Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1897-05-13

turned, and barely II when he again
set forth. This time a sergeant and
ten picked men went with him, nobody
but Close knew whittier. Il may be
gone two days, lieutenant" said he, in
the laborious use of the title which
among regulars ito the manor bOra'
had long been replaced by Mr." and
had not Lambert asked for instructions
none probably would have been given.
Of his adventures during the day he
said not word. He brought back the
mule, and that was enough. The first
thing Lambert and Burns knew of his
return was the sound of his voice at
the wagon, informing the guard that
he wanted coffee and something to
eat. Then, paying only vague atten-
tion 10 Lambert's conSratulations on
his safe return, he told Burns to get
detachment ready at once, then dis
appeared within the dark interior OF
his tent, leaving Lambert standing In
some embarrassment and chagrin out
side. Looking to see if his strong box
is all safe" whispered the first ser
geant, as he came up. Its under the
boards-under his cot-and he never
lets anybody come in, not even the mar
shall"
1t was full five minutes before the
captain reappeared. He struck no light
meantime, but could be heard fumbling
around in the darkness. When he came
forth he had some papers in his hands.
"We'll go to your tent, sergeant" he
said. "Your desk Is handler. HOWE
you got along, lieutenant?"
1.-TWO men are out, sir; Riggs and
Murphy"
Dam blackguards, both Of EN-
specially Riggs; almost the oldest sol
dier in the company, too" said Close,
wnthfully. seating himself al the desk
and beginning to arrange the papeE
for signature.
81 had been told l should find some
splendid old oaks among the raAs and
file" hazarded Lambert, after pause
and thinking his commander should
give some directions In the case.
"Old oaks? Old soal<s, most like"
was the disdainful answer" 'special-
ly Riggs. He come from the cavalry.
Why. I've had them two fellows tied
UP DA NisF lAIbIAba AAAANN AaAtARo HiAAN~
last March; and It hain't hurt 'em no
more'n If they were cast iron. Better
keep guard over the mules while
I'm away, sergeant--or, rather, lieu
tenant; you see, | amt use to havin'
bout them mileage papers o yourn.
You said not to send 'em. Why not2'
"You've made out a charge Of some
e., fa+ inn pf
a servant, sir; brought no servant
with me"
whats the difference? The law
lows II. Every officers entitled to n
servant And If he does his own work
he's entitled to what the servant would
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 slecpng-car, wasn't he?
I 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 l can't sign
any such claim rs sixty dollars for
transportation of servant when paid
no such sum"
"Then how're you to get your money
back 2-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 quarterinaster would pay II.
Capt. Warren came with you TO head
quarters, at least. What d'you bet he
hasn't drawn servants transportation
You think 1t over, lieutenant. There's
no sense in you robbin' yourself this
way. Write down to barracks, you
like, and see what they say at head
quarters. They'll tell you just what
do
,"rll sign the accounts without that,
and get the mileage for myself said
Lambert. II need the money. Then
If it's allowable and proper L can col
lect for servant later"
mot much you can't. There's where
yon show your ignorance. Then the
government would make you light len
years for it, even II you'd brought
servant with you. The way Is to get
It first and let them stop 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 I'm AWAY. Just
pay cash and take receipts IL 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
reant, you do It, and keep account
"But, excuse me, captain" said Lam
bert, flushing, az myself viii need
money. / must find some place TO
board. Keep those mileage accounts
ps security, IL you like, but let me have
twenty dollars"
But you hain't signed themi they're
no good"
"I'Ii settle that" said Lambert, sharp
"; and, taking Il pen, he drew n line
through the item for transportation for
! geryant and altered the figures of the
total accordingly, thea, still standing
! and bending over the desk, slashed his
signature with sputtering pen upor
the paper Close carefully scrutinized
Che sheet, compared 1t with It's dupli
cate when that, too, was similarly I'm
ishcd, and slowed both away in long
envelope. "Sure you've got to have
twenty?" he asked, as n 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
rWell, / guess | can gct it for you
before I 90" 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 Ind bucl,lcC
On his pistol bclt-he carried no sworC
and was about to START with his silcn
and yawning squad, did he seem to wake
from his fit OF abstraction, and theI
only when Lambert appealed TO hin
for orders.
"Oh, yes. Wen, just have an eye OF
them mules, viii you, lieutenant
Everything else, almost, is under loci