The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1894-12-24

but only the other day a man you all know
says to me. If l only knew what you 90
about scoutin', l wouldn't be wanting l"i
information as l do. i amt going TO say
who il was, or break any confidence DC
tween gentlemen by saying how many stars
he had on mis- shoulder strap. but ne was a
man who knew what he was saying Anu
i say agin gentlemen. that the curse OF inc
northern army is the want OF proper sSOu
in. What was il caused Bun KUN van
o. scoutin' What was it rolled up fope
Want o. scoutiu' What caused the slausn
ter At the Wilderness! Want o scou.ih
Iniin scoutin'i Why, only the other uas,
gentlemen. was approached TO know VIZ M
I'D take TO organic a scoutin' force.
what did l save No. general. IL a.'
cause l represent one OF the 'at =
beef contracts in this country 80 -
IL amt because / belong. so W ~, -.
the 'sinews of war but because -, -
about ten thousand trained ihJil rs. T,o,,,.
,asarvationr And the regular Nss' u'i,''
80, -; .s,iantin,. inkybus that Weishs
=, h.,,-il,- ON orr army don't see t-ahd
49,, baya III Then Sherman. ne SEE l"
ne" -. ,...~,,,,,.,,
Rut hero a roar OF laush'er "te'rup'eu
hir, and in a cross-iire OF sarcasuc inter
roc7tions that began. brdh' s'" WIN ieiiei
- .bo,. all the characteristic tenn
.,,,, 81 rhs stranger. he had recoSniZ-
- ~. rIaN mate and husband OF Susy-
-.,,,r,shle Jim Hockcri There was no
-.'-,.ts-- that gloomy audacity-that mys-
...-s~,,s si.-nIfc7nce-that magnificent lying.
~, oven AZ that moment Clarence Rrants
-, had gone out-with all his old loyalty
:, TssIiuE toward his old compa MON. lie
,,,,.,- mat 2 public recognition Of him then
,,s there would plunge Hooker into confus-
fou- H. felt keeniy the ironical piaudits and
laughter OF his officers over the manifest
weakness and vanity Of the ex-teamster. eN-
rancher ex-actor and husband OF his glFl
sweetheart. and would have S7ared him the
kuovrle ~, that he had overhead IT. Turning
hastily Ia thu orderly he hade him bring the
stranger 10 his headquarters. and rode away
unpercetvei.
He had heard enough. however. 20 ac-
count for his presence there. and the SIN
ruIar chance that had brought them AGAIN
together He was evidently one OF tnuse
large civil contractors Of supplies whom me
government was Obliged 20 employ. who FlS-
tel the --mp. half officially. and whom the
army alternately depended upon and abus-
pl Brant had dealt with his underiinss IN
,he eournissariat. and even new r5member-
- that hc had heard h. was coming, nut
had overlooked the significance oil ms name,
Fut how he came to leave the th"atr'e''
= of.szian how he had attained 4 p5sitloh
v-bf., fruulied = command Of considerabie
- Df,aI-for many ~ the contractors nan
-t-..5,- auasssl large fOrtunes-and what
- l,e.,nrnf OF Susy and hrr ambitions IN
rs radical change Of circumstances
80 things to lie learned In his
own changed conditions ne hah Seiio,''
,rourht u her. IL was with a strange ieei-
irg az irritation and half responsibility taal
Re now, recalled his last interview win her
and the emotion to when ne H'N
q mbed.
II, h.s No, long TO wait. Tie had scarcely
,.r,Jns5 his quarters at his own private
ofFi,,s before he heard the step 81 the OF
DERBY upon the veranda ana the trflit"S
cIank OF Hooker's saber. He did not Know
however that HOOKER without reeoshiZ'i's
his name had received the message - =
D.rxrnal tribute and had lefl his sarcastic
Commanders triunphantly. with me ar OF
n man going TO 2 confidential interview 10
which his well known military connection
had entitled him. IL was with beaflhs OF
gloomy importance. and ms chai a. .'s -
suIIen siaeIonE glance that he entered the
apartment and he did not look M until
Brsnt had -ssnalsd me SrSsrs TO Win Win,
then NJ r~~ogntzei his ola ooyish coulpan-
nv 1 Sssss nj . Q" VIII sS,
msut. For q momeat gloomy iHcreuuhty.
suspicion. delight pride admiration. even
affection struggled for mastery In his Sp.-
len staring eyes and open. twitchin- mouth.
For here was Clarence Brant. hanisomer
than ever more superior than ever I'm the
majesty Of uniform and authOrity-which
fitted him. the younger man-through his
four years ~ active service with the care
less ease and hearing OF a veteran, Here
was the hero whose name was already 50
famous that the mere coincidence OF II with
that Of the modest civilian he had known
would have struck him as preposterous.
Yet here he WAS. supreme and dazzling.
surrounded by the Ts'mp and circumstance
OF war. into whose reserved presence H.,
.ar@H~ -.
HaliJy of challenge. salutng. and present
81 hsyouets,
Luckily Brant had taken advantage Of his
first Eratiiied ejaculation 10 shake him
warmly b. the hand. and then with both
hands laid Familiarity on his shoulder force
him down into chair Luckily. for by
that time Jim Hooker had. with character
istic glCominess. found time to taste the
raugs OF envy-.l1 envy the more keen since
ia spite OF his success as peaceful con
tractor. h. had always secretly longed for
military display ami distinction. H. looked
~ the man who had achieved IL. as he firm
" believed. by sheer luck and accident. AMI
his eyes 6aIkenet. Then. with characters
Tie weakness and vanity. H. began TO resist
Fis ars- Impressions of Clarenct's superb
Gritty and o. air his own Importance. lie
lelTei heavily back in the chair into which
~ had be thus seniaily forced, drew OF
MS gauntlet. and attempted u thrust n
through his belt. as he had seen Brant do.
but failed on account 4 his pistols already
occupying that position. dropped il. got his
sword between has legs Ia attempting 40
pick ir up. ard then leaned back AGAIN.
With haif-rllse-l eyes. seurutly indifferent
10 his old cunpsui,p's smiling face.
Il reckon" re began slowly. with a
slightly paJrouizing air. that We'd have
met. sooner or later. at Washington or ~
Giants headquarters. for Hooker. Mcach-
am n 60. 10 everywhere. aaI are about as
well known as mailr generals. - say noth-
in h. went on, with a sideiong glance At
Brauts shoulder straps. ''Of brisadiers, and
its rather strange-only. Il course. your
kind 81 fresh in the service-that you amt
heard % me afoTe."
but I'm very. very glad 30 hear
OF YOU now, jim" said Brant. smiling. and
from your own lips which / am also de-
lighted 10 find he added mischievOusly,
ARE still as frankly communicative On that
topic 81 old. But I congratulate. you, old
fellow. On your good fortune. When did you
leave the staEe2'
Mr. Hooker frowuei slightly. Il never was
really on the stEGr. you know" ne said
va wing his hand with assumed negligence
only went on - please my wife. Mas.
Hooker wouldn't act with vulgar profession
ais. don't you seq I Was really manager
m 81 OF the time. and lessee Of the thcater.