Daily camera., 1899-11-24


were perched on rough tables a brace of
field desks with the regimental books.
The sergeant ma jor, veteran of years
of service in the regulars, sat at one of
them. A young soldier, he who had un
fastened the tent flap to admit Lieut..
Gray. was just returning to his seat
at the other. Two orderlies lounged on
bench well beyond and back of the
sergeant majors seat. and a bugler,
ing briar-root pipe at the opposite
back doorway. Woe to the enlisted men
who sought the presence of the colonel
or adjutant through any other channel.
The sergeant jor would drop on him
With the force of baseball bat.
''Who all are over yonder at the
chiefs asked the adjutant, as soon
as he had his visitors well inside, and
the soft accent as well as the quaint
phraseology told that in the colonel's
confidential staff officer southerner
spoke.
'All the brigade and most regimental
commanders 'cept ours, | should say,
and they seem to be waiting for them.
Can't we send?' was the answer, as the
junior whipped off his campaign hat
and sprinkled the floor with the Wig
orous shakes he gave the battered felt.
Have sent" said his entertainer.
briefly, as he filled a pipe from the open
tobacco box and struck safety match.
Orderly galloped after him ten min
utes ago. Blow the brigade and bat
talon commanders. What / asked you
was who are the women up there"
NO, you didn't, You said who all
are up yonder?' I'm a sub, and sposed
you meant men - soldiers - officers.
What have to do with anybody in pet
ticoats?"
And I'm a grizzled vet of dozen
years duty, crows feet and gray hairs
a-comin." grinned the adjutant, pull
ing at long curly mustache and draw
ing himself up TO his full height of six
feet, "and when you're as old as | am
and half as wise, Billy, you'll know that
pretty girl is worth ten times the
thought our old frumps of generals de-
mand. My name amt Gordon if
haven't mind to waltz over there
through the mist and the wind just to
tell them I've sent for Squeers. Then
I'll get look at the girls"
I've got to go back" said Billy, land
you've no business to-sith Mrs. Ger
don and an interesting family to con-
slider What ,ent'd the ladies go to? /
didn't see en-
Mrs. Gordon. suh,' said the ad jutant,
with placid superiority, considers it a
reflection on her sex when fail Ia pay
it due homage. OF course. you didn't
see the ladies. The party was shown
into the generals own domicile.
Couldn't you see how many young fei-
lows were posing in picturesque utti-
,udes in front of it? Awe, Hank" he
suddenly shouted to an officer striding
past the tent in dripping ma, kiEtosh.
Coin up TO division headquarters?
just tell the staff or the chief I've sent
an orderly gnlloping after Squeers.
He's half way To the Preside now. bu,
it'll be an hour before they can get
back" The silent officer nodded and
went on. whereat Gordon made spring
for the entrance and hailed again.
Say, Hank! Who are the damsels ."
The answer came back through the
fog:
People from the east-looking for a
runaway. Old gent, pretty daughter,
and pretty daughters pretty cousin.
Heard the orderS?"
Damn the orders They don't touch
us. Where do they come from?'
Direct from Washington, they say.
Three regiments TO sail a, once. and"
"Oh, | know all that" shouted Cor
don, impatiently. 1T was all over camp
an hour ago. Where do they-the
girls-come from? What's their
name?"
Wasn't presented" was the sulky re-
ply. Let lot of stutfy old women
show up in search of long-iost sons and
those fellows AT headquarters unload
them on us in less than no time, but a
brace of pretty girls, Why, they
double the gate guards so that no out
slider can SO much as see them. Billy.
| here, knows EN-. Ask him."
BY this time the youngster had ranged
up alongside the adju,an, and was
laughingly enjoying the latest arrivals
TRADE at the expense of the headquar-
ters' staff, but at his closing words
Lieut.. Billy's grin of amusement, sud
den lef, his face, giving way to a look
of blank amaze.
81 know EN-! | haven't been east of
the Big Muddy since was kid
They asked for you, jus, the same,
just after you started. Least one of 'em
did-for What's s-his-namc the chief
military legal adviser, came out bare
headed and called after you, but you
were out of hearing. He said the cousin,
the prctticst one, recognized you as you
skipped away from the generals tent,
and pointed you out to her friend.
Somebody explained you We're running
an errand for one of those aids too lazy
to go himself, and that you'd be back
presently"