Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1894-04-19

they deposit IN me wagon.
You've seen that before, sergeant,
laughs the civilian.
1T have, begad, an when II had I
heap mole green inside an less outsidI
than it has now. Faith. I never ex
pected to see it again, nor the paymastel
either. We were both bored through
an through. Twas our good habit
that saved Us. Sure your predecessor
was a game fighter, Mr.. Barnes, II b
was tenderfoot. F"
"Yes. the major often tells me h'
wishes he had him back, and me in th'
place he has instead of the one he bad, >
answers the clerk whimsically. "Doel
he know you're to command the escort
in? You got him into such a scrap'
then that he's never tired of telling o.
it."
Then he may feel gratihed at the
honor l am doing him now. Sure It'll
beneath the dignity Of first sergeant
to command squad like this except
on an extraordinary occasion, an it's tC
take the taste of the last time out Of his
mouth / volunteered to escort the ma,
jor now. Twas q strong taste to last
five years, though my reminder will &c
with me many q year longer. Here
they come now."
As the sergeant speaks little group
Of officers issues from the battalion
commanders tent. Foremost among
them, in loose tapping raiment and
broad bximmed hat and green goggles,
is the rotund and portly shape of Major
Plummer, the paymaster.
"Well, old man." says the cavalry
leader, "you can hardly get into q
scrape 'twixt here and Sidney. We've
seen you through all right SO far; now
We'll go on about our scouting. Your
old friend Feeny asked permission to
see you safely to tho railway"
"What, Feeny, and a first sergeant
too? I'm honored indeedl Well,
sergeant" he adds, catching sight OF
the grizzled red face under Tho old
scouting hat, "I'll promise to let you
run the machine this time and not in
terfere, no matter what stories come to
us of beauty in distress. All ready?"
"All ready, sir, if the major is.'
"He wasn't that civil to mo in Ari-
zona," laughs the paymaster as he
turns to shake hands with the officers
about him.
"You see you were new to the bust
ness then," explains a tall captain.
"Feeny considers you war veteran
now, after your experience at Moreno's.
We all had to serve our apprenticeship
as sucking lieutenants before he would
show us anything but a semblance Of
respect. Goodby, major; good luck to
you"
"Goodby all. Goodby, Drummond.
Goodby, Wing. Herel must shake
hands with you two again." And shake
he does; then is slowly boosted" into
his wagon, where, as the whip cracks
and the mules plunge at their collars
and tilt him backward, the majors jol-
ly red face beams on all around, and
he waves his broad brimmed hat in ex-
uberant cordially as they rattle away.
The group Of officers presently dis
perse, two tall heutenants strolling off
together and throwing themselves under
the spreading branches of a big cotton
wood. One of them, darker and some
what heavier built now, but muscular.
active, powerful, is Drummond; the
other, a younger man by q brace Of
years, tall, blue eyed, blond bearded,
wearing on his scouting blouse the
straps of q second lieutenant, is our
old friend Winggand Wing does not
hesitate in presence of his senior officer
such is the bond of friendship between
them-to draw from his breast pocket
a letter just received that day when
the courier met them at the crossing of
the Dry Fork. and to lose himself in
its contents. ia
"All we'll with the madam and the
kid?' queries Drummond, after the
manner of the frontier, when at last
Wing folds and replaces his letter, q
happy light in his brave blue eyes.
"All we'll. Paquita says that Harvey
has captured the entire household, and
that Grandpa Harvey is his abject
slave, There isn't anything in Chicago
too good for that 2-year-old. They've
had them photoed together-the kid on
his grandfather's shoulder"
"Aren't you afraid his Arizona uncle
will be jealous for his own boys sake?"
laughs Drummond.
II don't believe Ned would begrudge
Fanny anything the old man might feel
for her or for hers. He is generosity
itself toward his sisters, and surely l
could never have found warmer friend
out of the army. You know how he
stood by me-" n
II know, and it was most gratifying
not but that feel sure you would
have won without his aid. The old man
simply couldn't quite be reconciled to
her marrying in the army and living
in Arizona"
"a strange land for honeymoon GER
tainly-yet where and when was there
a happier? Do you remember how the
Apaches jumped the Verde blackboard
the very week after we were married."
"And you spent half of the honey
moon scouting the Tonto basin? 1
should say sol What with courtshlp
in robbers cave, a marriage in cav
airy camp and a wedding tour in sad
die, you had aunique experience, Wing,
but-you deserved her." And Drum
mond turns and grips his comrades
hand.
Wing is silent moment. His eyes
are wistfully searching the elders half
averted face.
Jim, you told me awhile ago of your
sisters approaching marriage. Are
you not going on?''
Eyes. 1t will be early in October.
She's blissfully happy, is Puss, and
he's a very substantial, solid sort of a
fellow. I'm we'll content, at last, that
her future is assured"