The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1903-08-13

descriptive rolls sent for. and when they
come your discharges will be made out.
You will have to take them then, any way.
If you want to stay in the army you can
prOba bly, find chance to reenliSt."
| At this 81 and Shorty gave such n snort
Of dissent that the Doctor fled from their
presence.
We'll just wait and see." said ST, as
he and Shorty conferred together in the
! absence of their wives. This is none of
our doing. We haven't applied for our dis
charges. and if the Government chooses to
| give them to us, We can't help ourselves.
OF course we're both anxious to be free and
so home with our wives. though l must
confess l have lingering longing to be
here with the boys at the end, which can't
be far off. Wen just wait few days
and see what turns up
Though the girls We're in breathless
anxiety for the arrival of the discharges,
DR.. Brookes did not reappear, day after
day.
In the meanwhile, they put in most of
their waiting hours in seeing the wonder
full sights of the great Capital City. They
visited the Treasury, the Smithsonian, and
looked from the outside at the little plain
building where fhe War Department was
| enSconced, but were never able to get in
side, on account of the crowd of officers
and soldiers that thronged it from the
break Of day until far into the night; they
went to the Capitol to watch the proceed
ings and listen to the dull. dreary speeches.
| The girls We're afraid to stay away from
the boarding house long. for fear of miss
ing DIR. BroOkes coming with the dis
charges. Occasionally. however. they
could not resist the truly feminine tempta-
ton Of shopping. and spent some hours
in wandering through the brilliant stores
Then. their husbands would go to Capt.
| Lunsford and ask for a detail to get them
| selves back to earth again and be con-
WINGED that they were not mere drones and
butterflies fitting through the sunshine of
happiness. but were of some use to the
Government and others.
On Pennsylvania Avenue 81 and Shorty.
walking with their wives. saw Il couple of
men approaching, one of whose faces had
something familiar in its look. Both were
dressed in the hight of fashion. and car
ried slender gold-headed ebony canes
Each had a solitaire of striking bigness
and brilliance flashing from his cravat, and
similar gem sparkled on IA big ring on
his finger. Both We're unmistakable Jews.
from their scented. oiled burIy profusion
of jet-black hair, to their hawk-lke noses
and blazing jewels. The man at whom 81
and Shorty glanced particularly started
slightly. returned their glance with inter
est, and made 4 step toward them.
II declare, l believe this is an old
friend, Solomon Rosenbaum," exclaimed
81, putting out his hand, to the amazement
Of Maria and Annabel, at his daring ad-
dress Of so magnificent 4 gentleman.
so id ISIS; so id iss," answered the man,
shaking Sis hand so earnestly that the
big ring cut painfully into the flesh. can't
dis is ST Klegg ant dis ISIS Shorty. My
Colt, but I'm gladt TO see you."
And here are our wives" said 81, first
presenting Annabel and then Maria; this
| is my wife. and this Shorty's.'
Married, alretty," exclaimed Rosen-
baum with jolly exclamation. throwing
back his hands, palms upward and out
| ward in the characteristic Jewish fashion.
Couldn't wait till you got oudt of de
| army. Bud don't plane you. If 1 could
only get such kirl l wouldn't vait a min
ute, army or no army, My Colt, bud I'm
gladt to see you. Raider see you poys
dan all de shenerals from Krant down.
Can see dem any day. Why didn't you led
I'd hat sendt you de vinest present l could
puy. l want to talk 4 whole mont to you. |
Bud l mustn't stop to dalk to you now.
Dell me where you are sdaying. 1 want |
you andt your sharming vifes"-
He took off his glossy silk hat and made
a profound bow to the ladies, who re-
sponded with cOurtesies.
i VaHt you anu your ShafnilnS WIGS
to dake dinner wit me ad Shamberlain's,
where We can dalk. l want to hear all
dat has happened to you. andt dell you
what Pfe bin doing. FIFE hat some lifeIy |
eggsperience. l gan dell you. | must go
up to the Secretary of de Treasury now.
Goot pye. I'll see you in day or two
A week. ten days passed. and still no
more from DR.. BroOkcs and the discharges.
The girls were in despair. and would have
gone to look him up if they had known
where to find him in that wilderness of
offices and headquarters. 81 and Shorty
remained firm in their determination to lift
no finger in the matter. but wait for
whatever should come.
The air was full Of rumors and stories