The National tribune., 1899-03-16

severely erect and soldierIy. Billings was
too little of q soldier to comprehend the
situation. His first thought was that Shorty,
| having been taken under the Generals wing
had come back to triumph over him, and
| he prepared himself with volley Of abuse
to meet that of his visitor But Shorty,
with stern eyes straight TO the font, marched
up to him, saluted in one-twO-three time
drew the envelope from his belt, and thrust
it at him, as he would his gun TO the inspect
! ing officer on parade, announced in CURLY
official tones, With Generals compliments,
sir, saluted again, about faced as if touched
with spring, and marched stiffly toward the
door
! Billings hurriedly glanced at the papers
| and saw that instead of some unpleasant
order from the General, which he had feared
| they were merely some routine matters
His bullying instinct at once reasserted it
self:
Putin on lot O. scollops since, just be-
cause you're detailed at Headquarters" be
called out after Shorty. More style than
a red-ribbon horse at County fair, Just be-
| cause the General took little notice of you.
But you'll not last long. I know you"
Sir" said Shorty, facing about and
stiffly saluting if you've got any message
for the General, I'll deliyerit. If you hain't,
keep your head shet."
20, 90 on; go on, now, you two-for-a-cent
Corporal. Don't you give me any more o.
yOur slack, or I'll report you for your i'm
pudence, and have them stripes jerked often
you"
Hot words sprang to Shorty's lips, but he
remembered the Generals injunction about
the character and dignity of the staff, and
restrained himself to merely saying:
Col Billings. some day | won't belong
to the staff, and you Won't have no shoulder
| straps. Then I'll invite you to little dis
cussion, without 10 moderator in the chair. +"
go on, now. Don't you dare threaten
NE" shouted Billings.
How'd you get along with Billings? ?"
inquired the Chief Clerk, when Shorty re-
TUNED.
About as we'll as the monkey and the
parrot did," answered Shorty, and he de-
scribed the interview, ending with:
never saw a man who was achin' for &
good lickin' like that old buffer. And he'll
git it Jest as soCn as he's out o. the service, if
have to walk hundred miles to give it to
him"
I'm afraid you'll have to wait good
while, answered Wilson. Hell stay in the
service as long as he can keep good soft
berth like this He's now boiabarding every
body that's got any influence, with telegrams
to use ii to keep Lin here, III the public III
terest He claims that on account of his
familiarity with things here he Is much more
Valuable to the Government here than he
would be in the field"
No doubt o. that, =" said Shorty "He
amt worth groan in the Internal regions at
The front. He only takes the place and eats
the rations of some man that might be of
value"
''See here" said Wilson, pointing to a
pile of letters and kilograms on his desk.
g These are protests against Billings being
superseded and sent away. More are coming
in all the time. They are worrying the
General like everything, for he wants to do
the right thing. But 1 know that they all
come from ring of fellows around here who
sell whisky and sIop shop goods to the sol
diers, and skin them alive, and are protected
by Billings. They're whacking up with
him, and they want him to stay. Pm sure
of it, but haven't any proof, and there's no
use saying anything to the General, unless
I've got the proof to back it."
wonder if / couldn't help git the
proof" suggested Shorty, with his sleuth in
stincts reviving
Just the man," said the Chief Clerk
eagerly if you go about it right. You're
a stranger here, and scarcely anybody knows
that you belong to Headquarters. Get your
self back in the shape you were this morn
ing, and go out and try your luck It'll just
be bully if we can down this old blow
hard.'
Shorty took off his belt and white gloves,
unbuttoned his blouse, and lounged down
the street to the quarter where the soldiers
most congregated, to be fieeced by the harpies
gathered there as the best place to catch men
going to returning from the front. Shorty
soon recognized running evil-looking shops,
various kinds of games, and drinking dens,
several men who had infested the camps
about Nashville and MurfreesbOro, until the
Provost Marshal had driven them away.
Billings has gathered all his old friends
about him." said he to himself 81 guess
I'll find somebody here that kin use"
Hello, Injianny; what are you doin'
here?" inquired man in civilian clothes,
but Enthusiastically gambler.
Shorty remembered him at once as the
man with whom he had had the adventure
with the loaded dice at Murfreesboro. With
the Fraternity Of the class, neither remeni-
bered that little misadventure against the
other. They had matched their wits for n