The National tribune., 1899-03-30

d! g., THURSDAY,
J2-9
4 81 k}sgg
( ~ as 4
E|;svVeteran
81 Klegg and his chum Shorty, both
Of the 200th Ind, at Chckapauga engage in
fierce battle. ST and Shorty capture rebel
fag but both fall in the melee. They are
taken off the field in bad condition. Deacon
Klegg hears about it and journeys to the
hospital. He fails to be able TO buy some
chickens for Sis broth en- account of the
owners fear of taking U. S. money. So he
raids his roost in the darkness, drops 50
bill at the feet of the owner, and dashes
away in time to escape capture by the
Johnnies. He makes savory dish for 81 and
Shorty. Foraging again he surprises and
captures team containing provisions pre-
pared for the men in q rebel camp by the
same people from whom he got the chickens
Being conscientious, he tries to return the
team later. Rebel artillery frightens the
horse, which demolishes the wagon. A COM
pany of Union cavalry relieves the Deacon of
the horse and gives him a COW, which is
claimed as Gen. Rosecrans's. The General
recognizes Mr.. Klegg and consents to let 81
and Shorty 90 home with him, which they
do. Shorty gets letter from a sweetheart
he has never SEEN The letter is read before
the family, and makes Shorty so ashamed
that he leaves secretly to return to his regi-
ment, and wakes up at Jacksonville, Ind.
Shorty Goes on n Hunt After Knights of the
Golden Circle.
That evening as Shorty was gathering his
things together, preparatory for starting to
the front the next morning, Lieut.. Bigelow,
one of the Generals young Aids, thrust his
head through the doorway and said gleefully:
Here, Corporal; want you. Ive got a
great lark. Our Secret Service people report
n bad lodge of the Knights of the Golden
Circle out here in the country that threatens
to make trouble. 1t is made up of local
scalawags and runaway rebels from Kentucky
and Tennessee. They have regular lodge
room in q log house out in the woods, which
they have fixed up into regular fort, and
they hold their meetings at nights, with
pickets thrown out, and no end of secrecy
and mystery. The General thinks that they
are some Of the old counterfeiting, horse
stealing gang that infested the country, and
are up to their old tricks. But it may be
that they are planning wrecking train,
burning bridges and the like. They've got
so bold that the Sheriff and civil officials are
afraid of them, and don't dare 20 near them.
Tve persuaded the General to let me take
out squad and jump them. Want to go
along?" q -
Pm your huckleberry," said Shorty.
81 knew you'd be-" answered the Lieu
tenant; $50 / got the General to let me
have you. Well get some 10 or IL other
good boys. That will be enough. under
stand that there are about 100 regular at
tendants mt the lodge, but they'll not all be
there at any time, and dozen of us can
easily handle what we find there at home"
"A dozen'll be a great plenty" assented
Shorty "More'd be in the way"
"Well, go ont and pick up that many of
the right kind OF boys, bring them here. and
have them all ready by 10 o'clock. You can
find guns and ammunition for them in that
room upstairs "
Shorty's first thought was of his old friend,
Bob Ramsey, Sergeant of the Provost-Guard.
He found him, and said
See here, Bob, I've got something on
hand better'n roundin' up stragglers and
squelchin' whisky rows. I've got to pick
out some men for little raid, where there'll
be chance for red-hot shindy. Want to
60 along?"
"You bet," answered the Sergeant.
g How many men do you want? I'll get
'em and go right along"
mo, you don't" answered Shorty. "I'm
to be the non-commish of this crowd. A
Lieutenantll go along for style, but I'll run
the thing"
"But you're only Corporal, while Pm a
Sergeant" protested Bob "Taint natural
that you should 90 ahead of me. Why can't
you and l run it together, yOu next to ME:
That's the correct thing"
"Well, then," said Shorty, turning away,
"you stay and run your old provo-guard.
This is my show, and / aint goin' to let no.
body in it ahead O me-"
Come, now, be reasonable" pleaded
Bob. "Why can't you and 1 90 along to-
gether, and run the thing? Well pull to-
gether all right. You know Ive been n
Sergeant for a long time, and know all about
the handling of men,"
"Well stay here and handle 'em. rll
handle the men that L take all right. You
kin gamble on that. And what / say to
them has got to go. Won't have nobody
along that outranks me-"
WE'LL" answered Bob, with a gulp.
"let me 20 along, then, as a Corporal-Ill
change my blouse and borrow a Corporal "
Rankin after me?" inquired Shorty.
"Yes; we had Corporal promoted day
before yesterday. I'll borrow his blouse" z"
PROMOTED day before yesterday" COM
muned Shorty; and you won't presume to
boss nor command no more'n he would 2"
''Not mite" asserted Bob.
"Well, then, you kin come along and I'll
be mighty glad to have you, for / know you
re stand-up feller, and good friend o.
mine, and always want to oblige a friend
by lettin' him have share in any good
fight have on hand"
left Wilson the Chief Clerk rot wind of