The National tribune., 1900-07-26

81 TELL YOU" SAID SHORTY Doc
kyars come in an stopped. Then he done
gin me the slip, as | turned my head ter
speak ter some one who called me, an
| thought hit wuz the Lootenant."
Were You on the engine, Corporal"
asked the Union officer.
Yes, Captain, l was" answered
Shorty, respectfully saluting.
What were you doing thereT
well, the train came to a stop out
there in the woods, and stayed so long
that | wondered what was up, as | was
anxious to git through. | climbed up on
the engine, and found nobody there, so
Just opened her up, and brung her
through akiting."
''Y're Il lyin'," said the guard; 81 wuz
on thar all the time
You wasn't, nothing of the kind;
neither you nor your partners, the mig
gers. Iou didn't come on till we got with
in Il couple o miles o here, when we
stopped for water. Then you come sneak
ing up from the cabOose, where you'd bin
gambling with the rest o the guards, and
the niggers come when / hollered for 'em
to carry some water for the tender"
Hits lie. | wuzzent gamblin' in the
caboOse," yelled the guard. who found
himself placed on the defensive. Il wuz-
zent off the injine but minute arter l
'Then you did git off, did yo'?" said
Lieut.. Turlcy. wrathfully. as he came
running up. How dnrst 20 git off when
my orders WIZ
Lieutenant. is that your engineer?"
asked the rebel Captain, cutting short his
objurgations.
''Yes, that's him." said the Lieutenant,
Il CLEAN Of pleasure and Il g!oat of ven
seance lighting up his face, as his eyes
rested on Shorty.
You're a liar said Shorty. even better
pleased to have an opportunity of speak
ing his mind to him. I'm Dan Elliott,
Fifth CORPORAL Go. Q-Capt. McGillicud-
Infantry. captured in the charge at Ken
csaw. June 21-
NO, hit aint. nuther," said the Lieu
tenant, with look of disappointment
chasing away his exultation. ''Favors
him Il little, but not much. My injineer
wuZ = wellfavored man-at least tOllubly
well-fayOred fur Il Yankee-not Il NANCY
faced, ornery-lookin' nigger-thief like
that"
'"Thanks for your opinion" said Shorty.
Il mayn't be exactly what you might call
purity, but I'll compare with you"
But he's bin helping play this skulldug-
gerry on me-" yelled the Lieutenant. He's
mixed in hit somehow. Lee me have him.
I'll take him back ter Andersonvile with
me, and Ill see
Captain" said the Union officer to the
rebel .'since the Lieutenant says that
this is not the engineer, and the mans
record seems clear | suppose there's no
objection to passing him on. Time presses,
and we've got a lot to do today"
You're certain, Lieutenant, that that's
not your engineer" said the rebel Cap
tain.
Yes. I'm sure answered the Lieuten-
ant. But let me have him. Turn him
back, and
Captain" said the Union officer, firm
ly, ''we claim this man. He's clearly all
right and entitled 20 exchange"
Then to Shorty:
"Pass on, sir. Check off his name,
there"
BE sure you mark me off right said
Shorty, rs he passed the man who was
doing the checking. ''Daniel Elliott
that last with two Is and two is. There's
some very common ElliottS, who can't af
ford to have all the letters that belong
to the name. They're no relation,-Fifth
Corporal, Co. Q-Capt. McGillicuddys
company-2O0th Injianny Volunteer In
Pass on. I've got you all right said
the man, impatiently.
but whar's my injineer? l want my
injineer. I'm bound ter have him. He's
done went in thar" yelled Lieut.. Turley
I'VE have the right to re-examine those
W
Captain ''And | shall have to insist upon
il, since this officer is so confident. Re
call that first squad,-I see them right
over there,-and let us look them over
again
The Union Captain was reluctant to do
this, but could give no good reason for
refusing. He called out:
''You men of the 2O0th Indiana, there,
come back here"
The engineer looked as if he was going
to faint, and then made a movement as
if to run, but 81 said:
Hold on. Don't do that. It'll be a
dead give away. Come up to the rack,
fodder or no fodder. We'll lie you through
somehow We've got Shorty now to help"
They marched back to where the Off
GERS were standing.
'Serg't Josiah Klegg, Co. Q, 20Oth In
diana Volunteer Infantry" called out the
man in charge of the checking.
Here" answered 81, promptly.
They all looked him over, and the Lieu
tenant decided that he was not the man
he wanted.
An right. Fall back" said the Cap
tain.
Corporal Daniel Elliott, Co. Q, 2OOth
Indiana Volunteer Infantry"
Here" said Shorty.
"Fall back. We've had enough of you,"
said the rebel Captain.
You haint had as much as you're GO
ing to get. by IL fnll bushel-and-a-h
mIrmured Shorty. as he walked away.
Montgomery Scruggs. Alfred Russell.
Gideon Mackall, Henry Joslyn, Alexander