The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1881-03-10
leisurely back to his hay-barrel This

discussed it until they reached the end
OF the car-route. where they proposed
to open busiD ess. The houses prom
lsed small success to peddlers; but
George l took one side of the street.
and George III. the other. 7s4
Front doors were slammed in their
faces, side doors refused to open, and
back doors only showed suspicious
crack, from which issued various dis
couraging remarks. But at last a
woman who was busy at her sewing
machine bought five cents worth
OF suspender buttons through the
basement window, and good
natured Swede took her arms
out of The wash-tub and, ex-
changed dime for a knife-sharpener
and bunch of lamp -wicks, the Young
merchant generously throwing in an
almanac. f a' @fe g
But Immediately from this time trade
declined, and the boys trudged pensive-
ly along past q row of saloons, until
away in the distance, Ikea speck against
the yellow sky, they spied the dag above
Fort Smelling. -, "a s. ..,..s,
.tLet's 60 out to the fort,n said two
voices in one. '' s5asA
They struck into an. Indian trot as
cheerfully as if it were only few rods
instead OF five miles to the spot where
that enticing ribbon was tiuttering.
They talked necessarily, they exam
med every new thing; but the road
stretched on and on, after the fash
ion of prairie roads. By and by
the dingy old ambulance with its team
OF four sleek mules came. jingling after
them, bringing out supplies from town.
s'Gf me Eide, shouted George III.
The stolid driver condescended no
reply; but on the seat beside him was
young soldier with any amount of fun
and frolic buttoned up under his uni
form, and be babe the driver stop and
take the bows IN. ssI s--@zes i..1ssl
Going to enlistP" he asked of them.
Maybe" said George l.; what
you paypn -.
s'On, that depends on the place. If
you go in for a Major, now. or Colonel,
it's pretty good thing said the young
fellow, gravely,
Guess We'll look round little first;
we We got pretty good business now,"
said George H. a. 4ig
81 "Ah,h said their friend, with an in
quisitive glance at the boxes. -
Peddling." explained George |.
"Oh, peddling: well, we're uncom-
monty fond of candy at the fort.'' Il
"Our line is notions" said George
l.; hair-pins. you know. and knitting
needles and such things y #c
And almanacs." added George H.,
displaying his stock.
The soldier eyes twinkled; then he
shook his head. a.. Z.
m afraid, my young friends. YOU
have got yourselves into trouble You
are .peddling on a Government road
without license, and therefore are
liable to arrest and fne!' sss4s-op
Neither Of the boys said anything.
George II. reconnoitered the face of
their new friend, and concluded on the
spot that he was, as he would have exs
it, "stMffna'' them. So he
went on meditatively eating an apple;
and George |. followed his example,. d
:. In fact. added the soldier, having,
in his turn, reconnoitered them, lit
becomes my official duty to arrest you
and report the case at headquarters.
What they CHARGE" said George l.,
shying his apple-core at one of the
mules. fe7a,ff -, }sszi a4a0a
5.'The fnep Oh, that win probably be
about twenty-five dollars" ~ -
S'posen we don't payp'' yssp
'sThen they will probably confiscate
the goods" said the soldier" and sell
them OUT ,..-ss, 80 -
''Al right said George l.. feeling
the dime in his pocket, and remember
ing he had got his money back, what
ever happened. 4
George II. had made np his mind to
abandon his box and Jump off at the fer
~. He knew he could trust his legs to
carry him away before, the guns OF the
tort could be brought to bear upon him:
but as they came nearer, and saw the
great wall booming above them. the
guards pacing to and fro, a COMPANY of
olue-coated fellows filing down 10 the
'allroad station, and, above all, heard
he bewitching sound of martial music
rom the parade ground, he determined
@ face it out, and see the insidea
D. that enchanted castle.ab 1t was
grand to ride across the ferry without
paving. and climb slowly up the bluff /
ind around to the Commissary Depart
nent. Both boys forgot .they.s were /
nicer arrest. Their new friend, post I
,oning the trial, detailed pompous
title fellow to pilot them about the
ort, and they just went to the top and I
he bottom of everything, their escort.
Who was only an officers servant. for
,etting his airs after'a white. al
BY and by they came to one OF the 7
'arracks where they met again their
older friend. A, number. of .1other
'oung fellows were with him, and they
t once informed the two Georges that
hey were the Court OF Inquiry, and
we're now sitting to examine the charge
gainst them. A very fierce-looking
elbow. whom they called the Post COM
handler, was at once escorted to a seat
pom nailkeg by two soldiers with i
auskets. the boxes were produced, and
ne case started. A tall man with vel
Nv hair made q plea on behalf Of the
government. in which he. called the
wo young h.peddlers astonishing i
ames, and painted their crime in
olors SO fearful that the Georges
ugght to have expected to be ordered
Q solitary Imprisonment for life.
q fklflYr~ xr~, 4