Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1897-04-29
HE didn't try to-" answered Lam

He didn't try to-" answered Lam
bert, in some amusement Like the
eminent head of the late unpleasant
ness, all he asked was to be let alone. ]
left him browsing in the public square"
"And the bride an saddle, too? Great
Peter. That's bad. Some lousy mig
gers got him by this time, or his trap
pins at least, an he'll swear the Freed
mans Bureau gave him The hull outfit
and it'll be stopped against my pay.
Sergeant" he called; wish you'd &c
right down town an catch up that mule
an"
81 can't go, sir" promptly answered
Sergt. Burns, his hand going up in un-
accustomed salute in Difference to the
presence of the new officer. "Pm busy
with them ration returns. Here, Fin.
ney, YOU 60"
go where?'' said young soldier
squatting at his tent door and greasing
a pair of shoes with bit of bacon-rind.
He hardly deigned to look up.
The captain wants you to go and get
that saddle mule he sent up last night
him.
Would it be possible to send wagon
for my trunk2" interposed Lambert at
this juncture, appealing to his superior
Close hesitated and made no Immediate
reply. 1t was the sergeant who took
the responsibility:
"I'll tend to it, If you please, sir. The
l.. e.,
haul some grain. BE lively now, Fin
ney. Drop them shoes and start" And
Finney, conscious, possibly, of some
change In the military atmosphere,
gathered himself together and van
ished.
Meantime, in his anxiety about the
government property thus placed In
jeopardy, the captain seemed lost to ali
thought of the newcomers comfort. 1t
was Sergt. Burns who came forward
with camp stool and prefer of further
hospitality.
"If the lieutenant can put up with
such rations, I'll send something from
the cooll-fre, sir" said he, doubtfully,
looking OF his commander very much as
though he thought It high time for that
official to suggest something better.
Lambert said he should be most CRATE
full If that could be done-and if there
were no objections; and he, too, looked
expectantly at the senior officer
81 guess that's about the best we can
do" said Close, slowly. "Tain't what
you've been accustomed to, but it's what
l always eat. Send us up something,
sergeant--enouQh 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 cof2eepot was
Kissing. and with n broad pine shelf
upon their knees. from big tin mugs and
broad tin plates, were discussing a
smoking repast of pork and beans, to
the accompaniment of bread and sirur
and creamless coffee. "It's the way
always prefer to live when I'm in the
field" said Close, "Gnd it ouly costs you
nine dollars u month"
Lambert was too hungry not to rel
ish even such breakfast. He fancied
he heard something that sounded great
ly like a suppressed chuckle on the
part OF the soldier cook at his seniors
remark upon the cost of living III the
field, but sensations and experiences
were crowding thickly upon him and
there was little time for trifles.
Through the good Offices OF Sergt
Burns, a wall tent was pitched that
morning for "the new lieutenant &c
the left of the domicile of the company
commander; u wooden bunk was
knocked up in an "A" tent in the back,
and Lambert began unpacking his
trunk and setting up housekeeping.
81 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 to get? They will
skin the last cent out of you there AT
Cohen's"
81 merely wanted some cheap truck
for camp, and some washstand fxings,"
Lambert answered, falling into the ver-
nacular OF his comrade with the ease OF
one Just out of the national school,
where every known American dialect
can be heard-"things / can throw
away when we leave"
Close was silent n moment. 81 can let
you have everything you need, Y you
ain't particular bout their bein' new.
They're just as good az anything you
can buy, and won't cost you near so
much" Then, after little hesitation:
"They amt mine 10 give, or I'd let you
have them for nothing"
Lambert had precious little money
left, even after drawing his November
pay In New Orleans; but he had IA 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-
turc, some items of which were In good
repair and others valuable only as relics
of the war a camp mattress and
some chairs bore the name of Tighe,
and the soldier who carried them in re-
marked TO his chum: They didp t burn
everything after the lieutenant died,
nftel. all, did they?" From vhich Lam
bert drew inference that the property
In question had formerly belonged To
an officer of that name who succumbcd
20 the epidemic OF the previous year.
But the principal question remaining
unsolycd 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 be the case
aud Lambert inquired If there were no
possibility Of finding board. Yes"
said Close; "Air Parmclee, the deputy
marshal, lives up the road about half u
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
" fitting uniform, his forage-cap
cooked 1auntily over his right eye, and
q pair OF white gloves In his hand. A
soldier slouching across the open space
IN front shifted 20 the opposite hand
the bucket he was carrying and saluted.
Close surveyed his trim sabaltern with
out changing n muscle of his face