Page:Frank Owen - Rare Earth, 1931.djvu/77

 there came to my office a special messenger from headquarters. He handed the Captain a letter. (It is really my office, you know, but I let the Captain have a desk in it.) That letter was a veritable calamity. General Hutchinson was going to inspect the camp the next day so the hike was off till Saturday. It was necessary to polish guns and clean all equipment generally including the ears. Orders went out that the kitchen had to be polished until it shone like silver. You should have seen Scobee's face. He tried to slay me with a look. I couldn't help saying, 'Anything to oblige a friend.' As I spoke I had to make a flying leap into my office, for Scobee threw something at me with intent to disfigure. I think it was the kitchen stove. And Scobee worked and scrubbed and worked and toiled. He never realized how dirty his regiment was till that day. It was gorgeous to watch him. He even sprinkled lime all about outside the mess-hall so that everything would look spotless. At four o'clock Scobee collapsed and it was so much wasted energy. General Hutchinson changed