Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1899-01-05

summoned Captain Burden to regi-
mental headquarters, some one at the
officers mess asked who he was, any
way, that the ''old man" had picked
him from among dozen old campaign
ers for consultation.
"Neph0w, or something, to sena-
tor" growled a grizzled lieutenant,
who had seen 20 years of service and
was jealous of the this reputation.
'Fresh from desk in the war depart
ment, but ALFRED anxious to smell
Dago powder"
"Ought to join the rough riders, +"
added another; they'll be in the fight
tomorrow; tn this too full already,
and here's the old man asking him to
supper before he's seen week of SER
vice."
''Tutr interposed the regimental
surgeon; Burdens not greenhorn,
and the colonel knows it. Reckon
you don't know what sent him out of
Washington into this fever-stricken
climate; do you think doughboy'd
join the fighting -th?"
"Come," said the adjutant, locking
arms with the surgeon, for he saw the
latter had something on his mind, and
he, too, was curious about Captain
Burden. "Let's go outside and leave
the fellows to their growling;" then,
when they had passed beyond the
confines of the mess tent, "What was
it, Johnson? The chaps no coward,
and he interests me-"
"Well," said the surgeon, soberly,
''it isn't my business, but don't mind
telling you; I've cousin in the war
department, a chum of Burdens, and
he wrote me to keep an eye on him.
1t was hard luck drove him out of
Washington.
"Humphr" growled the adiutant,
sarcastically, ''small pay and
"NO, "broke in the surgeon" Bur
den has an income and"
''Then what the deuce? Why didn't
he stay in Washington and leave us
poor fellows to do the fighting?"
eff you'd been in Washington it
wouldn't take much guessing re-
piled the surgeon, ''for if you'd been
there you'd have known Miss R,
and she played Burden to throw him
over for doughboy, so all Washing
ton was on to it and felt sorry for the
captain and didn't wonder when he
threw up fat position in the depart
ment and petitioned the secretary for
active service"
"And the doughboy," grunted the
adjutant, ''enlisted for all time in the
new captains behalf. Stayed in Wash
ington with the reserves and"
''Not much, and that's what puzzles
the wise-heads up there. He enlisted
in the regulars and lit out for Santiago
along with Burden. though I reckon
they didn't come together"
"What's his name?" asked the adj
jutant?"
The surgeon fumbled for the letter,
glancing over it by the light of a
neighboring lantern. "Hardey," said
he shortly, ''and, by thunder, he's in
the --th! What if he and Burden
come together?"
In the meantime Captain Burden,
unconscious of the effect the summons
from the colonel had upon his brother
officers, stood before the commander
OF the regiment at headquarters.
Captain Burden" said the latter,
noting with apractised eye the slender
figure of the young officer, ''you come
to the -th highly recommended for
coolness and courage. Tomorrow we
attack Ell Caney; have been ordered
to call for volunteers to do q little
scouting. Will you lead the party?"
'sThank you, said Burden, simply;
'it will be an honor, T."
The colonel removed his eyeglasses.
"Young man." said he, seriously, ''the
bush is full of Spaniards; you may b.
killed or seriously wounded; every
caution will be required.
81 will do my best, sir" replied
Captain Burden; ''is the start to be
made at once?"
The colonel wheeled around on his
camp stool. Orderly" said he
sharply, '2ell Captain Clark that wisl
a volunteer of two good men from hi.
company to undertake a dangerous er
rand near the enemy's lines. Yot
will skirt the base of Ell Caney, making
detour to the north. 1t is unneces
sary to say the volunteers will be under
orders from you and are to be gov
erned by your Judgment.
Five minutes later the tramp of ap
preaching men was heard, and two cav
alrymen entered the commander
presence. Captain Burden, noting
them critically, started; the sharp tone
of the colonel rang in his ears:
Corporal Joyce and Private Har
dey, you are under orders to procee'
according to Captain Burdens direc
ton on reconnaissance into tn
enemy's lines. That will do"