The National tribune., 1900-08-09

Great Scott, murmured 81, but that!
business-great business from the wore
go You ought to be able to get togeth
| er without the least trouble a crowd OF
| first-class fellows. 1t ought to be done
and there's pile Of boys that'd just jumI
| at the chance O. doing it,
why, there's 10000 men thatd 90 fol
that like a catfish for a june-bug," saiG
Shorty.
"Mebbe there is. There ought to be-
EN-. Some o them seem to think I'm q
rebel spy and want to toll 'em out into
some trap. But most of 'em are so sick
and tired o humping over the country
and shooting and burning, that they'd as
soon hear you talk O headache and
cramps as going anywhere for anything
Why, l don't believe that some of ENID
go five miles to find distillery."
well, there's no use Of us thinking
about it" said 81, decisively. "Orders is
strict for us to stay right here, and re.
cooperate, as the Surgeon calls it. We
daresent even go out into camp, much less
90 out o camp. But you'll be certain to
find somebody tomorrow. They won't
let such chance as that 60. There's tat
too. Well, goodnight, and good luck to
you"
The next day seemed incomparably
more wearisome and dull than its prede-
cessors. The bright air was crisp and full
of stimulus, but the same dead calmness
reigned over the camps, enfeebled men tot
tered about the hospital as usual, and the
Surgeon and his assistants went with slow
precise mOnotOny about their routine of
duty;
''Taint at all the kind of day to be
idhng," said 81, restlessly, as he looked
over hazy hills southwark. up home
Pas had everybody out airly, with break
fast at daylight. and him and his men are
lighting into that corn-field like e bear
for hOney-comb. l wonder how much
he'll cut to the acre off that new ground. .
He ought to get at least 80 bushels if the
seasons been good. I'd like to be with
him. IL l amt to do nothing here. l think
it'd do me lot o good to jump in and cut
a few acres"
I'D heap rather cut railroad" said
Shorty, listening to the distant whistle of
locomotive to the sOuthward. Every
time | hear that whistle it seems to taunt
me. Seems to dare me to come out there
and stop it. l hope that engineers gath
cred up the right kind of a crowd, and
went out"
Seems he haint," answered 81, "for
there he comes"
Tom Radbone had only discouragement
to relate in regard to his getting men.
Those who were not too mentally and
physically tired to consider such an ex-
plot distrusted him. He was too recent
an acquaintance for them to take much
risk on. He was also afraid to talk
around very extensively, for fear that the
project would come to the ears of some
officers who would try to prevent it, or of
some rebel spy in camp, who would warn
his friends.
The locomotive whistle sounded again.
much nearer than before. 1t had taunt
and dare" to Sis ears as it had to
Shorty's.
You're sure we can get out there be-
fore morning?" he asked, in a tone which
Shorty had long ago recognized as indi-
eating that his mind was fully made up.
and horses would not pull him off his de
termination.
Sure" answered Tom Radbone conf
IDENTIFY.
How many men do you want?"
Fifteen ought to be enough. Twenty
five d be a great plenty"
Wen take 90" said ST. "There's me
and Shorty and you. That's three. Well
take Harry .Ioslyn. That makes four
You go right back to the company and
tell Scott Meade. Pat Rafferty,, Bob Still
water and Tod Andrews to come up here
at once and see me. They're all as game
as bull-terriers, and each has one or two
in mind that's as good as he is. TwOn't
be no trouble to make up the party out o
Co. Q alone, and Co. on get all the cred
it."
A message from 81 ranked all other
business with the boys Of Co. Q. and the
men named came with all speed in re-
sponse to his call. Since he propounded
the scheme they fell eagerly in with it.
and, as 81 predicted, each had chunis that
he wanted to have a share The trouble |
would be in limiting the number that
would want to go. The arrangements
were made with the quickness that veter-
ans were accustomed to think and act in
matters, and the other boys
departed to notify their chums and get in |
readiness for the night.
''Serg't Klegg and Corporal Elliott are |
up to something" said Surgeon Folsom
to his Hospital Steward. They're too /
active-minded to bear lying idle. I've no |
ticed them comforting with some of the
others in a very significant way. l guess
I'd better cut off their iron and quinia and |
give them a little sedative instead TliI
90 over there and have a little talk with |
them. Give me that bottle of rye''
The dose that he prepared for them had |
no stimulus beyond the evanescent effectl
Df the liquor, but was as calming as a safe
quantity of bromides could make it.
Hello, boys" he called out genially, as
ne came up. How are you getting along? /
Fine. l can see that with the naked eye.
Couldn't be doing better. The other boys