Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-04-06

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built. "They sent mo there by mistake.
It's tho cavalry l want, not infantry"
The engineer looked the speaker over
in surprise. Away down the track the
headlight of the incoming train was
growing bigger every moment and tho
rumble of the bulky approach could be
plainly heard
You don't look like man who had
to take to soldering " he said.
son, I'm mott" was the prompt, good
naturod reply. 81 do it simply because
I've laundering that way-and no 9TH
er, " he added under his breath. per
haps you can tell me something of the
regiment at Ransom:''
Enough about it to talk from here
to Frisco, but there's no time now.
We've got to pull out with that train
tho moment their engine gets out of our
way. But you re tho first man | ever
met ont hero who would openly say he
was going to enlist. They all como up
shamciacod like, as though it was the
last thing they wanted people to know "
ION, / never found it paid to sail un-
der false Colors, was the answer in %
tone of gay good humor, not unmixcd
with dash Of reckless disdain. 1--WE
nothing to lose. But would like to asl,
you something about the troop COM
mand1rs there at Ransom. Can't You
give me Il lift in the cab: I've "a pocket
ful of better weeds than you get cut
this way if that's any Indictment"
And, so SAYING, he reached down into tho
deem pocket of his ulster and brought
out a handful Of cigars.
Mr.. Longs manner changed in an
instant d" 'Gainst orders" said he
briefly, gazing suspiciously into the
stranger face as he spoke. Better get
your ticket if You re going to Butte. "
And, swinging himself up to bis pcrch.
he grasped the reversing lever with enc
hand and the throttle with the other.
Scut laid hold of the cord and set the
big bell to swinging warning of their
coming. The huge machine began slow.
ly to move rearward as the much ma
ligned and belated coyote came Kissing
by on the tireman's side. and that be.
grimed young man awaited himself Of
the chance to chatf his fellow workers
in the fitting cab. He took no heed,
therefore, of the stranger parting hail,
but Long was ewing him closely and lis
tening for any word.
1--WE got tickets all right. " said the
lonely man on the platform. "but I'd
rather sit up in Il cab than sleep in "a
Pullman. It's all right, though. Have
a smoke anyhow" And with lavish
hand he tossed half a dozen cigars into
the cab as he walked beside the moving
engine, Then, with cordial wave of
his hand, he turned aside to the lunch.
room, into the doorway Of which half
score of hungry passengers from the ar
irving train We're eagerly pushing.
"Only three minutes, gents, " sung
out the conductor. "We've got to mako
up time before we reach the Rockies
can't do it there. And he durted into
the train dispatcher's Office to register
ana receive his orders
Meantime Scut, still clinging to the
bellcord with one hand. was scoopiug
up cigars with the right. THAT fell
lows prince" said he ",Just lock at
that for "A seprorn And he hold II adj.
mirinuly nm to Long to 500 and vos
amazed at the gloom in his communion, =
face. "Whv what's mn he asked
"What's upgn renentod thc ouciroer
as he slowed down nu nearino thn for.
ward end ot the mail cay "a hola nm
unless I'm mistaken and the fpwrr If
them cigars Won stick IN vour month
the moro Lrair, vou.l hovo 1af, i, +ho
moruiug - With a sbnrn cIicl, tho
heavy counling min was driven homo
and ,ono sent the REVERSING 1ovor ovor
tn the front then nol,ed his heod on, of
the side of the cab and shonted 70 a
train hand he sow burrv;ughv "Wbero
Won cot them recrrits RiIIvy',
"First coach bpbind tho boo,oco -
was fine ouswer as the man cI,rcod o-or
his shoulder "Tbera,s soma of ION,
now " And as be smoke torrdirn
LAUGHING and dodpiny throrcb the luot
If HUNGRY nas,enonrs boIf dn1o,'
vounp fnlIows in t,t;crn uuifor,,, an
TO the lurchroom followed bv .horts
from somewhere hazel, aIono ria tr,i,,
Presently middle aged man IN the
garb of a sergeant of cavalry cana
stalking after them, a man who seemed
just aroused from sound sleep, and not
too we'll pleased as CONSEQUENCE.
"Get back to that car, Won men," he
ordered authoritativelv. Didn't | tell
you not soul of You could leave it
without my parmission?"
But the recruits were lined mn nj tbo