The National tribune., 1886-04-08


tail end of the roll.
Attention, Company O."
The boys had been standing in line half an
hour, waiting to be summoned into the solemn
and awful presence Of the Paymaster They
responded with aiacrity SIS these words of COM
mand fell from the lips of the Orderly. A mo-
ment later the company stood, carefully right
dressed, in front OF the pay-tent. The Captain
and the Lieutenants were first attended to.
For their six or seven weeks of service they
got nearly $500 apiece.
81 thought the nimblc fingers of the Pay
master would never get through counting out
the 10-dollar bills to them. 81 was little off
in his mathematics, and had not tried to figure
up how much was coming to him, and, besides,
he had no idea how much he owed the Sutler.
He had vague notion, however, that it
wouldn't take the Paymaster quite as long to
count out his money as it did the Captains.
The Orderly came next on the roll after the
officers. ST noticed that there was very sud
den drop in the size of the "pile." The Cap
tain and the Lieutenants got whole handfulls
of bills, that made their pockets bulge out like
the bay windows of a house, when they slowed
them away; but two or three spry flips OF the
Paymasters fingers very quickly made up the
thin parcel that was handed to the Orderly as
his stipend-and ST knew that he got good
deal more pay than Corporal.
1t did not take long to go through the Ser
SeaItS anu tHtu TIC ClGfk StruCh INC 1OFpDTdlS.
Although 81 kleggs name was at the end of
the list-as he was only eighth Corporal-his
heart throbbed with pleasurable emotions at
the thought that his impoverished condition
would be relieved several minutes sooner than
if he was poor private, and his name was
away down among the KS.
Corporal Josiah Klegg!" called out the
clerk at length.
81 took off his hat, put it under his arm
and walked briskly up, with a scared look on
his face to the table on which the financial
business was being transacted. On the other
side OF 1t sat the Paymaster, overpowering in
his dignity, with his big tin box full of money.
Next to him was the fussy clerk, and at one
end of the table that man Of gall and iron
plated check, the Sutler.
Take this pen and sign yer name there"
said the clerk. indicating the place with the
tip of the holder.
son this line?" asked ST.
Yes, right there where i told ye!" replied
the clerk, with flavor of mustard and pepper
in his voice.
81 carefully dipped his pen in the ink-bottl
and, in doing so, lost the line on the muster
roll. The roll was nearly as large as barn
door, and it was almost necessary for one to
have chart and compass in order to keep his
bearings on its broad expanse and among its
multitudinous columns.
Which liner" asked 81, timidly, for he
saw indications of storm on the face of the
impatient clerk.
"Why, there! Haven't We got any eyes in
yer head?"
"Oh, this ere IS the one ye mean?" said
81, at the same time putting his finger down in
such way as to cover two or three adjacent
lines.
Then he seized the pen with grip like the
claws of lobster, screwed up his mouth, and
began to build a j. Some of the Corporals not
being present there were vacant lines, and 81
managed, after all, to start in wrong.
"That amt the place!" said the clerk, snap
pishly. GLOW many times have l got to tell
YEP" And the clerk viciously stabbed his pen
Gil through the paper at the right spot. If all
of Company Q are as slow as you we wont get
'em paid off in week. Now hustle you"
Gently. gently, there!" interrupted the
Colonel, who was sitting in the tent exercising
fatherly supervision over the operations.
Have little patience with Corporal Klegg.
Perhaps he amt as smart as you are with pen.
but he Is one of my best soldiers, and Pm not
going to have him abused" Then, turning to
81, he added: Start right, Corporal, and then
just go ahead and sign your name"
ST blushed at the Colonels compliment and
felt treasured ut having such good backing.
For an instant he felt that he would like to
have the Paymaster's clerk out back of the
tent for a few minutes, and he would polish
him off SO thoroughly that shey would have to
carry him to the hospital on a stretcher. He
was tempted to give the clerk piece of his
mind, but concluded that discretion was the
better part Of valor. He was afraid he wouldn't
get his money. So he pocketed his wrath,
mentally resolving that he would lie low for
the clerk that night and try aud get a chance
TO punch his head"
Once more applying himself to his task, he
had, after much effort, got as far as " Josiah"
when he heard the clerk figuring out the
amount due him.
Let's see" unused the clerk, one month
and 16 days. One month is $13, and"--
How much did ye say?" asked 81, as lie