Owingsville outlook. [volume] (Owingsville, Ky.) 1879-192?, 1897-07-08


Lambert said he should he most crate.
ful if that could be dohe-and if there
were no objections: and he, too, looked
cNpectantly at the senior officer
IL guess that's about the best we can
do" said Close, slowly. "'Tain't what
you've been accustomed to, but It's what
always cat. Send us up something,
scrgcant--enough for two; I'll take an
other snack with the lieutenant"
And in less than five minutes Lambert
and his new comrade were seated by
little fire on which a tin cofrcepot was
kissing, and with broad pine shelf
upon ihci" knees. from big tin mugs and
broad tin plates, were discussing q
smoking rcpast OF pork and beans, to
tho accompaniment OF broad and strip
md "rcamlcss coffee. ITS the way
always Prefer to live when I'm in tho
field" said Close. "and it cnly costs you
nine dollars month"
Lambert was too hungry not to rel
ish even such breakfast. He fancied
he heard something that sounded great
ly like suppressed chucklc on the
part Of the soldier cook at his seniors
remark upon the cost Of living in the
fell, hut sensations and experiences
were crowding thichly upon him and
there was little time for trifes.
Through the good offices of Sergt.
Burns. wall tent was pitched that
morning for "thc new lieutenant" to
the left of the domicilc OF the company
knocked up in an ~" tent in the back,
and Lambert began unpscking his
trunk and setting up housekeeping.
Il suppose can get what furniture |
want in town." said he to Close.
Depends on what you want" replied
the senior, warily. land whether you
care To throw away your money.
What'd You want 10 get? They will
skin the last cent out of you there at
CoEen's."
II merely wanted some cheap truck
for camp. and some washstand fixings,"
Lambert smered, falling into the YER
nacular Of his comrade with the ease OF
one just out of the national school,
whore every known American dialect
can he heard things can throw
away when we leave"
Close was silent a moment. "I can Yet
Won have everything you need, Z yol
amt particular bout their bein' new.
They're just rs good as anything you
can buy. and won't cost you near so
much" Then, after little hesitation:
"Thcy amt mine to give. or I'd let you
have them for rothing."
Lambert had precious little money
left. even after drawing his November
pay in New Orleans: but he had big
mileage account to collect, for in those
days nothing was paid TO the Young
graduate in advance. even though he
had to find his way by the Isthmus TO
the mouth of the Columbia. He thanked
his comrade, and by evening was put in
possession of an odd lot Of camp furni-
ture. some items OF which were in good
repair and others valuable only as relics
of the war. \ camp mattress and
some chairs bore the name of Tighe,
and the soldier who carried them in re-
marked TO his chum: They didn't burn
everything after the lieutenant died,
after all. did they?" From which Lam
bert drew inference that the property
in question had formerly belonged TO
an officer of that name who succumbed
To the epidemic of the previous year.
But the principal question remaining
unsOlved was that of subsistence. War
ing and Pierce had told him that in all
probability he would find that Close
was living on soldier fare and had no
"mcSs arrangements" whatever. This.
as We have seen, proved to he the case
and Lambert inquired il there were no
possibility Of finding board. YES
said Close; Mr.. Parmelee, the deputy
marshal, lives up the road about half a
mile. and he told me TO say he'd be glad
TO accommodate you.' Lambert
lunched in camp at noon, and about
three o'clock came forth from his tent
buttoned to the throat in his handsome
ly fitting uniform. his forage-cap
cooked iauntily over his right eve, and
a pair of white gloves in his hand. 4
soldier slouching across TIE open space
in front shifted 10 the opposite hand
the bucket he v as carrying and saluted.
tlOSt MS tTltn Wltn-
out changing a muscle Of his face.
what do they charge you extra for
them buttons?" he finally inquired.
Lambert said he didn't know. They
were on the coat when il came from the
tailor's. Would the captain kindly di-
rect him to Mr.. Parmelee's and permit
him TO go thithcr? The captain gravelv
said he need not ask permission Just to
leave camp-evcn the men didn't do
that-and gave him the needed instruc-
tons, winding up by saying: Got your
pistol?" Lambert answered that he
never carried one
You'll have to, here" said Close, "or
he out of fashion entirely. / amt got
one to lend, but il you've a mind to paw
less than cost I've got one that will just
suit you, strap and holster complete"
In five minutes the trade was made. and
Lambert had only eleven dollars left
when he started TO hunt up Mr.. Par.
melee.
Close watched the erect figure of
the young fellow as he stepped briskly
away. So did the first sergeant. Mid
way across the open space between the
tents half a dozen of the men were
s1uatting. in the bright sunshine, pipes
in full blast, engaged in game of cards
that looked suspiciously like draw
poker, a gray blanket being outspresd
and little piles of white field beans
decorating its outer edge at different
points. Surrounding the players were
perhaps dozen spectators. in various
costumes more or less soidieIly. At
sight of Mr.. Lambert in his trim frock
towards him; some, as though en-
barrassed, began TO edge away. The
gamblers calmly continued their game.
IL the young officer had looked as
though he did not notice them, the
chances are that, though he passed