Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1901-05-31

after dinner"
I didn't just asked you II you
expected us TO live on canned beef all
the time Say, we got fred on three
Inherent times at the bridge last
: night"
Any one hurt?"
; NO
Did you shoot any one?"
Don't know. We fired back, but |
guess we didn't hit anything. Speer OF
Cmpany H, night before last. shot
81 man who tried to run the line: at
least, that Is what Speer reported ia
the morning but | notice that Com
pany HIS eating fresh mutton. and the
commissary hasn't issued any. either.
I Why can't one Of our fellows shoot
bne Of Speer's men? Lazy beggars!"
Bob said the other sergeant. I'm
dead broke. and my credit is not good
Rt the store over there They don't
= know me, and"
They do know youl" chuckled
Sergeant Bob
Keep still, As | started to say,
<haye no money. and I'm tired of the
food myself | want to buy some
|=craekers. Now II you have any cash.
q and will get a box of crackers. Ill tell
q you where you can get bah. wash
your clothes, and feel like a man and a
brother once more"
r. Sergeant. tthe crackers are yours!
Where IS that corner of paradlse?"
r Hold on, Don't be in such hurry.
You go up an persuade the commissary
sergeant to give you bar of that i'm
AbOrted yellow soap while | go and
ise my influence with one Of the hos
pital corps to get a couple of big tow
n Is
your influence, You've got about
Is much influence as a laEce-corporsl.
- Ind that's nothing. Besides. have a
lowell,
"So'ye l., but we want to do this
thing in style. Wen take our blan-
kets for togas, and do the Roman SEN
ator while sur .duds are drying. And
" NY influence is all right. because the
big towels are hanging behind the hos
btal tent. and the fellows arc at the
~ <lrgeon's tent. hearing a lecture on
ones. Skip along after that soap.
- low"
where is this place you're talking
bout?"
Robert, you pain me! Can't you
a ake It on trust? There is WE'LL
"Yes. at home. And wish had a
arrel Of water from 1t now"
ADont interrupt my eloquence.
bre Is we'll. a deep well, with
hr cold water. on a hillside near a
ned log house. By that well is a
'rter section of a hogshead. once
d for watering cattle. now convert
by my genius into bath-tub. A
elm spreads its umbragsous arms
er soft grass. where"
That will DO I'm going for the
ap on a rum" and Sergeant Bob
s<=ruggled into his blouse and de
,arto1.
An hour later two blankotdFaped
1oys lev on the grass under the elm.
The camp was out of sight behind a
shoulder Of the hill. On fence near
~ various garments were drying
7lecks of sunlight struggled through
he leaves overhead. and made a gol
md green patchwork of the grass. A
,arren corn-field, with last years
talks cut close to the ground
itretched away up the bill to fringe
4 bushes. the advance guard Of the
crest. An old well, with rotting
he'd above a rough stone curb. was
iear the tree Against the well-shed
eaned two rifles. with bayon t.. belts
md cartridge-boxes hung on the ram
OILS.
Now this Ia luxury" said Sergeant
Sob: "but If that fat lieutenant Of the
,uard caught us outside of the lines,
we'd get into trouble"
This is worth II. isn't it? AS some
me said once, you cannot take away
ne dinners we have eaten. and not
ven the fat"
B-z-z-z-t, Something sang through
he air like a bee. and struck the tree.
runk near by.
B-z-z-zt Another singing through
he air. and two white streaks arose
rom the enveloplng blankets and
ought cover hurriedly. From a patch
f bushes on the edge of the corn.field
little pun of blue smoke fioatcd lazi-
y upward.
Nov, who on earth can that be?
Any one mean enough TO fire at two
'eaceful children-Are you hurt?''
.sked Sergeant Bob. from behind a
rec.
mo, I'm not. but I'm very uncom,
whats the matter?"
"Whr, look at me-" said the ether
ergesnt. Here | am. lying in a pud-
lie Of ice-water."
why don't you get out Of it. them
Get out of it? These old we'll
'oards won't stop a ball. and | have
o stay fiat on the ground behind this
urb. | don't want to get shot. This
5 where you tipped over that bucket
4 water. wish I had that viliaini'
A shot from the thicket answere
i'm as he shook his fist beyond tnt
orner Of the well. Sergeant Boil
eaned against the tree and laughed
hen ne stopped laughing and won
Iered how long the unseen marksmaI
would keep them there, and IL theil
Ibsence from camp would be noticed
Il noon mess.
Every movement. II seemed. brough
shot from the bushes. = Once In |
while the man in the tfiicket turne,
lis attention 10 the clothes on tn,
ence AMI shot holes In them, Will,
he owners howled at him from thei
over,