The National tribune., 1902-04-03
I'm with you," heartily echoed sho

I'm with you," heartily echoed Shorty.
While they were out grooming their
horses in the comfortable stables vacated
by the family coach and riding horses, and
feeding them the abundant forage found
there, Otterbein Kramer had taken pos
session Of the kitchen and impressed the
| negro women to willing work. The house
| servants had all gone off with their mis-
tress, but the field hands took great pride
in being promoted to do their duties. Kra-
mer unceremOniously pried open locked
closets, cupbOards and Golfers, taking
| therefrom table linen, china, glass and
| provisions. While some of his clumsy, but
willing, ASSISTANTS attended to the opera
tiOnS in the kitchen, he had the younger
| and hkelier spreading the clots on the long
dining table and setting it with the best
ware the house afforded. With all his re-
| ligiOus enthusiasm Kramer had keen love
for the elegancies of his art. and this was
| the first opportunity he had had in many a
| day for indulgence in them. Centuries be-
| fore he would have been abbot of some
monastery, who would have devoted his
| days to hard missionary work among the
| poor peasants, and then come home in the
evening to ''refectOry" which would have
been the astonishment of the rude barons
of his neighbOrhood.
| BY the time the boys were through with
their horses, had cleaned themselves up
and were marshaed around the table he
was ready to serve up a meal in which he
could take fair amount Of pride, and
they an infinite amount of satisfaction.
There was even napkin at each plate
and, following Sis example, each one
tucked his under his chin, while odors that
fOated into the room made their mouths
water.
They were just through with their soup
when they heard a clatter of horses hoOfs
coming up the road. Without removing
their napkins they sprang up, seized their
guns and ran out onto the pOrtico. Pete
and Sandy each prOvidently grabbed a
chunk of bread off the table as they ran,
and stood munching it as ST and Shorty
peered down the road for the newcomers.
Halt! Who comes there:" challenged
81 as the horses turned from the road to-
ward the house.
Hello, Sergeantr' answered the voice
of the Adjutant. Its the Colonel and l.
We've been hunting you. We've brought
Shad Graham with u.s.
Where in the world did you come
from?" asked 81, after the hearty greet |
ings on the portico. We've been wanting |
to report to you for days, but there seemed |
no way, and there was always work ahead |
that needed immediate attention"
That's all right, Sergeant" replied the |
Colonel. We've heard incidentally all |
about you, and knew that you were put
ting in the time to good advantage. We |
unexpectedly got the advance this morn
ing and pushed out this way a good dis
tance. After going into camp the Adju-
tant and l started out on a little recon
noissance. We met Shad Graham, who
told us about where he thought you were,
and we started out to find yOu. We knew
we should get something good TO eat when
we did find you."
"And you were right, Colonel, as you
always are" answered Shorty. We've
got just the bossest dinner in here that
ever you ct. It'll even tickle you, Adju-
tant. Somehow, we must have knowed
that you were coming"
well, Sergeant, you are an astonish-
ment to me-" gasped the Colonel, as he
took in the dining room, lighted with can
dies in silver candelabra. I'm never ex-
actly prepared for anything that you may
do, but l know that II approve of it, and
never any more than do at this minute"
"And this aint all. Colonel" said 81.
turn over to you the finest lot of forage
taken by any regiment since we left At ;
atna. And more'n that, we've got $780,
OCU i'll Confederate money for you. Here,
boys, shell out"
BLAST the Confed," said the Adiutant.
Don't bother about 1t now. Let's have :
Inner. I'd rather have dinner just now /
than all the Confed money you could bale c
up with 4 cottOn-press. The forage is |
splendid. It'll make good figure in the
report. Rebel money, nit"
After the meal, and when they were
seated around the fire, Shad Graham said:
what l came to hunt you up for, 81,
vas to say that the advance just ahead N
If Iny pOntOons, has reached the river
lbove here, and a careful reconnaissance s,
hows that there is going to be opposition O.
o the crossing. We must get across to- tC
morrow forenoon, or we'll have the whole V,
ebel army in front of us, and l wanted to ii
SIX you to work your way over here on a