Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-02-06

vGI q l tne interpreter from MS I'M
1900 welcome bath. Choking with
(..s.xXsaj rage and spewing muddy wa
ter, Matthews was hauled into the
stern of a pirogue. There, while the
pilot rowed slowly to the Brannon
shore, he stretched his sorry, bedrab.
bled flgure-a figure in striking con-
trast to that of an hour before His
handkerchief hung upon one ear, his
red shirt chung his buckskin trousers,
dark and slick from their sousing, bel
lied with water let in at the band his
bright topped boots spurted like pump
nozzlcs. his pale hair struggled and
dripped into his eyes.
When the boat touched at the steam
er side, he raised himself to look back
Simon was leisurelv ascending the cut
and reaching to left and right for ten
der wisps Of vine Matthews gave hii
hard laugh. "I'll make meat Of you"
he promised savagely. Then he turned
to Michael.
The Irishman was leaning back,
steadying his craft against the bank
with one hand, holding his stub pipe
out in the other. His blowzy face was
blowzier than ever. Down it, from his
closed lids, ran the teardrops. chasing
one another into the black notched
cavern Of his mouth.
Here was culprit handy TO the mo-
ments anger Matthews arose in his
squashing boots. You lop cared son Of
a gun, who you laughin' att" he de-
manded.
The cavern wdened till the face was
split in two. "W-w-w-ah" gasped the
pilot.
Maybe you think it was funny"
said the interpreter. with suave heat.
Cunning deviltry disturbed his fea.
lures, and, stepping forward in the
boat, he kicked Michael on a bunion.
Pain sobered the pilot With roar
of "Howley smoke" he swung his pad
die aloft.
The interpreter was too quick for
him. Like a frightened muskrat be
sought the water houndered to a solid
footing and wadcd out. You WI
monkey with buzzsaw!' he tainted.
Jus waltz
Clinging to his injured foot. old Mi.
chacl rocked himself and cursed, but
not for long. He was soon rambling
toward the barracks, for" he argued,
there's more n wan way t Lii cat
| In frontier post news dies with the
| dust in the air. Soon the story of Mat.
| thews and the bull had spread to every
soul at Brannon. The line chatted il
/ from gallery to gallery. Clothespin
row dgested it in hilarious groups. At
barracks 1t set the men to swapping
yarns. Il knowed a Teller onct that
was goin' past Il bull pen" declared
one trooper, land he had pail OF
cherries, and I'll he darned if But
say, Down home one time" put IN
second there was Il yaquero with
rcd sash that was stoopin' TO fix
flank girth and why, that amt
two spot to what happened in Kansai
year ago this summer. The purtiest
gal | ever seen-you know them Kan
sas gals can be purty-she had wig
that d keep your hands warm in Jan
uary. Well
When, however. the surgeon recount
Ell the story at the bachelors noon
mess mirth over it was noticeaby
lacking. To the little circle of officers
there was nothing comical in the fact
that Il man from the post had modest
ed the girls so recently orphaned. And
all save Fraser vowed stormily that
Matthews would be called to account.
The young lieutenant said nothing,
Before the meal ended the interpret
er came in. He had changed his
clothes and restored his hair 10 Its
pristine smoothness. He gave the
group his usual bob and smile.
Cold stares answered hm-from all
but one, who fairly bounded from his
chair. 1t was Fraser, face red. shout
ders working under the blue OF his
uniform. He planted himself before
Matthews.
You id black guard he gaspeo.
The other looked highly amused.
whats got into your craw, sonnyT
he inquired.
you id blackguard." repeated
Fraser, and struck out
An amazed and delighted mess room
looked on, for Fraser, the tender heart.
ed Fraser, the pink checked mamma
darling" was batterlng the interpreter
hammer and tonss.
From the doorway the captains voice
INTERRUPTED the battle. and the two
men were pulled apart. Matthews fell
10 wiping at his stained lips. which
had magically puffed to proportions
suggesting those OF the colonel's black
cook. while the lieutenant was pant
Ing and struggling wildly to get free.
Oliver thrust the latter behind him
and addressed the Interpreter. I'm
not stopping this boy because | don't
think you need sound thrashing," he
said. "I'd like to see you walloped
within an inch Of your life. But |
can't have this kind Of thing going
on"
II wasn't goin' to tech them gals"
lisped Matthew'S II amt no city
tough"
I'VE shan't need your services al
Brannon any longer. You light out"
After that mess went merrily on,
Didn't know you had it In you, Fra
| lad