The Ordway new era., 1918-11-15
the boy his nicknam.. name

insurrecto uniform, he made a prac-
tlce Of wearing only one. On chilly
nights, or on formal occasions, ho
wore both waistcoat and trousers, but
at other times he dispensed entirely
with the latter. and his legs went
naked. They were naked now, us, with
the modesty of complete unconscious
ness, he squatted In the shade. putting
thoughtfully Mt his giant cheroot.
Once Jackets mind was fastened
upon any subject, 1t remained there,
and after time he continued:
did I told you about that battle of
Pine Bravo2 Eh?" He turned his big
brown eyes upward to O'ReIlly. "Cris-
to-! skill more'n a dozen men that
day."
at was hot scrlmmnge," Judson at
tested. "Some of Luque's niggers, those
tall, lean. hungry fellows from santi-
ago. managed to hack their way
through n wire fence and get behind a
detachment of the enemy who had
made stand under a hill. They
charged, and for wonder they got
close enough to use their machetes. 1t
was bloody work-the kind you read
about-no quarter. Somehow jacket
managed to be right In the middle of
the butchery. He's bravo kid. all
right. Muy mnlo!'
At that moment Branch approached.
his Ions fnce set in lines OF discomfort.
even deeper than usual. He had been
wandering about the camp In one of
his restless fits, and now he began:
"Say. what do you think I've been
doing? I've been looking up some grub
"Can't find any?"
Nothing ft for her to eas. You
don't expect her to lite on this infer
nal. eternal beef stew"
Didn't Major Rnmos bring anything
alonsT O'Reilly asked.
"Hs says there's famine at Cu5i.
tas."
"We'd better look into this" Judson
exclaimed, and finding that his clothes
were dry. he hl~riedly began to dress
himself.
Together. the three ;nen made an In
vestigatlon of the camps resources,
only to discover that Branch was right
There was, indeed. but little food OF
hlhus tllul llllIt was
coarsest. Ordinarily, such condition
OF affairs would have occasloned them
no surprise, for the men were becoming
accustomed to more or less chronic
scarcity OF provisions but tho pres
ence of Norine Evans put quite diff.
ferent complexion upon the matter
They were still discussing the situation
when Miss Evans. having finished her
afternoon nap. threw open the flaps OF
her tent and stepped out.
When she had listened to tbs &C.
count apologetically submitted by hei
three friends she drew her brows to-
gether, saying. plalntively: "Oh dear
We've been going short for week,
better when we got here. I had my
mouth all set for 4 banquet. Couldn't
you even find the poor dog boner'
"Fm afraid the cupboard is bare"
OReilly acknowledged.
"Do you know what I want for din
ner?" Norine inquired. Lamb chops
with green peas, some nice white bread
salad. and coffee"
The three men looked at her anxious
ly. Judson stirred uneasily.
"That's what want. don't expect
to get 1t"
With sigh of relief the captain ex
claimed, II thought you we've giving
your order"
girl seated herself upon her one cnmp
chair, inviting her callers to dlspos'
themselves on the ground about her
"If you can stand the food, I dare say
can. Now then. tell me what YOU'VE
been doing since you left Cubitas. I've
been frightened to death that some o.
you would be hurt. That's one reaso..
| why I've been working night and da.
helping to get the hospitals In shape
l can't bear to think of our boys beint
wounded. Everything Is so differen
to what thought 1t would be, and I'm
so weak and ineffective. The medicq
supplies brought are nearly all gone
and I've learned what hard work It IL
fitting up hospitals when there's moth
Ing to fit them up with" She sighet
81 imagined 1 was going to- work woa
ders-I thought I was going to be I
Florence Nightingale. and the met
were going to idolize me-
Don't they7" Judson demanded.
"No. That is-not in exactly tn,
way expected"
''They all want to marry her,
O'Reilly explained.
"Insolent bunch !" growled the cap
tain. Then he swallowed hard ant
said, "But for that matter. 80 do l."
"How silly you boys cnn be!" Norint
laughed. II dare say the others art
Joking too, but"
"Joking?" o'ReIlly grinned. "Not
all. I'm the only single man in CANT
who isn't In love wItk you. When yoI
arrived this morning tkSre was gen
eral stampede for the river. I'll be