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8 , ARMY AND NAVY WEEKLY.
He for his part, while this discussion was going on, was lying
upon the sofa more or Jess in pain, according as the doctor shifted
the seat of his operations. Occasionally he stole a glance at the two
cadets.
They were, neither of them very handsome fellows. Wicks was
long and skinny. Harry had a pug nose which turned up at the
slightest warning.
“It’s all in that uniform,’’ thought Mark, ‘‘that makes them
look handsome.’’ —
The West Point uniform is one whose effect must be seen to be
appreciated. It is simple—a close-fitting gray jacket trimmed with
gold, and white-duck trousers; yet it sets off a military figure to
perfection. ‘There is a saying that cadets are all handsome.
“‘T wonder what sort of a life they lead,’? mused Mark. ‘‘I think
I should like to be in the army.’? “
His thoughts were interrupted by the doctor.
‘*There’s no use,’’? said he slyly to the two cadets, ‘‘of your
risking those commissions any longer. IJ’ll take care of your friend
and you may return to camp. And I think he’ll get well all right;
he’s the kind that stand hard knocks.’?’ oe
‘*Come up to camp and see us,’’ said Wicks as they left. ‘‘We’ll
show you around—Professor Marco Malloree, champion. trapeze
jumper and sensational flying expressmanu—exhibition daily.’’
““T?]] be out to-morrow all right, I guess,’ said the invalid smiling.
“Tf you talk that way,’’ said the doctor, ‘‘I shall lock you up in
jail, because you are to stay abed for two weeks at least.’
‘And now, young man,’’ -he continued, when the two cadets
were gone, ‘‘aud now tell me something about yourself. Where
were you going ?”’
‘To New York.”’
“Why ?”? - , .
‘To attend to some mining matters for my employer. I won?t
be able to attend to it promptly, so [ suppose I’ll be discharged.”
‘‘He’ll make allowances for this if he’s the right kind of man.?? .
‘‘Yes, I suppose so,’ said Mark, getting some comfort out of
the reflection. - -
“Is your father living?’ asked the doctor. a .
‘No, but my mother is. She is an invalid, and I take cate of
her. But I don’t know what I shall do if Iam discharged.”? .
“A pleasant state of affairs,’’ said the doctor. -‘‘Have you any
money with you???
“Twenty dcllars and a ticket home.’ :
“That’s not as much. as it might be. It wouldn’t pay ‘your
hotel bill.’?
“Then what am I to do?”
“Stay here with me.’
“Oh, sir, I cannot!” a
“If you cannot, and at the same time cannot-do otherwise, I do
not know what you are to do, except you do.as you’re told. I am
an old bachelor with an empty house, and I like you.”
I can never repay you, sir!” .
_ “That?’s just the part I like; and -now my young express
jumper, write a telegram to your employer, and then go to sleep
and stay so till I tell you to stop.”
And without another word the doctor turned and marched out of
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the roon.