The Washington times., 1894-12-23

mingling Of bigh-llown aud exalted epithets
and iDexact pronunciation, with occasional
lapses OF Western slang
We'll, Ia ntpurtendin' to any stratutegi-
cal smartness, and I didn't gradooate AT West
Point. as one ofthese Ap ycryphal engineers;
| don't dosmueh talking about 'tlank move
ments or 'recoSnizances in force or 'Ehellon
skirmishes,f but when 1t comes down to
square Iniih fightin reckon kin have my
saw There are men who don't know the
Army CONTRACTOR" he aided, darkly, 'who
mebbe have heard of Red Jim.' Idoa't men
tiOn names, gentlemen, but only the other
day q man you all know says to me, If only
knew what you do about scoutin' wouldn't
be wanting for Information as | do | ain
goin to say who it was, or break any conf
dence between gentlemen, by saying how
many stars he had on his shoulder strap but
he was man who knew what he was saying.
And | say agin, gentlemen, that the curse Of
the Northern Army is the want of proper
scoutin.
what was it caused Bulls Run?-want o.
scoutin'. WHAT was it rolled up Pope! Want
o. scoutin'. What killed Baker at Bal
Bluff? Want o. scoutin'. What caused the
slaughter at the Wilderness? Want scou.n.
Injin scouun'i Why, only the other day, gem
tlemen, was approached 10 know what Id
take to organize a scoutin' force. And what
did / say? No, general, it amt because [
represent one OF the largest Army beef con
! belong. 20 to speak, TO the 5 news OF War;
but because I'd want about 900 trained In
iins from the reseryat onS And the regu ar
West Point high-toned. scientific inkybn5
that weigh so heavily on our Army don't see
t-and won't have it! Then Sherman, he seq
to me-
But here roar Of laughter INTERRUPTED him
and in n cross-fre of sarcastic interrogatlons
tnat began Brant saw with relief chance OF
escape. For III the voice, manner and, asoEe
ALL the character site temperament OF the
stranger he had recognized ms Old playmate
and the husband OF Susy-the redou ltuyie j IN
Hooker, There was no mstlkiug hat gloomy
audacity that mysterious gniticance-
magnificent lying. But even at that moment
Clarence Brant's heart had gone out, viii Il i
his old Loyalty Of feeling toward his OLD com
panioG. He knew that Il public recogn ton Of
him then and there wonld plunge Hooker iuio
confusion ne felt keeny tho iron cal piaadits
and laughter OF his officers over the man Test
weakness and vanity OF the ex-teamSi ier eX-
rancher eX-actor. and husband OF has girl
sweetheart, and would have spared him the
knowledge that he had overheard it. Turning
hastily to the orderly he bade h,m bring ths
stranger to his headquarters and rode away
unperceiyed.
He had heard enough, however. TO account
for his presence there, and the singular
chance that had brought them aga together.
He was evidently one o those large evil con-
tractors OF supplies whom the government
was obliged 10 employ. who visited the camp,
haE.oiilcia ly. and Hnom line Army alternately
depeuded upon and alusad. Brant had uta!t
with his underling5 IL the commissariat and
even now remembered that he mad h-ari ne
was coming. but had overlooked the si&nig-
canGe II his name. Bat how he came to leave
his theatrical pro esslOn. how ne hal atta nsi
q position which iupl. ed a rommani cf c,n-
siderable capital-for many OF the onractors
had already amassei large fortGue5-ani
what had become Of >usy aud her ambitIU 3
things to he learned. In MS own changed
cond,t oBs h had seldom thought Ler; il
WIS win a strange le-iInC of irritation and
half responsibility that ne now recalled his
last interview wiki be-. aul the emotion 10
which he had sRccumDed.
He hal not long 0 wat. He hal scarcaly
rega ned the guaFters "a fis.o .oGn pr:yljc Of
flee before &c heard the steps oi The 2rsieriy
upon tie VeTanda, and tie traliiA- eiapk OF
Hooker saber. II cid not know. however.
that Hooker. without rec IgHlZIuS il,s name.
had received toe message a5 q personal triD-
ute and had le!t h. sarcastic com jaGions
triumphan,ly, vi. n the air oi q man going 20
a coniident,ai interview. to which MS we'll
known military connection had eati-.ed hitn.
1t was with IA tearing OF gloomy importance.
and his Characteristic suilen. sidGloGg glance
that he ent red The apartment. and be dia not
look up until Brant had sigaaigl the orderly
to withdraw. and closed the door tx mind HIM
And then he recognized his oid bOyi5h COM
panion--ihe protested fayorite of fortune.
For moment he gasyei with astonjsh-
ment. For a moment gloomy IacgedUlity.
suspicion, delight. prize, admiration, even
affection struggled for mastery IN his sulen,
staring eyes and open. twitching mouth.
For here was Clarence BFant, haEdsGmer
than ever, mere superior than ever in the
ma esty OF uniform and authority which
fitted him, the younger man through his
four years of active service with the careless
ease and bearing OF a veteran. Here was iha
hero whose name was aireaiy 50 famous that
the mcre coincidence o. II with tBat o. the
modest civilian he had known would have
struck him az prepastcrous. Yet here he
was, supreme and dazzling. surrounded by
the pomp aud circumstance OF war. into
whose reserved presence he. jim EooZe-.
had been ushered with the foI1na! " OF chal-
lehge. satuting, and presented bayonets.
Luckily Braut hal taken advantage of his
first gratiiied ejaculation to shake him
warmly by the hand, and then with both
hands laid famiiarly on his shoulder force
bin down into char Luckily, for i,y that
time Jim Hooker Ea1 with Characteristic
gioominess found time 10 taste ths pangs OF
enYy-an envy the more Keen sincn, Ill Sp.t5
OF his success as Il peaceful contractor, lie md
always secretly longed Tor military display
had achieved it. as he firmly believed. by
sheer luck and accident, an nl HIS eyes dar6ened.
Then, with character sic weGsness and
vanity, he began 10 resist his hcSt impress
sions OF C aTen.e's superiority a2d TO air his
own Importance He aHed heavily tack IN
the char into which he hal Leen thus genialiy
forced. drew of his gauntlet, AMI attempted
TO thrust it through his bell. Is he had seen
Brant do, but failed on account OF his pistols
alreaIy occupying that position, dropped 1t,
got his sword between his legs in attempting
to pick it up, and then leaned back again.
with hall closed ewes. rene!y Indifferent TO
his old companion smiling face.
Il reckon," he began slowly, with a
slightly patronizing ar, ''ihat we'd nave met,
sooner or later. at Washington or ut Grant
/ headquarters. for Hooker Meacham Il Co.
30 everywhere. and are about as we'll known
as major general. 10 say nothln, be went
on, with sideiong glance at Bran5 shoulder
straps 30 br!gaders; aad It's rather strange
only, OF course, you TO KIND OF fresh IN the
service-that you amt heard oi me alore
But I'm very. very glad TO hear Of you
now, Jim, sad Braut, smiling, and from
hnd,'' he added. mIschieyoasy. ARE still as
frankly communicative ON that topic as OF
old. But [ congratulate you, cid fellow, on
your good fortune. When did you leave the
stage?'
Mr. Hooker frQwned slightly. II never was
really on the SEa&e. you know" be said, wav-
ing his hand with assumed neglia enee- 'only
went on to please my vile. Mrs Hooker
wouldn't act with vulgar professionals, don t
you see? was really manager, most OF tho
time, and lessee of the theater. Went East
and knowledge OF Iniun fightin' TO Uncle
Sam Drif pj into "A i,ip pork cOEtract at st