The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1881-02-17

They talked necessarily, thcy exam
ined every new thing; but the road
stretched on and on, after the FASH
lon OF prairie roads BY and by
the dingy old ambulance with its team
OF four sleek mules came juggling after
them, bringing out supplies from town.
ny MI me a ride" shouted George, II.
The stolid driver condescended no
reply; out on the seat beside him was .
young soldier with any amount of fun
anu 1ro'ic buttoned up under his uni
take the bows in.
Going to enlistp'' he asked of them.
Maybe" said George l.; what
ooh. that depends on the place. II
you 60 in for q Major, now. or a Colonel.
it's . pretty good thing" said the young
fellow, gravely,
"Guess we'll look round little first;
we've got pretty good business now"
said George II.
"Ah." said their friend, with an in
quisitive glance at the boxes.
Padding" explained George I.
"Oh, peddling: well, we're uncom-
monty fond OF candy at the fort"
"Our line is notions" said George
l.; hair-pins. you know, and knitting
needles and such things"
"And almanacs," added George H.,
displaying his stock.
The soldiers eyes twinkled; then he
shook his head. z.-t f,s
I'm afraid, my young friends. you
have got yourselves into trouble. You
are peddling on Government road
without license, and therefore are
liable to arrest and finer' t* a
Neither of the boys said anything.
George III. reconnoitered the face of
their new friend, and concluded on the
spot that he was, as he would have ex-
pressed it, 'stu1fn0'' them. So he
went on meditatively eating an apple;
and George I. followed his example.
81 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 GeorgeI l.,
shying his apple-core at one of the
mules.
1.-THE tinel Oh, that will probably be
oOOu1 eW0uCy-u N0 UOll6rS.
"S'posen we don't payP''
"Then they will probably conliscate
the goods" said the soldier" and sell
them OUT
"All right" said George l.. feeling
the dime in his pocket, and remember
ing he had got his money back, what
ever happened.
George III. had made up his mind to
abandon his box and Jump off at the fer
ry. He knew he could trust his legs to
carry him away before the guns of the
fort 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, company of
blue-coated fellows filing down 10 the
railroad station, and, above all, heard
the bewitching sound of martial music
from the parade ground, he determined
to face it out, and see the inside
of that enchanted castle. It was
grand to ride across the ferry without
paving. and climb slowly up the bluff
and around to the Commissary Depart
ment. Both boys forgot they were
under arrest. Their new friend. post
poning the trial, detailed = pompous
little fellow to pilot them about the
fort. and they just went to the top and
the bottom of everything. their escort,
who was only an officers servant, for
getting his airs after while.
By and by they came to one OF the
barracks where they met again their
soldier friend. A number of other
young fellows were with him, snd they
ut once informed the two Georges that
they were the Court Of Inquiry, and
were now sitting to examine the charge
against them. A very fierce-looking
fellow. whom thew called the Post COM
mander, was at once escorted to q seat
upon nail-keg by two soldiers with
muskets, the boxes we're produced, and
the case started. A tall man with vel.
low hair made q plea on behalf of the
Government, in which he called the
two young peddlers astonishing
names, and painted their crime in
colors so fearful that the Georges
ought to have expected to be ordered
to solitary imprisonment for life.
Then their friend of the morning made
such touching plea for the prisoners
that really the boys were ready to cry
with sympathy for their own misfor-
tunes; but when the Commander, draw
ing down his black brows. decided that
the fine should be ten dollars each,
and the goods be Immediately sold at
auction to meet it, George II. rolled
over and kicked up his heels in most
undignified manner. The Court, how
ever, took no notice of this unseemly
action on the part of one of the pris-
oners; but other soldiers came in, and
the tall man who received the boxes
for the Governmentacted as auctioneer.
Here. Gentlemen" said he, holding
up fork, els q most useful weapon,
imported at great cost from Nova Zem-
bla, where the natives use it for har-
pooning elephants. 1t is also COM
mended as q pocket toothpick and .
weapon of defense against Indians.
Only three in the stock, gentlemen
what am I offered?''
The forks were speedily disposed of
like astonishing prices, and there was q
fierce struggle for the hair-pins. The
screws were sold for charms. the nails
as Revolutionary relics. and even the
candle-boxes found bidder; 80 that at
the close of the sale the secretary an
nounceq that the fine was paid and
surplus of one dollar on hand for the
expenses of the court. This dollar the
court generously donated to the pris-
oners, accompanying it by q grand
speech in which they were advised not
to be discouraged, but take new start
in life. .-s
At that moment the tap of drum
scattered the court, the Post Command
er retreated to the Commissary De-
partment where he was wanted to cook
supper, and the Georges, with their
pockets full of nickels. walked slowly
toward the gates. followed by the mel
ancholy Dick. The mule team was
starting for its afternoon trip, aud the
driver called out: @
"Here, you Youngsters, pile in If you
want to ride. and be quick about it!''
The Georges accepted the invitation,
and rode gloriously back to town.
''See here" said George l., Il didn't
see a cent maid in but inst these nick.