Mower County transcript., 1900-02-21

Well Within The sec6nd tent, where one
clerk was just II kting : camp lantern
were perched on rough tables q brace 81
field .desksswiths the iregimentals books.
The sergeant major, veteran of wears
Of service In the regulars, sat at one Of
them. A young soldier. he who hadun-
fastened the tent flap to admit Lieut..
Gray, was just returning to his seat
At the other. Two orderlies lounged on
a bench well beyond and back Of the
sergeant majors. seat, and a bugler,
with his hands in his pockets, was smok-
ing q briar-root pipe at the opposite
back doorway. Woe to the enlisted men
who sought the presence of the colonel
or adjutant through any other channel.
The sergeant major would drop on him
with the force of a baseball bat.
'Who all are over yonder at the
chiefs?" asked the adjutant, as soon
as he had his visitors well inside. and
,, the soft accent as well as the quaint
phraseology told that in the coloners
confidential staff officer a southerner
spoke.
"An the brigade and most regimental
| commanders 'cept ours, should say,
and they seem to be waiting for them.
Can't we send ?" was the answer, as the
junior whipped off his campaign hat
and sprinkled the floor with the yiR-
orous shakes he gave the battered felt.
"Have sent" said his entertainer.
briefly, as he filled pipe from the open
tobacco box and struck safety match.
"Orderly galloped after him ten min
utes ago. Blow the brigade and bat
talon commanders! What asked you
was who are the women up there ?"
mo, you didn't! You said who all
are up yonder% I'm a sub, and s'posed
you meant men soldiers - officers
What have to do with anybody in pet
ticoats?'
"And I'm a grizzled vet of dozen
years. duty, crows feet and gray hairs
a-comin'," grinned the adjutant, pull
ing at long curly mustache and draw
ing himself up to his full height Of six
feet, land when you're as old as am
and half as wise, Billy, you'll know that
a pretty girl is worth ten times the
thought our old frumps of generals, de-
mand. My name amt Gordon il l
haven't mind to waltz over there
through the mist and the wind just to
tell them I've sent for Squeers. Then
I'll get look at the girls"
"1've got to 60 back said Billy, land
you've no business to-with Mrs. Cor
don and an interesting family to con-
slider. What tent'd the ladies go to? I
| didn't see EN-
Mrs. Gordon, sub, said the adjutant,
with placid superiority, 'considers it a
reflection on her sex when fail To nay
it due homage. Of course, you didn't
see the ladies. The party was shown
into the generals own domicile.
Couldn't you see how many young fel-
lows were posing in picturesque atti-
tudes in front of it? Awe, Hank!" he
suddenly shouted to an officer striding
past the tent in dripping mackintosh.
/ 'Goin' up to division headquarters
Just tell the staff or the chief I've sent
an orderly galloping after Squeers.
He's half way to the Presidio now, but
it'll be an hour before they can get
back" The silent officer nodded and
went on, whereat Gordon made q spring
for the entrance and hailed again.
| "Say, Hank! Who are the damsels ?"
| The answer came back through the
fog: -. .:s.&!!.. .
! People from the east-looking for a
runaway. Old gent, pretty daughter,
and pretty daughters pretty cousin.
Heard the orders?'
Damn the orders! They don't touch
us. Where do they come from?"
"D'rect from Washington, they say.
Three regiments to sail at once, and"
"Oh, know all that." shouted Cor.
don, impatiently. ut was all over camp
an hour ago! Where do they-the
girls s-come from? What's their
name?"
wasn't presented - was the sulky re-
ply. Let lot of stuffy old women
show up in search Of long-lost sons and
those fellows at headquarters unload
them on us in less than no time, but a
brace of pretty girls! Why; they
double the gate guards so that no out
slider can SO much as see them. Billy,
here, knows 'em. Ask him." -,
BY this time the youngster had ranged
up alongside the adjutant and was
laughingly enjoying the latest arrivals
TRADE at the expense of the headquar-
ters' staff, but at his closing words
Lieut.. Billy's grin Of amusement sud-
den left his face, giving way to look
of blank amaze. ~ n
II know 'em! I haven't been east of
the Big Muddy since was kid. :"
"They asked for you, just the same,
just after you started. Least one of 'em
did-for What's-his-name3-the chief
military legal adviser, came out bare
headed and called after you, but you
were out of hearing. He said the cousin,
the prettiest one, recognized you as you
skipped away from the generals tent,
and pointed you out to her friend.
Somebody explained you were running
an errand for one of those aids too lazy
to go himself, and that you'd be back
presently" 3@..s->@ II -st
"Then go at once, young man." said