrs. Mar
said. Il, hope he has brought the stun
I ordered for Marjorie.'
Il hope it is something else.' commented
the Major, who went for and opened the
express package.
How perfectly darlingly lovelyi' ex-
claimed Mrs. Max as she admired the spray
Of orchids as the Major released them from
their enveloping tissue and cotton and
moist moss.
at is the anniversary Of that orchid eve
ming in the conservatory the Major
explained. EDWARD w. TowNsKSD.
WHOLE COURT WENT FISHING,