Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-03-12

HE ALMOST DISLoCATED THE MULES JAW. Just before they reached camp, however, he recovered his usual air of self-satis- faction. "Say, Frank" he said, 'you couldn't fer the sake of old times lend me a ten dollar bill, could youP We've not re- ceived a cent of pay since we left Colum- bus, and I'm dead broke. Why, it's holy outrage the way we're treated. Guess those big-wigs at Washington would holler out pretty lively if pay day came round and there was nothing in the treasury for them"
 Ut is a shame" Frank confessed.
 "Well, could you let me have the dol lars?"
 "I could," was the frigid response.
 "Then, will you?"
 What do you want it for?"
 "To send to girl"
 Franks eyes opened with astonish- ment.
 Don't ask me any questions about it." Lawson continued with earnest ness. "Givc me the money-it will be ruin if you don't"
 Frank was puzzled.
 "Well, here it is, Jim," he said, hand ing him the bill; "and as the Adjutant might kick against your carrying pas sengers, I'll get down and walk the rest of the way"
 Lawson watched his retreating figure with q curious expression on his faceI muttering to himself the while:
 That's the best thing you've done for | yourself this many day, Frank Besant, though you don't know It." They were all glad to see Frank back, | especially the Colonel, who had many kind words for the young man, whose story he listened to with intense inter est, while Major Hopkins called him to his own tent and made him relate his adventures over again, paying him sew eral handsome compliments. But the best news of all was that his name had been forwarded to the Governor of Ohio for a commission, and these gentle men thought that their strong recom- mendations would be favorably re- ceived.
 From Springfield the regiment went into winter camp at Sedalia, then the terminus of the Union Pacific railroad,
 What the men endured during that severe winter under canvas no pen I could describe. The weather was ex- ceptionally indictment, and many gal lant fellow, who might have struck c blow for the Union, was either invalide6 home with broken constitution or dieG outright of exposure. It was indeed ( case of the survival of the Attest those who were hardy enough to strug gle through it all gave Uncle Sam sufh Cient assurance that his bounty money had been well laid out.
 In the midst of this discomfort the, were turned out several times to tak' t part in slight engagements, while the. n celebrated Christmas by capturing ; gigantic supply train on its way t. Price. together with five hundred pris \ oners, and, what was of more conse qusnce to many of them, '1ots of loot.
 It was on his return from this expe dition that Frank Besant received tn glorious tidings that his commissio had arrived, and that he was appointe to Lieutenancy in his own regiment - A little later and there would hay
 been much grumbling at mans steI ping from the ranks to Q seat at tn \ officers mess-table, but in those day J military etiquette was not so strictl
 observed, and, besides, our hero was to
 popular for the tongue of envy to b
 raised against what all thought wa
 Iair' ohouSh taroy' reSoSnAelOn oA H'
 merits.
 This freak of good fortune gay Frank what he so much needed, assG
 citation with men, who, by educatio
 and home culture, were more nearly hi - equals, boon he appreciated, beside
 rescuing him from the familiar al
 breaches of James Lawson and h
 friends, consideration to be by T \, means ignored.
 When springs first breath IbS'difie le the icy clutches of winter, the ordt
 came for .4e regiment to march to sf Louis. ..s
 Charlie Fulton and Frank were no
 bosom friends, though they were
 different companies, and 1t was fro n him that Besant learned of the intende .. departure.