This tale already has been in print. Browning, of the Herald, Rodman, of the Globe, and Major Larry, of The Third, were jointly responsible for its first appearance. But inasmuch as it was printed in the papers, and since things that see the light in that way speedily are forgotten—unless, to the confusion of those who first perpetrated them, they happen to be available for resurrection in deadly parallel columns—it has seemed good to rescue it from the oblivion of last year’s dusty files.
Major Larry, it will be remembered, is the young gentleman whom Captain Tom Stearns, of A Company, once upon a time appointed “Company Kid” of his command. How Larry afterwards demonstrated the wisdom of the captain’s selection, and how he won promotion to the position for which his soul yearned—the post of honor at the front of the big bass-drum—already has been told. In fact, since Major Larry numbers his friends and acquaintances by the hundred, he needs no farther introduction.
It was two weeks after the regimental autumn manœuvres, and twenty minutes after recall had sounded on a certain drill night. The adjutant threaded his way along the swarming corridors of the big armory, climbed a flight of oaken stairs, and turned in at the doorway of A’s quarters. In the captain’s room he found Major Larry, industriously plying a whisk broom upon a braided fatigue-jacket.
“Where’s Stearns?” demanded the adjutant, halting upon the threshold.
Larry promptly brought his heels together, tucked the jacket under his left arm, and smartly raised his right hand, brush and all, to his forehead. “Cap’n Stearns?” said he. “He’s flew.”
“Humph!” grunted the adjutant. “The captain’s flew, eh? And his report’s ten days over-due!”
“W’at’s de report dat’s missin’?” anxiously inquired Larry.
The adjutant turned and looked down upon his questioner. “Oh, it’s not a matter of life-and-death importance,” said he; “only Captain Stearns ought to have sent in a written account of his company’s part in the manœuvres, and I should have had it long ago.”
“I was wid A,” said the boy. “W’at’s de matter wid me reportin’?”
The adjutant paused and considered. Major Larry is noted for keen observation of men and things, and his command of words, such as they are, is a source of joy to all at headquarters. The adjutant decided accordingly. “What’s the matter indeed!” said he, starting towards the colonel’s room. “Come along with me, Major. We’ll make this report a verbal one.”