The National tribune., 1901-09-12

see for yourself. on the label-right from
the private stock of the commander of the
fcrt,' said Shorty, after they had gone
behind the tent.
"GoodncsS; come over here farther,
where the Colonel can't possibly hear
you, whispered the excited Adjuiant.
old Hazen's just tearing mad about
our getting the things. said 81. We
yaEked them right out from under the
noses of his guards.
The devil you did?' exclaimed the de-
lighted Adjutant Took them right away
from under his guards!
Yes; and he's h0tter'n a hornet about
II. He didn't find it out until after he'd
dismissed us. and we'd gone, and then he
sent couple of Aids after us TO bring
US back where he could skin US alive. We
lodged EN- all the way back, but they'll
probably come clear here after us"
They'll have lively time getting you,"
remarked the Adjutant. grimly. Say.
you haven't reported To me yet, you
know. he added meaningly. This is
merely little informal visit, which don't
count and nobody knows anything about.
Don't be III hurry about reporting To-
morrow morning, or the day after, viii do
just as well"
But we want to get our letters said
81, apprehensiyely, Just as soon as they
core in. That's one reason why we hur-
r.ed back"
Don't worry about your mail. tn be
promptly sent to your address, the Ad-
Jutant assured him. And you snatched
this stuff right from the rebel command
er's private locker, right under the nose
Of HaZen's guards ~ the Adjutant
chuckled, looking over the demijOhn fond
ly. Yes, here's the direction, still on the
demijohn: To Major Geo. W. Anderson,
commanding Fort McAllister' Won't
that be something to show and crow
over? It'll be some time before | let
those smart Alexis in the Fifteenth Corps
hear the Last of this. They think they
are 50 everlastingly, cute, and the Four
tecnth Corps is only lot of jays"
The brandy's OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
best | ever tasted" he continued, smack
ing his lips over a taste. But it amt
anything to the rub on old Hazen, and the
Fifteenth Corps smarties | wouldn't
take 500 bill for that direction on the
demijohn. Tell me all about how you
got it. Speak low, so the Colonel cart
hear, nor anybody else
81 gave a full account.
And, Adjutant, l feel awful sorry
about that alligator meat said Sandy,
stepping up. We really didn't intend 10
fool you. I've brought you this string Of
sausage to make up for it,
Alligator meatE' said the Adjutant-
20, yes, L recoIIect now. o, that's all
right. We got that back with big inter-
cot OLl tllt DIlSduleE-t IeneTdi- ttad more
fun than box Of monkeys. And did
this come from the rebel commander's
private stock, too:'
Yes, indeed. Everything did
We'll, you fellows beat the world.
Make yourselves scarce now. Go back
10 your quarters, and devote yourselves
to getting Il good rest. Get a good one
while you're at it.
Pete rode over to where Aunt Minerva
Ann was grumbling her discomfort as she
laid pieces Of cypress on the fire. prepara-
tory to cooking the COlonel's breakfast.
Among other reasons for profound discon-
tent with the low country was cypress
wood for the fire. 1t did not burn nor
smell as any wood she had been accus-
toned to in the hilI-regiOn. and therefore
she hated 1t. She was wailing bitterly, as
the sound of Abednego's hOofs made her
raise her eyes. She saw the string of red
peppers across Pete's breast, the string
of sausage next, and the smear of mOlas-
ses over his legs and over AbednegO. The
idea that flashed into her mind mechan-
ically was that Pete had been terribly mu-
tilated and he and Abednego were daubed
with his blood. She proceeded to fall over
into lit of shrieking Mysteries.
Everybody rushed up to see what was
the matter. Pete, as soon as he could
disengage himself from his sticky saddle,
clambered down. and leaving a trail of
What in the worlds the matter,
Auntie?' he inquired, anxiOusly. Has
something bit you: Have you cramps?
What've you bin eating?'
20, my hOney-boy's dead at last. Dey've
killed him, as L knOwed dey would she
walled between fits. 'Dey's done tore
him all to pieces
Are you meaning me, Aunty?' asked
Pete, finally cOmprehending. We'll, they
haint killed me, by a long shot-40 rows
of apple trees. Look up here, Aunty. I'm
as live a boy as they make 'em, though
L m awful tired and hungry. But see
what I've brung you
And Pete laid down the fitch of bacon,
the hunk of dried beef. and began pull
ing off the strings over his shoulders.
Aunt Minerva AIMS commissions had
abated at the sound of his voice, and
ceased as Pete stripped off the peppers
and held them out in his hand.
Fore de Lawd, honey-boy, 1 done
fought dem was yer innards, when | fust
looked at you, and l wuz done skeered to
def
Il had gallon jug of the best New
Orleans mOlasSes, which / gobbled for
you. and carried almost here said Pete,
showing the handle of the jug, as corrob-
Grafton, but the jug got busted in the
rush through our lines
Pete" said the Adjutant, who came
back to give Aunt Minerva Ann the
viands to cook. you're like girls school
in the country-mo' lasSes than boys
sweet but refined. Lucky it isn't Sum-
mer, or the bees would eat you up
An hour later. while ST and the rest
were sleeping on full stomachs and piles
of rice straw, the sleep of youth and IA
ttgue, two unutterably tired young Lieu
who We're seeking Col. NcGilli-
cuddy's tent, presented themselves, and
were most cordially received by the
Colonel and Adjutant.
We belong to the staff of Gen. Ha-
zen,' they explained, and present his
to you"
Glad to meet you, gentlemen" said the
Colonel. Come in and be seated. Gen.
Hazen, / understand, performed very
brilliant feat yesterday, and captured Fort
AIcAllister. Please take my warmest con-
CALCULATIONS to him, express my sincere
hopes that the additional star, which he
earned a long time ago, will now come
to- him at once"
Thank you, Colonel"
You look very tired, gentlemen. Adju-
ant, haven't we something we can offer
hese gentlemen
Certainly, Colonel" said the Adjutant,
appearing with some glasses, which he
handed around.
why, Colonel this is not Commissary,
1t ALL said one of the Aids, slipping his
rink with the air of connoisseur. If
I'm any judge, this is fine old French
brandy. Where in the world did you get