Mexico Missouri message., 1915-04-22
CHAPTER VI-contInued.

the cat out OF sight, sprang upon his
master and seemed quite ready for
the new departure.
Il shall at least have you" Sabron
said. ut will be your first campaign.
We shall have some famous runs and
i shall introduce you to a camel and
make you acquainted with several
donkeys. not to speak of the historic
Arab steeds. You will see, my friend,
that there are other animals besides
yourself in icreation."
A telegram for mon capitaine. "
Brunei came in with the blue envelope
which Sabron tore open.
You will take with you neither horses
nor dogs.
1t was an order from the minister of
war, just such a one as was sent to
some half-dozen other young officers,
all of whom. no doubt, felt more or
less discounted.
Sabron twisted the telegram, put it
In the fireplace and lighted his ciga-
Tette with 1t, watching Pitchoune who,
finding himself a comfortable corner
In the armchair, had settled down for
a nap
, So" nodded the young man aloud,
i shall not even have Pitchoune."
He smoked, musing In the rigid dis.
cipline of his soldiers life he was used
to obedience. His softened eyes, how
ever, and his nervous fingers as they
pulled at his mustache, showed that
the command had touched him.
What shall | do with you, old fell
low?"
Although SabTon's voice was low,
the dog, whose head was down upon
his paws, turned his bright brown
eyes on mis- master with so much con-
hdence and affection that it completed
the work. Sabron walked across the
floor, smoking, the spurs on his heels
clanking, the light shining on his bril-
liant boots and on his uniform. He
was a splendid-looking man with race
and breeding, and he combined with
his masculine force the gentleness of
a woman.
I They want me to be lonely" he
thought. "All that the chiefs consider
is the soldieT-not the man-even the
companionship of my dog is denied
me. What do they think am going
to do out there in the long eastern
'evenings?" He reflected. what does
the world expect an uncompanioned
wanderer to do?" There are many
things and the less thought about
them. the better.
A letter for Monsieur lie Capitaine."
Brunei returned with note which he
presented stifiy, and Pitchoune, who
chose in his little brain to imagine
Brunei an intruder, sprang from the
chair like lightning, rushed at the
servant, seized the leg of his panta-
looms and began to worry them, growl-
ing, Brunei regarding him with adora-
ton. Sabron had not thought aloud
the last words of the telegram, which
he had used to light his cigarette.
Nor will it be necessary to take
a personal servant. The indigenes are
capable performances.
AS he took the letter from Brunets
salver he said curtly:
u am ordered to Algiers and | shall
not take horses nor Pitchoune.
The dog, at mention of his name,
set Brunet's leg free and stood quiet,
his head lifted.
Nor you either, mon brave Bru-
net" Sabron put his hand on This
servants shoulder, the first familiarity
he bad ever shown man who served
him with devotion. and who would
have given his life to save his mas
ter's, Those" said the officer CURLY,
are the orders from headquarters, and
the least said about them the better"
The rudy cheek of the servant
turned pale. He mechanically touched
his forehead.
"Bien, mon Capitaine," he muir
INJURED. with little catch in his voice
He stood at attention. then wheeled
and without being dismissed. stalked
out OF the room. 5
Pitehoune did not follow He re-
manned immoyable like a little dog cut
from bronze; he understood -who
shall say--how much of the converse
ton? Sabron threw away his ciga-
rette. then read his letter by the man
tlspiece, leaning his arm upon it, He
read slowly. He had broken the seal
slowly. Il was the first letter he had
ever seen in this handwriting It was
written IN French and ran thus;
hfonsleuErd Ny hupt Wishes me 20 ask
YOU II YOU VIII come 10 us for a little
pusicale tomorrow afternoon. We hope
iou VIII be free. and ! hope, she added
hat you viii pring Pitehoune Not that