The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-02-17

The train came to halt at a station. The
guards on the platform rushed in. and by
dint of a vigorous use of guu-butts and other.
persuasives, and more strong language than
Mr.. Klegg had ever heard before in all his
life, succeeded in quoting the disturbance
and making the men take their seats Mr..
Klegg recovered his carpetsack, his COM
forter, mittens, hat and umbrella, and sat
down again. He turned around and glared
at the soldier by his side.
eff it warn't for startin' another fight" he
said to himself, I'D punch his Internal
head"
But the soldier had gone to sleep he lolIed
his head over on Mr.. Klegg's shoulder and
snored loudly.
For two or three hours afterward the train
ratified along without particular incident.
Mr.. Klegg recovered his composure, and got
very much interested in the country through
which they were passing, and its farming
possibilities. These did not strike him favor
ably, and he was more than ever convinced
that the Wabash Valley was the garden spot
of the world Finally, the train stopped and
backed on to q switch to allow another to
pass.
An enterprising man had put up shanty
near the track with long shelf in front,
upon which were displayed sandwiches, pies,
boiled eggs, and other eatables. The men all
rushed out of the car. Mr.. Klegg had begun
to feel hungry himself and joined them.
How much for that pie, he asked, point
ing to one.
Halfa-dollar," answered the keeper.
Fifty cents for pies, % cents for sandwiches,
10 cents for a cup of coffee"
''Too blamed much" shouted chorus Of
voices ''An internal pirate come down here
To eli no Il or "a i'm mt
Before Mr.. Klegg fairly understood the
words everything was snatched up. Those
| who did not get hold of any of the yiandS
began on the she'd 1t was torn to pieces,
the stove kicked over, the coffee spilled on the
| ground and the eating-house keeper and his
| assistants scuttled away out of danger. The
whistle sounded, they all rushed back into
the cars, and Mr.. Klegg had to stay his
hunger with another chew of tobacco.
Again there was tolerable peace for several
hours broken at last by the sudden stOppage
of the train out in the country, the sound of
| shots, and the yell of ''GUerrillasl Guer-
| rillas y
Everybody bolted out of the cars Those
who had guns .buekled on their car. ridge
boxes and formed in line ready for orders.
| A squad of rebel cavalry had been trying to
| tear up the track, but were surprised By the
unexpected appearance of the train. They
had fallen back TO the top of the HILL to see
how many were aboard, and whether it
| looked profitable to make an attack. They
were keeping up desultOry fire at long
| range.
| Mr. Klegg had seen gun standing in the
corner as he ran out He picked it up and
| Joined one of the squads He was no coward,
and if there had TO be fighting, he was will
ing to do his share.
''Bully for you, old Hayseed," said the
man who had wanted TO whip any man in
| the right wing of the army. You're made
| of the right stuff after all"
| Others around him nodded approval, and
Mr. Klegg was conscious that the social at
mosphere was more pleasant for him.
The guerrillas finally decided to give the
job ND and rode away, after yelling some
very uneomplimentary things about Yankee
soldiers generally.
When Mr.. Klegg returned to his seat no
found his carpetsack, umbrella, mittens,
| and comforter gone. Likewise the man who
| had been riding with him. He waxed very
wroth, and lifted up his voice to let them
know it. Several around began to guy
| him, but suddenly the man from Miller's
| Brigade forced his way through the crowd
and asked:
"What's the matter, 'Squire?"
| Mr. klegg explained.
swell, you've got to have every one Of
them things back again, if I've to lick every
man on the train. I'll not see as old man
and as good man as you are mistreated
where am. I've got 4 father myself"
This time he was in the large majority.
All of McCook's men were with him. A
general hunt was instituted through the train,
and one by one his possessions were recovered
and broupht back to him.
'Thankee, gentlemen; thankee very kind
w. Will any o. you gentlemen have chaw o.
terbacker? It's all L have to offer you, but
it's good"
When the train pulled into Nashville that
night very tired old farmer got off and in
quired:
'.How much further is it to Murfrees-
boro?"
about % miles, some one answered.
% Pm awful glad to hear it. If it was 50
miles don't believe / could stand it. y
Ito be coltiHued)