Louisiana Lou

ir as he sat in the Franco-American banking house of Doolittle, Rambaud & Cie. in Paris. His booted and spurred heels were hooked over the rung of the chair, and his elbows, prop

skin was no longer fre

ic gestures as he expatiated on the circumstances which had summoned the soldier to his office. As he discoursed of these e

nts were scratched and dull. The boots had not been polished for more than a day or two and Paris mud had left stains upon them. The gold-banded képi was tarnished, and it sat on the warrior's hair a

elderly men, but this fellow looked as much like a petulant boy as anything. It was only when one noted that the hair just above the ears was graying and that ther

ral of division. That meant that he had served five years in hell, and, in spite of that, had survived to be sous-lieutenant, lieutenant, c

years that had followed. To keep the spurs he had won, to force recognition of his right to command, even in the democratic army of France, the erstwhile outcast had ha

ad many others; and he reverted no lower than lieutenant colonel, whereas he might well have gone back another stage to his rank when the war broke out. To be sure, his record for courage and ability was almost as extraordinary as his career, culminating in the wild and decisive cavalry dash that had de

, in the French army, means a struggle to keep up appearances, unless one is wealthy, for the pay is low. A lower rank, when one h

ympathy, was endeavoring tactfully to convey to the

t, too-a drawl that was Southern and yet different. "Money's no use to me, none whatever! I might have enjoyed it-or enjoyed the getting of it-if I could have made it myself-taken it away from some one else. But to have it left to me like this after getting along without it for twenty years and more

er dropped it. "My dear general! Even as a lieutenant colonel, the social advantages open to a man of such wealth are boundless-absolutely boundless, sir! And if you are ambitious, think where a man as

France, to-day, money doesn't buy commands. Besides, I wouldn't give a lead two-bit piece for all the rank I

ities for distinction," said

I had too much-but I've seen the light. War, to-day, isn't what it used to be. It's too big for any Napoleon. It's

e was puzzle

that I'd make it a life work. I had my dreams, even when I was a degraded outcast in the

nicely, in spite of the handicap of having come from the dregs of Sidi-bel-Abbes up among the gold stripes. And I came along faster when the war gav

bove all, seize the imagination of armies and nations by victories, sway the opinions of a race, rise to Napoleonic heights, unless you can get advertising-and no

u get a decoration or two, temporary rank, mention in the Gazette-

o eat my heart out in idleness; to grow fat and gray and stupid; to-oh! what's the use! It means I'm

s why money means nothing to me. I don't need it. Once I was a cow-puncher, and then I became a soldier and final

I prefer to feel sort of low-down, and reckless and don't-give-a-damnish-like any other cow hand that's approaching middle age with no future in front of him. That's why I'm taking to drink after

ker. "What if you have decided to leave the army-which is your intention, I take it? The

shook a

or nothing. I've spent myself-put my very soul into it-lived for it-and now I find that I couldn't ever have accomplished my am

"Still, you owe something to soc

I am don't owe anything to any one. We're buccaneers;

she could look into my nature. 40 And I hate women, anyway. I've not looked sideways at one for twenty years. Too

ly, and his rather ha

eatened to marry," he chuckled

ou go back a

me that long? Especially as she was about six years old when I left there! She's grown up and

soft and gentle. Doolittle had little trouble

e in front of him, stuffed them carelessly into the side pocket of h

d be to win a bet or something like that. Make it a sporting proposition and I might conside

ever extent you wish and whenever you wish. And, if America should call you again, our house in

ith your firm as trustee. And forget the titles. I'm nobody, now, but ex-cow hand, ex-gunma

a faint bend. He unconsciously fell into a sort of indefinable, flat, stumping gait, barely noticeable to one who ha

his soldierly character, the man had instantly rever