Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1891-12-31

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 you? We've not re.
ceived cent of pay since we left Column.
bus, and I'm dead broke. Why, it's a
holy outrage the way were 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"
''It is a shame" Frank confessed.
''Well, could You let me have the dol
lars?"
Il could" was the frigid response.
"Then, will you?"
"What do you want it for?'
ITO send to girl"
Franks eyes opened with astonish-
ment.
Don't ask me any questions about
it," Lawson continued with earnest
ness. ''Give 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; land as the Adiutant
might kick against your carrying pas
sengers, I'll get down and walk the rest
of the way"
Lawson watched his retreating figure
with a curious expression on his face.
%
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 recon-
mendations would be favorably re-
ceived.
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
could describe. The weather was ex-
ceptionally inclement, and many gal
liant fellow, who might have struck a
blow for the Union, was either invalided
home with broken constitution or died
outright of exposure. It was indeed a
case of the survival of the fittest-
those who were hardy enough to strug-
gle through it all gave Uncle Sam suffi-
cient assurance that his bounty money
had been well laid out.
In the midst of this discomfort they
were turned out several times to take
part in slight engagements. while they
celebrated Christmas by capturing a
gigantic supply train on its way to
Price, together with five hundred pris-
oners, and, what was of more conse-
qusnce.to many of them, lots of loot. Z"
It was on his return from this expe-
dition that Frank Besant received the
glorious tidings that his commission
had arrived, and that he was appointed
to Lieutenancy in his own regiment.
A little later and there would have
been much grumbling at mans step
ping from the ranks to seat at the
officers mess-table, but in those days
military etiquette was not so strictly
observed, and, besides, our hero was too
popular for the tongue of envy to be
raised against what all thought was
a fair, though tardy, recognition of his
merits
This freak of good fortune gave
Frank what he so much needed, asso-
citation with men. who, by education
and home culture, were more nearly his
spuals : bon b BESIDES