The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-06-02

whelp," said Shorty, giving him a cuff in
bitter remembrance of his own smarting feet
''If we're goin' to shoot him let's do it
right off, said 81. lookingat the eapOn his gun.
"The eompany's gttin' ready to start back"
'All right" said Shorty, with cheerful
alacrity. Johnny, your ticket for brim-
stone supper's made out How'd you rather
be shot-standin' or kneelin' ?"
80, gentlemen, don't kill me- Ye hadn't
orter. Why do We pick me out to kill ? L
wuzzent no wuss'n the others / wuzzent
raylly half ez bad. l didn't raylly mean t.
harm We. / only talked. had t talk that
away, for | alluz was Union man, and had
t. make show for the others / don't want
T. he shot at ALL"
You amt answerin' my question:" said
Shorty c0olly and inexorably. 81 asked you
how you preferred to be shot These other
things you mention hain't nothin' to do with
my question"
He 1eveled his gun at the unhappy man,
and took a deliberate sight.
80, for the Lord Almighty's sake, don't
shoot me down like dog, screamed Bushrod.
Le'me have chance to pray, an make my
peace with my Maker"
"All right" conceded Shorty, Ego and
kneel down there by that cottonwood, and
born days, for you have need of it. Well
shoot when count three. You'd better make
clean breast of all your sins and trans
gressions before you 90. You'll git cooler
place in the camp down below"
Unseen, the rest of Co. Q were peeping
through the bushes and enjoying the scene.
Bushrod knelt down with his face toward
the cottonwood, and began an agonized
prayer, mingled with confessions of crimes
and malefactions some fragrant, some which
brought a grin of amusement to the faces Of
Co. Q.
Zone /" called out Shorty in stentorian
tones
80, for the love o. God, Mister, don't
shoot me-" yelled Bushrod, whirling around,
with uplifted arms Pm too wicked t. die,
an I've got family dependin' on me-"
Turn around there, and finish your
prayin'," sternly commanded Shorty, with
his and Sis faces down to the stocks of their
muskets, in the act of taking deliberate aim
Bushrod Topped around, threw increased
vehemence into his prayer, and resumed bis
recital of his misdeeds.
Two" counted Shorty.
Again Bushrod whirled around with up
lifted hands and begged for mercy.
mary mercy" said Shorty "You
wouldn't give it to us, and you haint given
it to many others, according to your own ac-
count. Your lights flickerin', and we'll blow
it out at the next count. Turn around, there"
Bushrod made the woods ring this time
with his fervent. fearful appeals to the Throne
of Grace He was so wrought up by his I'M
pending death that he did not hear Co. Q
quietly move away, at sign from the Cap
tain, with 81 and Shorty mounting their
horses and riding off noiselessly over the sod
For long minutes Bushrod continued his
imprisoned appeals at the top of his voice,
expecting every instant to have the Yankee
bullets crash through his brain. At length
he had to stop from lack of breath. Every
thing was very quiet-deathly so, it seemed
to him. He stole a furtive glance around
No Yankees could be seen out of the tail of
his eve on either side Then he looked
squarely around. None was visible anywhere.
He jumped up, began cursing savageiy, ran
into the road and started for home. He had
gone but few steps when he came squarely
in front of the musket of the Orderly Sergeant
of Co. @, who had placed himself in conceal
ment to see the end of the play and bring him
along.
"Halt, there" commanded the Orderly
Sergeant face the other way and trot. We
must catch up with the company"
81 and Shorty felt that they had redeemed
themselves, and returned to camp in such
good humor with each other, and everybody
else, that they forgot that their feet were al
most as bad as ever.
They went into the house and began cook.
ing their supper together again Shorty picked
up the cOffee-can and said
" ST Klegg, you're a gentleman, all through,
if you was born on the Wabash. A genuine
gentleman is knowed by his never bein' no
hog under no circumstances. | watched you
when you looked into this coffee-can, and mad
rs / was at you, l said you was thorobred
when you left it all to me-"
Ito b, confinuedl