The Newtown bee., 1901-08-23

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 and see if we could not capture the
 wretch. Icalled on Lieut. Spaulding
 and soon had the detail in readiness. I | also accompanied them. After securing the outskirts of the | town for a short time, we noticed a | cavalry soldier in the rear of a barn l across the road acting very strangely, so much so that we hailed him. As he approached us discovered that it was
 the same soldier whose foot had come
 so near stepping on few days before. We asked him if he had been at the drug store. He answered, very inno- cently, that he had not. Soon how ever, after little more questioning,
 his senses came to him, for he saw we were "dead on to him." and he ad- mitted that he had been there. The following conversation then ensued:
 What company and regiment do you belong to?"
 "I belong to the tn Illinois cavalry"
 "What is your name?" "My name is Cavalry Tom.'' "What is your pOsition?'' "I am the captains orderly" This was correct as those with me well knew, and it was while attending to his duties that one of his horses had trampled on his foot, severely lacerat-
 ing it;
 "What was your object in visiting the drug mans premises and creating disturbance there?" "I was not the cause of any disturb ance. I went there for the purpose of seeing if they would not part with some articles of wearing apparel, for which 1 was willing and prepared to pay.
 But they iusultingly refused me, and gave vent to their internal gibberish about the Tanks, as they called us. At first stood by and laughed at them, their secession talk in this country, and not until they began to rake me over the coals personally and finally called me rebel deserter, and threat ened to call the provost guard did l speak. It was then that opened my mouth on them and gave them some good United States unionism, and told them plainly and distinctly what I thought of the whole rebel horde. This paralyzed them and the old duffer at once rushed over to the provost marshal's office, and I, to avoid being mixed up in the matter, skedaddled party when you first started out, and knew you were looking for me and would, sooner or later, find me, so I have given myself up to explain" "What kind of wearing apparel did you desire to pEocure?'' This question seemed to Stagger him, and he gave me no answer. During all this time he had been very
 busy talking with us, and all at once it daWned upon me as to who and what he was.
 Now Cavalry Tom" was a character among the soldiers, well-known and liked by all in the Seventeenth army
 corps. He was perfectly loyal and true
 to his master, the captain, as well as his country. He was one of the most l reckless, daredevil riders in the whole l squadron, and in action and on the | scout, was as brave and fearless as the | best of them.
 But, Tom," I repeated, "What
 kind of wearing apparel did you want
 to purchase of those women folks?" He flushed up-muttered something very evasively, and not pertinent to the question.
 "Well, Tom," said, "You are not
 what you represent yourself to be- ''I have not represented myself to be Cavalry Tom'"
 "But you are not Cavalry Tom'."
 "I certainty am, and can prove it. No one knows me by any other name. " But that is not your real name?" "That have not denied.'' "Well," said l, as reached out and
 gently touched him on the breast of l his coat, "your name may be Cavalry TOm,' but you are a-WOman!' "Well, 1 have not denied that either, ! have |? and do not now. supposed everybody knew that" And such indeed was the case. AL 1 though had seen him thousands of | times, and had heard the remark made
 that he was woman, had never be- lieved it.
 "Well, Tom," said l, "I have got orders, personally, from headquarters
 to arrest you and bring you there at 1 once. But guess we can smooth it
 over, and make it all right with you" "Lieutenant! You are not going to arrest me are you? You would not be
 mean enough to arrest woman, and for such complaint, and from such a source.
 And thus she went on. First plead. ing, then cOaxing, as a woman only can do, and then using her art of flattery. Seeing that her efforts were apparently
 all in vain, she ended off with the re- mark:
 "That if I was an officer, was no
 gentleman!'
 l.-z .