down here to see that you fellows do
something for the good money Uncle Sam pays you."

"Why, don't you know?" said Major Appleton. "John's here to sell the
sutler some sandy sugar."

"That's right!" agreed the storekeeper. "And I'm going to put up a plant
to make brown sugar out of the Muddy."

Lounsbury could afford to laugh with them, not being the only butt of
the jokers. Fraser suffered, too. For a tattling private, who had spent
the night at Shanty Town, let it out to a corporal, who told it to a
sergeant, who told it to a cub of a second-lieutenant, who told it to
every officer in post (with the single exception of the "K. O.") that
Fraser--the good, the discreet, the unimpeachable--had played poker with
Matthews at The Trooper's Delight from taps to "revelly," and lost his
last dollar!

The tale had leaked by the hour of Lounsbury's arrival. When the
storekeeper heard it, together with the embellishments it carried by
reason of its having so often changed hands, he first gave Fraser a grip
to show his gratitude, and then sat back and enjoyed the fun. Fraser,
sorely tried by the taunts of his brother-officers, repaid Lounsbury
with glances of wounded reproof.

"Blame it all! old man," he cried, when he could get a quiet word with
the other, "why didn't you help me out? You're a nice one! Letting these
chaps think I'm a sport! When you know----"

But Lounsbury only laughed the harder. And was among the first to dub
the lieutenant "a sad devil."

The storekeeper did have business with the sutler, though not the kind
suggested by the major. For, after being closeted with that worthy a
half-hour, Squaw Charley was despatched to the Lancasters' with a
basket, and a note which read:

"Mr. Evan Lancaster, Dear Sir--Owing to the fact that a lot
of B troop's surplus rations in the way of beans, butter,
bacon, flour, salt, pepper, dried apples, prunes, rice,
vinegar, molasses, etc., etc., are piling up on my hands, I
wish to dispose of same in some way at once and at any
sacrifice. Would it be possible for you to relieve me of
some of these goods and pay me back next summer out of your
garden? Also hope you can find room for a table, benches,
and extra lumber on same terms. If you can do this, you will
greatly oblige,

"Yours very truly,
"JAMES MADISON BLAKELY,
"Sutler, Fort Brannon, Dakota Terr.

"P. S. Enclosed find sample