A Little Garrison Part 4

What beastly filth is this? What? The stable guard is not present?

Then do it yourself; it won't hurt you. Forward, march! And then bring me the parole book!"

"At your orders, gracious lady!"

Frau Captain Stark strode with rattling steps up and down in the stable, followed by two ragged-looking dogs. She wore a badly fitting riding habit of slate-colored cloth, with a black derby that had seen better days. In her right hand she carried a whip with which now and then she cut the rank atmosphere in a reckless manner, so that the dogs slunk aside in affright. Her keen eye pierced everywhere. She scanned the black register boards nailed above the different part.i.tions, and studied attentively the tablet on which was marked in chalk the _ordre du jour_. She came to a full stop behind two horses, the only ones left behind by the squadron which had gone off for drill to the parade grounds. Wrathfully she glanced at the poor old beasts, the bones sticking out of their wrinkled, badly groomed skin like those of a skeleton. Then she lifted the hind feet of the brown gelding and examined the hoofs. She drew a small note-book from her habit, and entered on the dated page: "Remus No. 37. Left hind iron."

Next she climbed the steep wooden stairs leading up to the hayloft.

There they were, the culprits, two men of the stable guard, slumbering peacefully, and not even awakened by the entrance of the "squadron's mother." Quick as a flash her whip rained a shower of blows, while she cried:

"Down with you; attend to your work, you lazy sc.u.m! I shall have you reported to the colonel!"

And they flew down the stairs, and were at the feed-cutter as if the devil himself were after them. She met Corporal Meyer at the door, breathless from running, but handing her the parole book. He clapped his heels together before her so that the spurs jingled.

She pushed the greasy book aside.

"What does the idiot think?" she cried. "Hold it before my eyes while I read it. Here is an entry that the saddles and bridles are to be inspected to-morrow. Have your men everything in good shape?"

"I will go and inquire of the sergeant-major."

"Away! Bring him here, but this very moment."

The sergeant-major made a black face when Meyer had delivered his message, for the hours when the squadron was drilling or practising were his choicest during the day. He spent them, as a rule, in domestic bliss, having his cup of coffee before him and the wife of his bosom in close proximity. He was peacefully enjoying his morning cigar when Meyer reported to him the desire of the "gracious one."

He cursed his luck, but lost no time in girding his loins with his sabre; shoved his cap on his bald brow, and went rattling down the stairs.

The gracious one received him very ungraciously.

"Sergeant-major, is everything in readiness for to-morrow?"

"I think so, but will once more examine to-night."

"To-night? You are crazy. At once. Loafing must stop. And, mark you, I demand a more respectful tone from you, or I shall report your case to the colonel. Now bring me my horse!"

"Horse, my gracious lady? That is out with the rest of them. All horses were ordered out, except these two lame ones," and he pointed at the two sorry steeds.

"What? My horse ordered out? What new insolence is this? Let it be brought to me instantly. One of the corporals can go on foot."

But this moment she heard steps approaching, and seeing Borgert she called out to him in dulcet tones:

"Ah, what a pleasure, my dear First Lieutenant! So early out on duty?

I was just about to give some sugar to my husband's horses, but find them already gone. My dear husband is so excessively punctual in all that concerns the service."

"Your interest for the squadron is most praiseworthy, my gracious lady," said Borgert with a malicious twinkle in his eye. "I have often remarked you with secret admiration when issuing orders to the men about the stable."

"Orders? Scarcely that, my dear Borgert. Once in a while I am the messenger of my dear husband when he has forgotten something. Of course, I take an interest in all that concerns him and the squadron."

"Frau Captain is quite right, and I can only congratulate you on the successful way in which your interest in the squadron and in the whole regiment takes concrete form."

"You are always jesting. But I suppose I shall see you at the Casino to-night?"

"a.s.suredly, we are to meet at five to talk over some service matters."

"Yes, you remind me. But that will not last long. It concerns only some trifling affairs."

"Much obliged for the exact information."

"Oh, of course, I take an interest in everything, as I said. I called the colonel's attention to divers things, and I presume he will talk them over with you gentlemen."

"I am curious to learn what they can be. But, pardon me, I see Captain Konig coming, with whom I have to transact some business. Good morning, my most gracious lady!"

"Good morning, _mon cher_!" And she held her hand up high to him,--a big hand, which was encased in a soiled, worn-out gauntlet of her husband's.

Then she turned once more to the sergeant-major, while Borgert hastened to intercept Konig, who was on the point of turning into the big courtyard of the third squadron.

"Good morning, Herr Captain! I must beg you to excuse me if I interfere with your liberty for a moment, but a very pressing matter induces me to ask of you a great favor."

"You astonish me. What is the matter? Is it anything of importance?"

retorted the captain.

"This afternoon the colonel will doubtless mention the unpaid Casino bills, and it would be extremely painful to me, especially in the presence of the junior officers, to have my name spoken of in that connection."

"My dear fellow," said Captain Konig, "you'll have to go elsewhere for the money. It was difficult enough for me to raise that hundred for you a week ago."

"And if I repeat my request, nevertheless, Captain, it is because I find myself in a horribly embarra.s.sing situation. For if I don't succeed in procuring four hundred marks till this evening, I shall have to face the most annoying, possibly disastrous consequences."

"All very well, but I simply haven't the money," said the captain, shrugging his shoulders.

For a moment or two there was silence, and each avoided looking at the other. Then Borgert murmured, hesitatingly:

"May I make a proposition, Herr Captain?"

"Well?"

"But I must ask you not to misunderstand me. Would it not be possible to borrow so small a sum from the funds of the squadron, since it would be only a question of a few days?"

Captain Konig looked startled.

"But, my dear fellow, how can you suggest such a thing to me! You can't expect me to touch the treasury."

"I do not think it would matter the least bit, since the Herr Captain alone is responsible for that fund, and since this would practically mean nothing but the transferring of four hundred marks from the public fund in your own keeping to private funds of your own, to be made good by you, without anybody being the wiser within a week or so."

"No, no, that would never do," again said the other.

"But, Captain, you cannot leave me in the lurch. It would simply place me in a beastly predicament," wailed Borgert, glancing appealingly at his brother officer.

Konig began to think, twirling his moustache. On the whole, he reflected, it might be a wise thing to place under an obligation this man with the dangerously bitter tongue. Borgert's influence on the younger officers was not to be underestimated, he knew, and a refusal would turn him into an enemy. The money itself he had, locked up in a drawer of his desk at home; but if he made Borgert believe that he had to "borrow" it from the squadron funds,--whose custodian he was,--it might be expected that the lieutenant would not so soon ask for another loan, mindful of the great difficulties this present one was causing. It was as the result of these cogitations that Konig resolved to lend Borgert the sum he required, but to leave him in the belief that to do so it was necessary to touch the funds in his care.

"All right, then," he said; "you shall have your money. When will you pay it back without fail?"

"Within ten days, Captain. I give you my word on it."