The National tribune., 1900-10-25

~~~
SHORTY REPORTED IN
glass shine on this mans gunboats. Thre,
| or four tackle them at once, for it's day!
work for one. Wen chip in to pay for it
for it isn't fair to saddle the expense o1
such job on any one man."
| While the industrious boys were empty
ing all their backing boxes, to get enough
| for layer over Shorty's liberal expanst
Of c0whidc, Shad Graham explained:
! You see, boys, our special job is to gel
! through to Sherman whole new pontoor
train, 2jO feet long, and lot of miscel
| ianeOuS supplies, canvas, anchors, ropes
bolts, hinges, etc, that they need to refit
| the pOntoons they have already. Alto.
gether they make a good, fair train load
In spite OF all our hurrying the things
could not be got ready until this morning,
but with four such good hustlers as we
are to push and drive, and your 100 corn
fed Indanians to do the straight horse
work. we ought to get the things through
on schedule time. By rights we ought to
have n special train, with get-there orders,
and the right-of-way over everybody else.
We would've had this if it hadn't been
for this awful funk from Dan to Beershe-
ba about Hoods army and a new invasion
Of the North. He's going TO invade the
North about as much as I'm going to run
Chicago. But everybody that's got a horse
or q COW or n wheebarrow load of goods
is scared to death about it, and Governors,
Senators, Representatives., and bigwigs
generally are keeping the wires hot with
alarms and requests, and Commanders of
Departments, Districts, garrisons and
posts are ordering and begging for can
non, ammunition and men to be sent this
very day to places which are certain to be
attacked before tomorrow morning. /
never did see such a muddle of orders in
my life. Col. Bonesteel has kept his head
SO far but ! don't know how much longer
lie will, with all these big fellows piling
onto him. Shorty, you stay up there, right
IN the ColOnels Office, if he'll let you, and
keep your eyes peeled for everything that's
going on. Slip out and let us know, when
ever you can. The telegraph operators
an old chum of mine-you know him, too,
DeebIe-it's Jim Steelyard. You keep run
of him n little, while I'm looking out for
other things"
There's no chance for him to hold on
to me after the rest Of you get ready to
start, is there?" demurred Shorty. I'D
rather drive team, even, than be orderly
to that old gobbler."
Don't be alarmed: we'll get you away
all right" answered Shad Graham. "Si,
you take half the boys, and finish loading
them balks that you see there on the cars.
over to that warehouse, and set them to
carrying out the anchors and cordage they
find there, and put them in that box-car
just behind the ones that Sis loading.
After you get them well started, set some
good man TO oversee, and wander up and
talk to Steelyard little. Don't be gone
too long, though. I'll go over and see
what our chances are for a locomotive"
Shorty reported to the office in spick-
and d-sDan neatnesS, lust on time, and met
the Colonel entering.
Name. rank and regiment?" curtly in
qured the Colonel, after he had acknowl-
edged Shorty's salute, and seated himself
at his desk.
'.Elliott. Chas. D., Corporal, Co. Q,
2O0th Injianny Volunteer Infantry" re-
sponded Shorty, just as curtly, with his
eyes straight to the front, and his body as
stiff rs an icce.
Good" grunted the Colonel, making a
note of the name. Take that chair out
side the door. and wait till / call you"
well. at least | won't have to stand at
attention all the time" murmured Shorty,
as he sank into the chair.
A smirking, smiling Jew slipped past
him into the office.
"Gurnel," he remarked oilily, "mein
vrendt unit bartner, Misder Heidenheimer,
made liddle mistake dis morning. He
a Won dundret tollar pill when We
See, haf brought de righd shange now.'
He displayed three new crisp 500 bills,
which he tried to slip under the ColonePs
blotting pad.
Orderly" said the Colonel, without
raising his eyes from his writing.
''Yes, sir" said Shorty, coming to the
position of a soldier inside the door.
Throw this creature out of the room,"
ordered the Colonel, as he crossed "t'
in his writing, and stopped to study the
effect.
''Yes. SIR" answered Shorty, and the
man was whirled through the door with
such velocity that he left his greenbacks
lying on the desk.
being orderly amt such slouchy busi-
ness after ALL" murmured Shorty, as he
gave the contractor parting kick, and
readjusted his white gloves. '"Think
may learn to like the job"
Orderly" called the Colonel.
''Yes, SIR" said Shorty, stepping inside
and saluting.
"rhere are some things that person
left" said the Colonel, pointing to the |
bills with his penholder, as il they were |
filth. Remove them from my |
lesk. Find sheet of paper in that desk. |
Write on it, Money found. To be used |
place it inside one Of those long envelopes |
which you will direct to Surgeon Jas. Mil |
er, Wilson Hospital Got that all? Well,
seal 1t up, and let me see"
He would not even touch the envelope In |
which the money had been placed, but |
scanned it in Shorty's hand:
Handwriting crude, spelling eccentric"
ne commented, studying the superscrip-
nailbox there. Return to your place"