The Argosy, Vol. 81, No. 4 — page 182: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

748 “Vou’ve said that before, Harry,” sisted the captain. ‘‘Now, come down off your high horse, old man, and do something. You know that Ill help you if you'll only listen to me. You’ve got friends here, Harry, even if you have made a beastly mess of things. You’re in véfy bad with your mess account, but some of the boys will be glad to fix that up if you’ll be decent about things. You’ve taken the corkingest - girl in the post right away from us, but still the boys are ready to stick by you, for your sake as well as for her pride and happiness. The thing has got to end somewhere, Harry!” Fosdick stood and looked at ‘the ground for a long time, his face pale and set, his hands twitching. “Just tell the boys to 7 a little longer,” he said at last. ‘I am going to—I’m ex- pecting something—oh, just ask them to wait a little longer, that’s all!” Captain Waters looked at him with troubled eyes, then patted him on the shoul- der gently, and then walked away. At the entrance to the bachelor officers’ quarters Fosdick came face to face with Lieutenant Benton, who held his “TI. O. U.’s” for sums aggregating eight hundred dollars. Their eyes met for an instant, but there was no friendly salute. Benton deliberately turned his head away and passed out into the yard without a sign of recognition. The blood surged into Fosdick’s face un- til his cheeks burned. He had felt the un- friendliness of two or three of his fellow of- ficers for several days, but this was the first time he had received what amounted to a slap in the face. He sat in hig quarters and smoked for half an hour, then changed his undress uni- form for service blouse and breeches, and went out quietly for a walk on the beach. He heard the mess call, but did not respond to it; he went instead to the drafting-room in the workshops. The engineer officers had all gone for the day, and he walked past the sentry on guard and began to busy himself at the drafting tables and the blue-print cases. He had often worked after hours by himself, and was reasonably sure that his presence would attract no undue attention. When he returned to quarters at ten o’clock he carried a roll of papers under hisarm. Dr. Frank, the post surgeon, stood on the porch, smoking, and Fosdick was forced to stop for a moment. per- THE ARGOSY. “My dear Fosdick,” said the surgeon, ‘there is certainly something the matter with your health or your spirits. You haven’t been yourself for the last three weeks or more. I’ve spoken to some of the fellows about it, and while they’re con- foundedly close-mouthed, I’ve gathered that you're worrying about—well, what most of us have to worry about. If any petty diffi- culties are making you so melancholy, I wish you would feel that I am your friend; I really do!” ‘“You’re very good, doctor,” replied Fos- dick, gratefully, “but I’m afraid there’s nothing you can do for me. When a man makes troubles for himself he must fight them out himself.” The surgeon shook his head with a re- gretiul frown, then forced a smile and waved his hand toward the roll of paper. “You’re always at work,” he grumbled. “Much better for you if you’d take a rest. Forget your beastly blue-prints and things for a while till you get rid of the blue devils.” “Work is about all the solace a man with the blue devils can find,” said the lieu- tenant nervously, edging toward the door. “Ym mighty grateful for your interest and sympathy, doctor. I am all in to-night, and I’m going to bed early. Good-night.”’ He gained his room without further mo- lestation, but instead of going to bed he spread the papers on his cot and became feverishly active. Scarcely ten minutes had passed, however, before there was a knock at his door. He shuffled the papers hastily together and thrust them under the cot, then un- locked and opened the door. An orderly saluted him. “Colonel Thurston’ S compliments, sir,’ said the soldier, “and if it’s convenient a you he would like to have you report to him at once at his house; unofficially, sir.” ‘““My compliments to Colonel Thurston,” replied Fosdick quietly. “Say to him that I will report there directly.” Fosdick slipped into his undress uniform hurriedly and went to obey the summons. Captain Waters and Major Godfrey were going home from the officers’ casino as he mounted the steps of the» commandant’s house, and they recognized him as the moonlight fell for an instant on his face. “Ym afraid, Godfrey, that the end is be- ginning, or has come, for Harry Fosdick,” remarked Waters regretfully. “Tie wouldn’t CORNICGLOOOKS (C@