Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1897-04-06

get. You didn't black your boots on
the way, did you? You had servant
do it. He was with you on the train
porter of the sleeping-car, wasn't he?
I never go 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
transportation of servant when I 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, lieuteGant. 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
I 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, I 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 I'm away. just
pay cash and take receipts if you buy
vegetables for the company
"You forget, sir, that my moneys
gone.'
"Sure you hadn't anything but what
was in that pocketbook? 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 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 sputtering pen upon
the paper. Close carefully scrutinized
the sheet, compared it with it's 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 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
before CO." Slowly he finished, slowly
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 pist< 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 little liberty. They've had
good deal. Everything around here will
be quiet enough, and you'll hear what
I'm after-well. 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
march was swallowed up in the rustic
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-
]uctant 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 be-
fore breakfast on the morrow, and had
given permission to that harassed and
evidently Disguised official to go to bed.
Then, after turn around his sleeping
camp, the young fellow went to his
lonely roost "to think things over"
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
~ k4s> Il