The National tribune., 1886-03-04
ST. AZ A MIXER

while ST, spurred on by guilty conscience,
MIXED with all his might.
The canteens were soon filled, and, without
stopping to drink, ST and Shorty hurried back
to their post of duty. All was quiet, and no
harm had resulted from their brief absence.
Il told ye 'twould be all right" said ST. "Now
we'll jest empty one O. these canteens-here,
take a swig-'n' we'll carry the other to camp.
It'll be jest bully to have milk in our coffee
agin!"
| Then they betook themselves to duty with
redoubled vigilance, to atone for their derelic-
tions. After watching for an hour without see
ing anything, ST said he would take another
little turn around the place.
Boldly advancing to the house, which was
some distance in front of their post, he was met
by girl of about l8. She was rather pretty,
but to Sis ardent imagination she was like q
vision of SURPRISING lOvelineSs. She greeted
him pleasantly-for 81 was a comely youth
and if the truth must be told, he actually for
got for the moment all about his duty. When
she said she would get him up good dinner,
and invited him into the house to sit while
she was preparing it, he just went right along.
But his conscience began to thump so loudly
that after few minutes he told her he guessed
he'd have to go, but would be delighted to re-
turn in an hour and partake of her hospitality.
MAY / bring Shorty-he's my pard-long
with me?" he timidly asked.
cuc Icpitcu, Will q SWScG Sulilc >
and ST went away, his nerves tingling with
pleasant emotions to the very tips of his fin
gers.
Shorty" he said, as he came up to the lat
ter, i've struck it this time Over to that
house there's the purtiest gal l ever -"
Wha-a-a-a-t!" interjected Shorty, with a
look of astonishment; for he knew something
about 81 and Annabel-the girl he left behind
him-and he was both surprised and panied at
Sis reasonable enthusiasm.
ST easily OWNED his thoughts, for something
of the same nature had already caused his
own heart to palpitate in reproving way.
-"Of-c-c-cours e-I d-d-don't-mean th-th-
that Shorty" he stammered; but she's nice
girl, anyhow, n she's gittin' up dinner fer
me N you. Bet ye it'll be nice lay out, tool"
Shorty did not feel quite at ease in his mind
about leaving the post again, but ST assured him
it would be all right. The peculiar circum-
stances of the case had sadly warped Sis judg-
ment.
So they went to the house and were cordially
greeted by their fair young hostess who was
flying around, putting the finishing touches to
the meal she had prepared for them.
Jimmy, don't that smell good" said Si to
Shorty in an undertone, as his sensitive nostrils
caught the savory odors that arose from the
nicely spread board.
The young Hoosers stood their guns on the
floor in a corner of the room, preliminary to an
assault on the edibles.
"Ugh!" exclaimed the young woman, with a
coquettish shiver, {" be them awful things
loaded2"
"N-no!" said 81; "they wont hurt ye if ye
don't touch em!"
81 was learning to fib little, and he wanted
to quiet the girls fears.
The boys were soon seated at the table, boun-
tifully supplied with ham. chicken, eggs, bread
and butter, honey, and all the accessories of a
well-ordered repast. They fell to with an
eagerness that was, perhaps, justified by the
long time that had elapsed since they had had
a square meal" 81 thought that never in his
life had anything tasted so good.
While they were thus engaged, without q
thought of impending danger, the girl suddenly
opened the door leading into an adjoining room.
A young man-who proved to be her brother
in the uniform of rebel soldier, dashed in, and
presenting a cooked revolver, demanded their
unconditional and immediate surrender.
They were in tight place. But ST proved
equal to the sudden and appalling emergency.
1t flashed through his mind in an instant how
the girl had played it" on him. He made up
his mind that he would rather be shot than be
captured under such circumstances.
ST sprang up, and the rebel true to his word,
fired. 81 lodged, and the ball only Clipped a