Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1899-12-01

oiieiiy, US nc iillcd 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 there2"
mo, you didn't! You said who all
are up yonder| I'm sub, and s'posed
you meant men = soldiers = officers
What have I to do with anybody in pet.
ticoats?"
And I'm 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, land when you're as old as 1 am
and half as wise, Billy, you'll know that
a 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"
1--WE got to go back" said Billy, "and
you've no business to-with Mrs. Cor
don and an interesting family to con-
slider. What tent'd the ladies 20 toP 1
didn't see EN-"
Mrs. Gordon, sub" said the adjutant,
with placid superiority, considers 1t a
reflection on her sex when fail To nav
1t 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 fell
lows were posing in picturesque atti-
tudes in front of it? Awe, Hank!" he
suddenly shouted to an officer striding
past the tent in dripping macintosh.
Coin up to division headquarters ?
Just tell the staff or the chief I've sent
an orderly galloping after Squeers.
He's half way to the Preside now, but
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
f0si .o,,,. Esq.,, ., 49,.
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 at once, and"
"Oh, know all that!" shouted Cor
don, impatiently. at was all over camp
an hour ago! Where do they-the
g1rls-come from? What's their
name?"
Wasn't presented" was the sulky re-
ply. LET a lot Of stuffy old women
show up in search of long-lost sons and
those fellows at headquarters unload
them on us in less than no time, but o
brace of pretty girls! Why, they
double the gate guards so that no out
slider can SO much as see them. Billy,
here, knows 'em. Ask him."
By this time the youngster had ranged
up alongside the adjutant 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 left his face, giving way to look
| OF blank amaze.
Il know EN-! I haven't been east of
the Big Muddy since was kid"
"They asked for you, just the same,
just after you started. Least one of 'em
did-for What's-his-name?-the chief
military legal adviser, came out bare
headed and called after you, but you
were out of hearing. He said the cousin,
the prettiest 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"
"Then go at once, young man." said
the adJutant, laying mighty hand on
the juniors square shoulder. Stand
not upon the order of your going, but
git! Never you mind about the colonel.
He won't be here until after he's been
there, and he's in for rasping over this
mornings inspection. Just look at the
report, Sergeant major send me Col.
Colts report!" he called aloud, tossing
his head back as he spoke. Come in,
Parson, come out of the wet" And,
eager enough to read famous inspec-
tors criticisms of the appearance of the
regiment, the officer addressed as Par
son showed briskly into the tent.
The young soldier who had opened
the tent flap few minutes before came
forward with folded paper which,
In silence, he handed the adiutant and
turned back to his desk. Mr.. Gordon
took the paper, but his eyes followed
the soldier. Then he called, somewhat
sharply:
"Morton!"
The young fellow stopped at the di-
viding crack between the two tent
floors and slowly faced the three otii-
GERS. He was slender, well built, erect
His uniform fitted him trinity and was
worn with easy grace, his hands and
feet We're small and slender, his eyes
and hair dark and fine, his features del.
icate and clear cut, his complexion G
trifie blstered and beaten by the harsh
winds that whistled in every day from
the sea, and, as he turned, all three off
GERS were struck by it's extreme pallor
you're sick again, Norton" said the
adjutant, somewhat sternly. 81
thought told you to see DR.. HeffeF
nan. Have you done SOP"
"I-wasn't sick enough" faltered the
young soldier. II was all right min
ute or two-or rather this morning
sir. It'll be over presently. Perhap.
it was the smell of the oil that did it
the stove is close to my desk"
But Gordon continued to look at hin
doubtfully.
Move your desk across the tent 70,
the present anyhoM" said be land II