Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1897-07-30

porter OF the Sleeplng-car, WASH Ao -
l never 20 in the durn things myself,
but you did, I'll warrant. Well, you
paid him out of your pocket, every
time you changed cars or boat
THAT may be, sir; but can't sign
any such claim as sixty dollars Tor
transportation of servant when PAID
no such sum-"
'Then how're you to get your money
back?-the dimes and dollars you've
given to porters and walters on the
way? Every officer know would sign
that certificate without question, and
every quartermaster would pay it.
Capt. Warren came with you to head
quarters. at least. What d'you bet he
hasn't drawn servants transportation?
You think it over, lieutesant. There's
no sense in you Robin yourself this
way. Write down to barracks, you
like, and see what they say at head
quarters. They'll tell you just what
do"
I'LL sign the accounts without that,
and get the mileage for myself" said
Lambert II need the money. Then
if it's allowable and proper can COL
lect for servant later"
Not much you can't There's where
you show your ignorance. Then the
government would make you fight ten
| years for it, even if you'd brought
servant with you. The way is to get
| it first and let them stop it if it's wrong.
But here, can't fool away time ar
gum simple thing like that. I've got
to be miles away before midnight. and,
no matter who comes and inquiries.
YOU don't know where we've gone. Now
| you won't need any commissary funds
or anything while Tn away. Just
| pay cash and take receipts il you buy
| vegetables for the company"
'1ou forget, sir, that my moneys
gone"
'+Sure you hadn't anything but what
was in that pocketbooh? Then. SER
geant, you do it, and keep account"
But. excuse me, captain" said Lam
bert, flushing, II myself will need
money. I must find some place to
board. Keep those mileage accounts
as security, if you like, but let me have
| twenty dollars"
"But you hain't signed them; they're
| no good
I'll settle that" said Lambert, sharp
| ly; and, taking a pen, he drew a line
through the item for transportation for
! servant and altered the figures of the
total accordingly, then, still standing
and bending over the desk, slashed his
| signature with a suffering pen upon
! the paper. Close carefully scrutinized
the sheet, compared it with its dupli-
cate when that, too, was similarly fin
| ished, and slowed both away in long
envelope. ''Sure you've got to have
! twenty?' he asked, as a soldier stuck
his head inside the tent door, retired
precipitately at sight of the junior lieu
| tenant, and then, from without, an
| nounced that the captain was served.
| well, I guess I can get it for you
signed, after close study of their con-
tents, the papers placed before him,
| then slowly left the tent without an
other word Not until he had buckled
on his pistA belt-he carried no sword
and was about to start with his silent
and yawning squad, did he seem to wake
from his fit of abstraction, and then
only when Lambert appealed to him
for orders.
"Oh, yes. Well, just have an eye on
them mules, will you, lieutenant?
Everything else, almost. is under lock
and key. The quartermaster sergeant
is pretty solid"
But in case of disturbance, or de-
mands for more detachments, or men
wanting to go away?"
There won't be nuthin' now fur a
week. Dos you like about givin' the
men a little liberty. They've had a
good deal. Everything around here will
be quiet enough, and you'll hear what
I'm after-vell. when I've got it,
That night, though worn and weary
and downhearted, Lambert could hard
! ly sleep. At II the little detachment
had trudged away into the blackness
of the night, and the tramp of their
of the crisp brown foliage and the creak
of overhanging branches. The men re-
naming in camp crawled back to their
! blankets; the cook fire smoldered away,
only occasionally whirling forth a re-
luctant fight of sparks in response to
some vigorous puff of the restless wind;
the sentry yawned and dawdled about
the wagon and the store tent; even the
mules seemed so sympathetic with their
recovered associate that no whisper of
a bray came from their pen on the bank
of the stream. Lambert had received
the assurance of his sergeant that the
missing men would surely turn up bo-
fore breakfast on the morrow, and had
given permission to that harassed and
evidently Disguised official to go to bed.
Then, after a turn around his sleeping
camp, the young fellow went to his
lonely roost 'to think things ovcr.'
In the first place, as he lighted his
candle, there was the tin pail which had
rolled out from the Walton hedge row,
and which, on inspection, he had found
to contain about two pounds Of fresh
butter, very neatly packed in lettuce
| leaves. That proved that the Waltons
! still had something of their old garden
left. Lettuce could surely be raised
only under glass at this inclement sea-