he handkerchief so loosely knotted at the
opening of the coarse blue shirt was of handsome and costly silk. He
had been paying scant attention to his surroundings, and was absorbed,
evidently, in his watch on the tourists up the platform when recalled
to himself by the consciousness that all eyes were upon him.

"What's this about your treatin', Foster?" asked the corporal.

For a week he had felt sure the boy had money, and not a little. Nothing
would have persuaded him to borrow a cent of Foster or anybody else, but
others, and plenty of them, had no such scruples.

The young recruit turned slowly. He seemed reluctant to quit his
scrutiny of his fellow-passengers. The abrupt tone and manner of the
accustomed regular, too, jarred upon him. It might be the corporal's
prerogative so to address his charges, but this one didn't like it, and
meant to show that he didn't. His money at least was his own, and he
could do with it as he liked. The answer did not come until the question
had been asked twice. Then in words as brief and manner as blunt he
said,--

"Why shouldn't I?"

Corporal Connelly stood a second or two without venturing a word,
looking steadfastly at the young soldier, whose attitude was unchanged
and whose eyes were again fixed on the distant group, as though in weary
disdain of those about him. Then Connelly took half a dozen quick,
springy steps that landed him close to the unmoved recruit.

"You've two things to learn among two thousand, Foster," said he in low,
firm voice. "One is to keep your money, and the other, your temper. I
spoke for your good principally, but if you've been ladling out your
money to be spent in liquor, I say stop it. There's to be no whiskey in
that car."

"Nobody wants it less than I do," said Foster wearily. "Why didn't you
keep it out of the others?"

"Because I never knew till it was gone. How much money did you give
Murray--and why?" and Connelly's eyes were looking straight into those
of Foster as he spoke, compelling respect for sturdy manhood.

"A dollar, I believe," was the languid answer, "and because he asked
it." And again the lad's gaze wandered off along the platform.

The switch engine was busily at work making up the train, and brakemen
were signalling up and down the line. The dining-car, followed by some
ponderous sleepers, came gliding slowly along the rails and brought up
with a bump and jar against the buffers of the old tourists' ark
assigned the re