The National tribune., 1900-03-08

into my own hands. when perseed to make
the other fellers mighty sick"
Shorty therefore, mnt If0betts as il moth
ing noteworthy had occurred the night be-
fore. and inquired:
"HrlIo. how are you? Did YOU try that
coniurc"
Yes, indccdy. Jest as soon's | could.
Had a powerful sight o trouble a-findin
| some soap. though Thar warn't mite
auyWhar in our camps. At last | done
found some over in the camps o tho fust
rijimint. a tcamster was a-toiin' Il gourd
along fer hos8-mcdicine. | done used hit
cdZackly rs go done tolc me. Hit hurt
Il kin UNDERSTAND said Shorty. 81
should think that good wasii'd be the
next thing to skianiu' YOU"
But | done kept at hit, jess rs yo' done
! tolc me. But see how funny hit makes my
! hands look. / don't know they'u,s. and
| thcy'uas feel as funny as they 'uns look"
yes. SOAP and water have that effect
! when used for the first time i'll your life.
! But you'll git used 10 il i'll time. Bat Your
| fingers feel more spry and Timber than they
did. don't thew
Yes, hull lot"
That's the work o the coajurc. Now
| git some o that dirt out from under Your
| nails. They look like you might have to
take mattock and shovel to the work.
| Then pare them nails; till they look little
! less like dogs claws. and You'll be in shape
10 begin. Did you bring your cards with
! you"
"Yes," said Tibbetts, producing a very
greasy pack.
'If you'd bile these up with some lyc.
you'd git a good jag o soap out o them, y
said he. handling them gingeriy. "Thcy're
| about 10 miles the dirticst cards ever seen.
| We throw away cards after they git an
| inch or so o dirt on them
keards as long S they'll hold together"
said Tibbetts. That's the only deck in
my company. aud a mau brung them
home last Fall from Chickamaugy. He
done found 'em on dead Yank."
Should think that the man was not only
dead: but badly mortified. ANYWAY,
they re all the easier for our use. for they're
marked so that IA blind man kin read the
backs as well as the faces. That's what
you've got to learn. See here: This aces
| got the upper left-hand corner tore off.
See? That's the ace o hearts. Now
let's find the other aces. Why, they're all
marked the same way. Never noticed that
Aleck. No wonder they stole Your eyes
right out of Your head Wonder if you'd
notice a siX-mue team it if was druv right
across the board in front o you?"
| Thus 11bbetts's education went on. In
a couple of hours Shorty got him so that
! he cctlu TPcOSIlLs lile most OF tlle nlSntr
cards by their backs, and then stopped the
lesson, fearing that Tibbetts might get in
| flammation of the brain from too much
sudden exercise Of that dormant organ.
He warned him to give no hint to Wad
Greene of his increase in knowledge. but
catch him unawares. jeff Tibbelts went
| out cursing his own stupidity in not having
seen the marks before, and glOating over
what he was going to do to Wad Greene
| I've been waiting for that rebel sucker
to get away" said Ike Decide. coming up
10 Shorty, and motioning to ST to draw
| near.
This is Shad Graham, of my regiment -
hc said with Il motion Of his lrand toward a
very tall, slender, ound-shoudered young
man, two or three years older than Shorty.
Hes the engineer and boss of the tunnel
told YOU about, and he's come up here TO
talk to you about it,"
> Shorty and 81 looked at the man and
were not favorably impressed. His long
hair was lank and straw-colored, his atti-
tudc meek and Shambling, and his eyes
appeared dull and listless. He put out his
hand bashfully, 10 take theirs, and said
mildly:
"Ycs. Serg't Decide insisted that come
up and see you for myself, though Pm
always willing to take his judgment for
anything. Serg't Decide knows men
much better than do"
20, come off, Shad," said Decide i'm
| patiently.
where's the rest of your squad? Serg't
Decide said there were eight of you. be-
lieve," inquired Shad, in soft, indecisive
voice.
Here they are" said ST, pointing out the
| boys, and naming thcm one after another.
Apparently Shad hardly more than
glanced ut each one, but he said quietly:
They re all right. They'll do
! What sort of milk-and-water maverick
is that, Jke?' asked Shorty in an aside.
He don't seem to have spirit or strength
enough to pull Il setting hen off her nest"
'Humph, there's where you're left
| That's the smartcst man in this camp, bar
none. He was a school teacher at home,
to make his living, and Deputy Sheriff be:
cause he liked excitement, and always
wanted 10 run up against something that
was dangerous. He's the quickest and
best shot in our regiment, and got a Lieu
tenantcy by capturing flag at Mission
| Ridge"
IF he's Lootcnant, what's he don' in
herc?"
| 20, he wanted to stay right with thc boys,
when We were captured. He snatched off
| his shoulder-straps, and gave lii; name as
Il private. Say, don't you make any
mistake. He looks slow, but ypa'll have TO
| travel mighty fast, and go /, long ways if
you keep up with him."