The National tribune., 1899-03-23

condition. in his frame of mind. He began
meditating how he could put in the idle
hours, until the General should return in
the evening He thought of hunting up
Billings, and giving him that promised
thrashing but his recent experiences did not
promise hopefully that he could nag that
worthy into fight that would be sufficiently
interesting.
I'D probably hit him welt and he'd go
off bawlin' like a calf" he communed with
himself. "No; Billings is too tame now,
until he finds out whether we've got any
thing on him to send him to the penitentiary,
where he orter go.'
Looking across the street he noticed Eph
Click, whom he had known as camp-fol-
lower down in Tennessee, and was now run
ming "place " in the unsavory part of the
town. Shorty had the poorest opinion Of
Eph, but the latter was cunning rascal,
who kept on the windy side Of the law. and
had so far managed to escape the active
notice of the Provost Marshal. He was now
accompanied by a couple of men in brand
new uniforms. so fresh that they still had
the folds of the Quartermaster' boxes.
There goes that unhung rascal, Eph
Click" he said to himself, that orter be
wearin' a striped suit, and breakin' stone
in the penitentiary. He's runnin' reg'lar
dead-fa down the street, there, and he's got
a couple o. green recruits in tow. steerin'
them to where he kin rob 'em of their pay
and bounty. They won't have a cent left in
two hours. I've bin achin' to bust him up
for a long time, but I've never bin able to
git the p'ints on him that'd satisfy the Cen
eral or the Provo I'll Jest 90 down and
clean out his shebang and run him out o.
town, and finish the job up while the Cen
eral and the PrOvo's over in Louisville
lt'll all be cleaned up before they git back.
and they needn't know a word of it. Eph's
got no friehds around here to complain. He's
Il yaller hound, that nobody cares what's
done to him. Itll be good riddance o. bad
rubbish"
He stalked out of the Headquarters, and
beckoned imperiously to a squad that he saw
coming down the street under the command
of a Sergeant Seeing him come out OF
Headquarters there was no question of his
right to order, and the Sergeant and squad
followed.
They arrived in front of Eph's place about
the same time be did
"Take that man," said Shorty, pointing
to Eph, and put him aboard the next train
that goes out. Think yourself lucky, sir,
that you git off so easily. If you ever show
your face back here agin you'll be put at
hard labor on the Notifications for the rest of
your natural life Hustle him off to the
depot, couple of you, and see that he goes
off when the train goes. The rest o. you
bring out all the liquor in that place, and
pour it into the gutter. Sergeant, see that
nobody's allowed to drink or carry any
away"
Nothing more was needed for the crowd
that had followed up the squad, anticipating
a raid. Bottles, demijohns and kegs were
smashed, the cigars and tobacco snatched up,
and the place thoroughly wrecked in few
minutes.
Shorty contemplated the ruin from across
the street, and stroled back to Headquarters,
serenely conscious of having put in part OF
the day to good advantage.
That evening the Provost-Marshal came
into Headquarters, and said:
I'm sorry, General, that you felt that
Click place so bad that you were compelled
to take personal action. | have known for
some time that something ought to be done,
but I've been trying to collect evidence that
would hold Click on criminal charge, so
that / could turn him over to the civil
authorities"
81 do not understand what you mean,
Colonel" answered the General.
q 1 mean that Click place that was raided
by your orders to-day"
- gave no orders to raid any place I
have left all those matters in your hands,
Colonel, with entire confidence that you
would do the right thing"
why, one of my Sergeants reported that
Corporal came from your Headquarters,
and directed the raid to be made''
"a Corporal from my Headquarters?"
repeated the General, beginning to under
stand. "That's another development of that
irrepressible Shorty" And he called:
"Corp'l Elliott"
"Yes, SIR" responded Shorty, appearing
at the door and saluting.
Did you raid the establishment of per-
son named
"Eph. Click" !" supplied the Provost-Mar-
shall
"Yes, Ephraim Click. Did you direct itI
and, if so, what authority had you for doina
500"
eyes, SIR" said Shorty promptly. "I
done it on my own motion. 1t was little
matter that needed tending to, and 1 didn't
think it worth while to trouble either you or
the Provo about it. The feller's bin dead-rips
for killin' long time. hadn't nothin' elss
to do, so thought I'd jest git that job often
my hands, and not to have to think about il
any more"
Corporal said the General sternly, Il
have not objected TO your running my Office,
for l probably need all the help in brains
and activity that can get. But must draw
the line at your assuming the duties of the
in addition. He is quite
capable of taking care of his own office. You
have too much talent for this narrow sphere.
Gen. Thomas needs you to help him run the
army. Tell Wilson to make out your transpor-
tation, so that you can start for your regiment
tomorrow. The Provost Marshal and will
have to try to run thi. town without your
help. 1t will be hard work, 1 know, but
then, that is what we came into the service
for'
Shorty grumbcd to another Orderly as he
returned to his place in the next room:
There, you see all the thanks you git for
Dcin' hustler in the way of doin' your
iooty. l done Job for 'em that they
should've tended to long ago. and now they
lit down on me for it."
Ito be cOntfnucd)