Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1891-06-18


never stopped till painting and breath
less they reached the country lane.
s'We've been an gone an done it,
gasped Black. as soon as he could find
breath to speak. Shouldn't wonder if
we're took before night. Who knows
what the sym toms be?''
''Intense thirst-dryness of tongue"
Frank began, for he had partly got over
his scare, and was indulging in a little
fun at the big fellows expense.
''That's me all over" Black groaned.
''My throat's dry as a dodgasted lime
kiln
Besides Black touched the baby;
seed him do it. He's sure to be took
first" cried another Jobs comforter.
can you stripped the covers from
them pliers in the bedroom" Black re-
taliated. can you've got 'em in your
pocket now-blame me, if yer amt
This pointed remark led to half a
dozen pockets being emptied on the
of mementos of their visit the men had
time allotted them.
''Say, Cap" said Black to Frank,
''there's them oranges an thet bottle O.
house. I feel kind o. sorry fur tibet
poor woman. so don't yer think we
might leave em fur her?''
''You are good fellow. Black. to
think of it, and I'll be hanged if we
don't do it," was the quick response: so,
| carefully laying these Injuries at the
garden-gate. they fastened with all
speed back to camp.
Dr Sor,rIoro rx,,,o1
| when he heard Franks story, which he
did as soon as they had reached their
| quarters; for the young officer well ap-
preciated the danger of the fell disease
in the vicinity of the army.
81 will go at once" this energetic
son of Galen said, land satisfy myself
about it. Why, sir, it will be ruin, if
we can not check it-worse than dozen
armies in our rear. Say nothing about
it till return, and caution your fellows
to silence; for talking about these
things creates an alarm which predis-
poses the men to Infection"
| Grouped in bivouac around the fire
that night, dozen officers lay smoking,
chatting and Willing the hours away
with song and story. Suddenly Charlie
Fulton burst into the throng.
"Oh, boys" he cried, I've the grand
est joke you ever heard. Where's Be-
SAINT? Stand up, Frank, and reveal to
the gaze of an admiring multitude the
best sold man in Christendom. What
will you give me, old fellow, to spare
your blushes-but. by Jove, 1 couldn't
keep it in, if you offered me a gold
| mine"
'.What is It? Out with it," cried a
dozen voices.
''Why, four rebel officers were having
a quiet little game of ante this after
noon at farmhouse about five miles
east OF this, when up comes Captain
Frank and his merry men on a forage,
seeking whom and what they may de-
| YOUR. There was no chance of escape.
The men were all round the house, and
the poor beggars gave themselves up
for lost, when the lady of the house
whose health by the by we'll drink
presently, if Robinson doesn't gczzle
the whole contents of that demi-iohn-
snatches her baby from the cradle, up
sets bottle of red ink over its innocent
cOuntenance and tells Franks lambs
her darling's got the smallpox. That
was enough; they stood not on the
order Of their going, but went, and
never stopped running till they got
back to camp. Then Frank tells Doc
Saunders, who reports to my dad and
raises the old mans hair with such a
holy horror that he won't be able to get
his hat on till he's been shingled"
ooh! Charlie, surely you're making il
all up" Frank gasped.
Not a bit, my boy. It's all as true as
Gospel The doctor wormed the whole
story out Of a colored girl, who was the
only occupant of the house when he got
there"
A roar OF laughter greeted the CON
clusion of the narrative and completed
Franks discontinue.
Now, as soon as Halleck in st.
Louis heard of the battle of Shiloh and
its results, he was filed with indignar
ton at what he persisted in CONSIDERING
encouragement on the part of the
Union leaders, and at once set out him.
self to take command Of the troops be