Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1901-07-13

against the buffers of tho old tour
lists ark assigned the recruits.
Somewhere up at the thronged sta
ton bell began to jangle, followed
by the shout of Cali aboard"
Tumble in, you men," ordered Con-
nelly, and at the moment there came
general movement of the crowd in
their direction. The passengers of
the sleepers were hurrying to their
assigned places, some with flushed
faces and expostulation. They
thought their cars should have come
to them.
'It's because our train is so very
long," explained the brakeman to
some ladies he was assisting up the
steps. We've twice as many cars as
usual. Yours is the next car, ma'am;
the one behind the diner"
The recruit, Foster, had started,
but slowly, when in obedience to the
corporal's order his fellows began to
move. He was still looking, half in
search, half in expectation, towards
the main entrance of the station
building. But the instant he became
aware of the movement in his direc
ton on part of the passengers, he
pushed ahead past several of the
party; he even half showed aside one
of their number who had just
grasped the hand rail of the car, then
sprang lightly past him and disap-
peared within the doorway. There,
half-hidden by the gloom of the in
terror, he stood well back from the
grimy windows, yet peering intently
through the swiftly passing crowd.
Suddenly he stopped, recoiled, and
seated himself in the opposite section
while his comrades came filing rapid
ly in, and at the moment a tall young
: officer in dark uniform. a man per-
haps of 25, with a singularly hand
some face and form, strobe past the
window, scrupulously acknowledged
Connelly's salute, and then, glancing
about, saw the heads and shoulders
Of d dozen. soldiers at the windows.
"Why, what detachment is this,
corporal?" he asked. eve brought
no troops on our train
Recruits the cavalry, SIR" was
the ready answer: eve came by way
Of Denver"
"Ah, yes; that explains it. Who's
| in commando" And the tall officer
looked about him as though in search
of kindred rank.
eve have no officer with us, sir"
said Connolly, automatically. "Pm-
in charge"
you'll have to hurry, sir" spoke
on the diner, if you like, and go
through
The officer took the hint and
sprang to the steps. There he turned
and faced the platform again just as
the train began to move.
A little group, two ladies and a
man of middle age, stood directly OPP
posite him, closely scanning the
train, and all of a sudden their faces
beamed, their chances were directed,
their hands waved towards him.
"Good-by! Good-by! Take good
care of yourself! Wire from Sacra-
mento!' were their cries, addressed
apparently to his head, and turning
quickly, he found himself confronting
young girl standing smilingly on
the platform of the dining car, her
tiny feet about on a level with his
knees; yet he had hardly cast an up
ward glance, for her beaming, beau
/ tiful face was but a trifle higher than
his own. In all his life he had never
seen one SO pretty.
Realizing that he stood between
this fair traveller and the friends
who were there to wish her god
speed; recognizing, too, with the
swift intuition of his class, the posi-
bility of establishing relations on his
own account, the young soldier
snatched off his new forage cap, brief
! ly said: 81 beg your pardon; take
my place." and, swinging outward,
transferred himself to the rear OF
the recruit car. thereby causing the
corporal to recoil upon grinning
squad of embryo troopers who were
shouting jocular farewell to the ma
tives, and getting much in the way
of train hands who were busy
Strengthening out the bell cord.
Something seemed amiss with that
portion of it which made part of the
equipment of the old tourists car.
1t was either wedged in the narrow
orifce above the door or caught
among the rings of the pendants
from above, for it resisted every jerk,
whereat the brakeman set his teeth
and said improper things. 1t would
have grieved the management to
hear this faithful employees denunci-
alton of that particular item of their
rolling stock.
Get out OF the way here, boys, and
| let's see what's the matter with this
dinged bell cord" he concluded, ell
bowling his way through the swarm
about the door. Once fairly within,
he threw quick glance along the
aisle. The left sections of the car
were deserted. Out of almost every
window on the right side poked a
head and pair of blue flannel Shout
ders.
| ITO Be Continued
TRIED TO BUNCO CLERGYMAN.