The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-12-26
A BOLD DESER1rlER.
By JOEL CHANDLER HARRIS.
Copyright 1885, by Bacheler. johnson and Bachel r.

the time of day with the ma jOr and the
rest of her acquaintances on the Veran-
da.
Evidently little Billy had no difficult
ty in disposing of his eggs and chickens,
for he soon came out smiling. The ofli-
GER arose as little Billy appeared at the
door. and so did Major Goolsby. The
loungers nudged one another in glee-
full way. AS little Billy came out. the
conscript officer drew u formidable
looking memorandum-book from MS
pocket and tapped the young man on
the shoulder. Little Billy looked
around in surprise. the blood mounted
to his face and he laughed sheepishly.
What is your name?' the ofhcer
asked. posing his pencil.
"William Henry Harrison Cochran"
replied little Billy.
How old are you?'
''Twenty. April gone
Report at my Office. under the Tenn
perance hall. next Wednesday morning,
"What'll nanny do?"
Really. l don't know. The confed-
eracy needs you worse than your man.
my does just now"
Little Billy hung his head and walked
to the rckety wagon.
Mind" said the officer. ''Wednes-
day morning at ten O'clock. l don't
want to send after you
why. what i'm the round world is
the matter, honey?" Aunt sally in
quired. seeing the downcaSt look of her
son.
Little Billy simply shook his head.
He could not have uttered a word then
had his life depended on it.
Cit up, Beck" exclaimed Aunt Sal
ly. slapping her old mule with the rope
rcins.
Major Goolsby watched the mother
and son for Il few moments as they
drove back across the public square.
His lips Quivered as he remembered
how. years before. Aunt Sally had
nursed his dead wife. He returned to
the conscript officer and Strengthened
himself up.
"Nlister'-his voice was soft. sweet
and Observation-Disclosures. how many
of your kind are loafing around in the
south. picking up the mainstay of
widows?"
'As many as are necessary. sir" said
the major. turning to his acQuaintances
and mimicking the tones of the officer.
Boys, that's what they call statistics
the exact figures. Well. sir. if there's
one for every town in the confederacy,
there's more than regiment of 'em.
Don't you reckon I'm about right in my
figures?"
Il couldn't say" replied the officer
in an Indifferent way. He saw that
Major Goolsby was angry. but he didn't
know what the majors anger meant
II couldn't say. If all of them have
enlisted as many men as l have. the
army will be great deal larger in the
course of the next three months"
Don't you think you could do great
deal more damage to the Yankees. If
you had the will, than that boy you've
just served notice on?" asked the ma
jor. with little more asper,.y than he
had yet shown. why don't you get a
basket and catch tomtits and send EN-
on to the front? The woods are full of
en-
Now. If you'll tell me how all this
concerns YOU" said the officer, bristling
up. I'll bd much obliged to you"
The major took one step forward and.
with a movement quick as lightning,
slapped the officer in the face with his
open hand. That's for little Billy" he
exclaimed.
The officer sprang back and placed
his hand under his coat as If to draw
pistol. The major whipped out big
morocco pocketbook. fumbled about it
moment, and then threw five 20
dollar gold pieces at the feet of the OFF,
GER
I'll send that to your family" he
said. 'if you'll pull your pistol out
where 7 can see it..
But the officer by this time had taken
sober second thought, and he turned
away from the major and went to his