The National tribune., 1901-11-21

man in Injianny. though it amt good JuS
iness for me to go biattin' politics. I've
got two sons in the 18th Injianny-Wil-
der's Lightnin' Brigade. What | wanted
to tell you was the news in n special e.
the Cincinnati Gazette. L got the paper
from a man who come up on the Othey
train. There it is. Read for Yourself"
The Deacon took the paper, aud read
where WitherS pointed out:
An officer who arrived at Fortress
Monroe last night. on q fast dispatch boat,
with dispatches for the War and Navy
Departments. says that the L. :. steamer
Flag. stationed in Ossabaw Sound, was
boarded the night before he left by u party
OF scouts from the 200th Ind. Infantry.
who had succeeded in making their way
through the rebel lines near Fort McAllis-
ter. They reported that Sherman's army
had come through in great shape-fat,
ragged and saucy-sweeping everything
before it. and was now closing in around
savannah. and would take it in q few
days, in spite of all the rebels could do.
This confirms the news said to have been
received through Capt. Duncan, one OF
Shcrman's scouts, who hOated down the
Savannah River. in canoe. and leaves
little doubt that Sherman's army is all
right. and on the eve of u glorious sue
cess"
Warm tears Of joy rolled down over the
DeacOn's smOOth-Shayen cheeks as he
tried to read the double-leaded dispatch
over again. He took of his glasses, wiped
them vigorously, with his huge red BAN
dana, and then blew a blast from his
nose that startled the brakeman as sig
nal to Down brakes"
When he cooled down enough TO trust
his voice he said:
Sol. | hain't no money to bet on ketch-
ing straps, nor buying gold bricks. but
I'm tempted to offer you 500 for that
there paper"
"Thankee," grinned Sol. in whose cves
stood tears also. But l think thc IS
| 800 worth o good in il for me. Il l.
long piece about Wilders Lightnin' l. i
| gade.'
| The two men now became quite chu-J-
my over the war news. their boys in TO
army, the political outlook, etc.
| The train soon ran on to Il switch fr
another long wait, and two or three young
soldiers. apparently on sick-furlough. came
| in. They were quite disturbed about
something. and one Of them, pale boy Of
10, looked very dOwncast.
They were talking so earnestly tOgetheH
| and seemed in so much trouble. that the
| DeacOn's warm heart for anybody who
wore blue moved him to inquire into the
matter. They heSitated at first, but At
last one of them told the whole story:
! why, while we were waiting ont there
| a big, smooth-faced man, dressed in black
| clothes, and who seemed a very nice man,
| came up and got to talking with us about
the army. He semed all right, though he
said something about Sherman surrender
ing. He said he wanted to amuse us and
put in the time while we were waiting,
and pulled out leather strap and began
showing us about catching it Finally he
got Tont Allison, here, who's always q
fool about betting, andll bet on anything,
| to betting he could catch it. He let Tont
Il ILL A,r-ix thar,
got him to put down S25, all his furIough
pay, and won it away from him
He did-the condemned scoIndrel.~
shouted the Deacon. Wen Just 20 and
find him, and make him give the money
back, or break his butternut neck"
That's what we will" echoed SOD
Withers.
| They went forward into the car which
the Deacon had first entered, and saw sit
| ting in the seat he had occupied a heavy,
| brOad-shouldered man. dressed in black,
| and wearing a silk hat.
The Deacon walked unhesitatingly for
ward. and brought his heavy hand do IN
upon the mans shoulder. and said:
''See here, you fellow; l want you, with.
! out any IFS or ands, to give back that $50
you skinned that poor soldier boy out Of"
The astonished man turned around q
broad. heavy face, with mustash and chin
whiskers, piercing black eyes, and nose
deformed by its bridgelessness.
Why, Gov. Norton gasped the Dea.
con, shrinking back.
why, my dear old friend. Deacon
Klegg," said the Governor. reaching for
his cane to rise. ''How's Posey Countyf
What in the worlds the matter?'
The Deacon hastily explained. and ths
Governor ragged, as he always did, when
one of his ''soIdierboys" was imposed
upon.
Virgins" he said, turning to the man
by him, ''go and find that villain. Wen
don't move till that boy has his money
back Deacon. sit down here by me. and
tell me about our friends in Posey COun-
ty."
CTo be continued)