The National tribune., 1899-05-04
over in minute. There's the man sbsy say

over in minute There's the man they say
was killed, settin' over there on that pile o.
lumber. smokin' his pipeu
"fon're 81 Klegg, aren't you, of the 2o0th
Ind. ?" asked the Major
Yes, Major" answered 81, saluting.
And you're Maj. Tomlinson, OF the 1st
Oshkosh. This is my pardner, Shorty"
Glad to see you with Sergeant's stripes
on" said the Major, shaking hands with him.
II congratulate you on your promotion
You deserved it know"
so did Shorty" added 81. determined
that his partner should not lack full measure
of recognition.
Yes, | congratulate Shorty, too. Lieu
tenant, l. know these men, and they are all
right. There has been a mistake You can
take your men back to Headquarters"
Tenton," commanded the Lieutenant.
Get into line /! Right dress ! Front Right
facel Forward, file left-March !"
"'Tention," commanded ST. "Fall in
in single ranks, 'cordin' to size Be mighty
spry about it. Right dress Count Oh In
| whole numbers"
Another Provost squad came double-quick-
ing up, followed by some ambulances
Again the boys were hurriedly punched up.
The Provost squad, however, did not seem to
4
other had. They held hack noticeably.
Now, what in thunder does this mean"
asked 81 with angry impatience. What's
up, now?"
Sergeant, are you in command of this
squad?" asked brisk little man with the
green stripes of a Surgeon, who got oat Of
one Of the ambulancea
YES am, )" said 81, saluting as stifly as
he dared. What's the matter"
| Well, get those men of yours that arc
down into the ambulances, as quickly as you
can, and form those that are able to walk
close behind. Be on the jump, because the
consequences of your staying here may be
serious to the army. How are you feeling
yourself? Got any fever? Let me see your
tongue"
"What in the worlds the matter with
your" asked ST. in bewilderment.
Come, don't waste any time asking
questions" answered the nervous little
Surgeon. There's more troops coming
right along, and we mustn't take any
chances of their catching it"
| ''Ketch whit? Great grief, ketch what ?"
groaned 81. They've already ketched
everything in thi, mortal world that was
ketchahle. Now what are they goin' to
ketchp"
why, the smallpox, you dumby," said
the Surgeon irritably. "Don't you know
that we are terribly afraid of a visitation OF
smallpox to the army2 They've been hav-
| ing it very bad in some places up North, and
we've been watching every squad Of recruits
| from up there like hawks. A man came
down to Hospital Headquarters just now
and reported that dozen of your boys had
dropped right on tine platform. He said that
he knew you, and you came from a place in
Indiana that's being swept by the small
pox"
Smallpox, your granny" said 81 wrath
fully. There haint bin no smallpox in our
neighborhood since the battle O. Tippecanoe.
The only man there who ever had IL fit in
1 the battle under Gen. Harrison. He had it
when he was child, and was 80 old that the
pockmarks on him wuz wore so smooth you
could scarcely see 'em. Our neighborhood's so
| healthy you can't even have square case o.
measles. Gosh darn it." Siexploded, "what
glandered fool was 1t that couldn't tell
'backer-sick from smallpox? What locoed
calves have you runnin' up to your Head
quarters bawlin' reports?"
"Sir," said the Surgeon stifly, "you for
get that you are speaking to your superior
officer"
Excuse me, Doctor" said 81, recovering
himself and saluting. "Pm very hungry,
and worried to death with these frisky kids,
that I'm trying to git to my regiment. The
only trouble is that some of the trundle-bed
graduates took their drst chaw o. terbacker
this mornin' on empty stomachs, and it
keeled 'em over. Como here and look at 'em
yourself. You'll SEQ It In a minute"
Certainly. I SEQ 1t very plainly" said
the Surgeon, after looking them over. Every
absurd to start such report, but we are quite
nervous on the subject of smallpox getting
down to the army. Take your men in and
give them their breakfast, Sergeant and
they'll be all right
That's what I've bin tryin' to do for the
last two hours" said 81, as he saluted the
Surgeon, departing with his ambulances and
men. "Tention. Confound you, fall in
in single rank, 'cordin' to size, and do it in
short meter, before anything else happens.
Right dress Front Without doublin',
right face! Great Scott, what's the matter
with you roosters? Don't you know your
right hands from your let's? Turn around
there, you moon-eyed goslings! Forward
file right-March |"
Here, Sergeant" said large man with
three chevrons on his arm, II want to halt
your men till look 'em over. Somebody's
gone through suffers car over there on the
other track, and think it was your crowd.
/ want to find out"
"Halt nothin'," said 81, brushing him out
Of tho way. Pm goin' to git these young
sters their breakfast, before there's tornado
or an earthquake. Go way, if you know
what's good for YOU"