The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1899-01-26

| carefully at her you'll see that she's thor
oughbred. Pm a boss judge o. stock myself
aud know. No common acorn eating, crib
fobbin maveric about her. Look at her horns
her bag, and her lines. She's full three.
quarters JERSEY"
What's the other quarter?" asked the
Off "er, much amused.
"Jest-iest-jest-cow f" answered Shorty,
momentarily stumped for once in his voIu-
bility. And then he went on more garrul-
ously than ever, to make amends. 'She's
as gentle as lamb will live on two ears
o. corn and kind word day, and give two
gallons o. milk, nearly all cream Me and
my pardner wouldn't take 500 in gold for
that COW. We're goin' to send her up home
as soon as the lines are open, to start our
stock-farm WITH
Where did you say you got her?" said
the officer, getting off his horse and going ND
closer to examine the animal
go, we bought her from.a man named
Wilson, over in the Sequatchie Valley You
must we heard of him. We've knowed him
a long time-before he moved down here
from Iniianny. Runs a fire stock-farm
Cried like baby when he parted with his
cow. Wouldn't have done it, but he had to
have the money to buy provisions for his
family.o
Let me see," said the officer, looking at
him. Seems to me ] ought to know you.
Where do you belong?'
Go. Q, 200th Injianny Volunteers"
~ thought so. / dc know you You are
Shorty. / don't want to say anything
against your honesty CT your vcracity, but
If Gen. ROsecrans was to order me to get
him the smartest forager and smO0thest liar
ha Of 4hs
should order you to report at Headquarters {"
You do me proud" said Shorty with a
grin, but an inward feeling that trouble was
impending
"Now, tell me the truth. Where did you
get that cow"
=" have bin tellin' you the truth" pro-
tested Shorty with an injured air "Why
should | tell you q lie about little thing
like cow?"
You're not within "a mile of the truth.
know it. Look. here believe that is Gen.
Rosecrans's own COW. She's gone, and got
an order to look around for her. I've never
seen her, but from the description given me
believe that's she. Who brought her here ?n
Great Jehosephat, hes after the Deacon. -"
thought Shorty with u shadder 6 mustn't
let him git him" Then he spoke out
boldly:
. brung her here"
Shorty" said the officer with smile, 81
admire your talents TO. prevarication more
than / can express. As good, off hand
free going, singe-gaite1 liar you have few
equals and no superiors. Your lies usually
have SO much probability in them that they
seem better than the truth-for your pur-
poses. But this has no probability whatever
in it, l doubt if you are able to walk to
Ii you were well and strong,
| should believe you quite capable not only of
stealing the COW from Army Headquarters,
but President Lincoln's cow from the back
door of the White House. But you are good
now because you haven't strength enough to
be up to any devilment Now, tell me, who
brought that COW he-e?p
Il brung her here myself, tell you RI
felt unusually reart last night. Felt that l
had TO snatch something jes: 10 keep my hand
in, like. Couldn't finJ so.iiin' else ua four
legs worth takiu', aud co:,!.!n't take nothin' |
that couldn't walk. So | took her. You kin |
send me to The guari-hoase if you want to. !
expect 1 deserve il.
And Shorty tried hard TO look contrite and |
penitcnt
''Yes; you're in nice shape to send to the
yuar,l-house. I'd send YOU there quick
enough Il you were well. for telling me such
. breposterouslie. foa've usually paid more
aspect to my intelligence by telling me
stories that l could believe ii / wanted to, as
usually wanted to; but this is too much.n
AS the conversation began the Deacon