The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1881-04-07

the dingv old ambulance with its team |
of four sleek mules came jingilng after |
them, bringing out supplies from town
SGT me ride shouted George IL |
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 he bade the driver E,op and
take the bows n.
Going to enlist?' he asked of them.
MAYBE said George L. ''what
you pay?'
'.Oh, that depends on the place. If
you go in for 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 a pretty good business now"
said George III. 3s
''Ah,' said their friend, with an in
quisitive glance at the boxes.
Pedhlinn '-ev9'a'"e.i - -" !.
..Oh. peddling: well, were uncom-
monty fond of candy at the fort.
Our line is notions" said George
l.. s' hair-pins, you know, and knitting
needles and such things"
land almanacs," added George H.,
displaying his stock.
The soldiers eyes twinkled; then he
shook his head.
I'm afraid. my young friends. you
have got yourselves into trouble. You
.tre peddling on Government road
without a license. and therefore are
liable to arrest and finer
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 eN-
pressed it, "stufin0' them. So he
went on meditatively eating an apple;
and George [. followed his example.
In fact" added the soldier, having,
in his turn. reconnoitered them, - it
becomes my official duty to arrest you
and report the case at headquarters"
.'What they charge" said GeorgeI.,
shving his apple-core at one OF the
mules.
1.-The finep Oh, that will probably be
about twenty-five dollars"
"S'posen we don't pay?'
..Then they will probably contiscate
the goods" said the soldier" and sell
them out
"Al right" said George l., feeling
the dime in his pocket, and remember
ing he had got his money back, what
ever happened.
George II. had made up his mind to
abandon his box and jump off at the fer
~ He knew be 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 to the
railroad station, and, above all, heard
/ the bewitching sound of martial music
from the para1e ground, he determined
to face it out, and see the inside
of that enchanted castle. 1t 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
ponihg 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 officer.s servant, for
getting his airs after while.
By and by they came to one OF the
barr,cks where they met again their
soldier friend. A number of other
young fellows were with him, and they
at once informed the two Georges that
they were the Cour. Of In jury, and
were now sitting to examine the charge
against them. A very fierce-lool>ing
fellow. whom they called the Post COM
mander, was at once escorted to a seat
upon n nail-keg by two soldiers with
muskets, the boxes were produced, and
the case started. A tall man with yel-
low hair made plea on behalf of the
Government, in which he called the
two yorr" r'''l lies L tonisI ?
namns, 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
inc dOTl III, y IL. ofoNs, uc;lded that
the fine should be ten dollars each,
and the goods be Immediately sold al
auction to meet it, George III. rolled
over and kicked up his heels in most
undignitied 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 Government acted as auctioneer.
Here. Gentlemen" said he, holding
up fork, g is a most useful weapon
imported at great cost from Nova Fem
bla, where the natives use it for har
pooning elephants. 1t is also com.
mended as a pocket toothpick and 6
weapon of defense against Indians
Only three in the stock. gentlemen
what am l offered?'
The forks were speedily disposed oi
at ten cents each; the almanacs went al
like astonishing prices, and there was {
fierce struggle for the hair-pins. The
screws were sold for charms, the nails
as Revolutionary relics. and even the
candle-boxes found bidder: so that a
the close of the sale the secretary an
nounced 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 a grant
speech in which they were advised no
to be discouraged but take new star
in life.
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 cool
supper, and the Georges, with thei
pockets full of nickels, walked slowly
toward the gates, followed by the mel
ancholy Dick. The mule team wa
starting for its afternoon trip, aud tn,
driver called out:
, "Here, you Youngsters, pile in if yol
want to ride, and be quick about it!''
The Georges accepted the invitation
and rode goriously back to town.
"See here said George L., Il didn
see a cent paid in but just these nick
, els.''
J Probably the rest gave their notes,
| suggested George H., with a wink.
The account of their adventures drov,
Toodes half wild with envy and admi