The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1903-04-02

crowds. Il think he is one of the hand
soonest men l ever saw. Almost as good
looking as Father
| Or ST. said Annabel, more than half
audibly.
''Or Will,' echoed Maria, within herself.
Il don't wonder now,' she added aloud,
| that Mrs. Lincoln can stand this front
yard woman with such IA husband as
he ought TO put up with almost anything
On the sidewalk they met Sergeant
| Ammon.
Il have been watching for you" he
said. Il followed you up to the office of
| the Secretary of War. and made my way
in. but found that you had gone, and one
| of the doorkeepers whom know said that
you went over to the White House, so as
l wanted to see the Secretary of War, l
went in
''The Secretary of War; gasped Anna
bel. THAT horrid man! He was too hate
full to us for anything"
He was certainly horrider and crueller
than any Christian man ought to be-"
sighed Mrs. Klegg. Il didn't suppose
that a man could nave a heart so callOus
and live
He'll get his come-up-ance some day."
snapped Maria, land l don't care how
soon, and there will be no one gladder of
it than me-
"Why, l didn't find him so,' said the
father couldn't have been nicer or kinder
to me. When | went in he was just TAX
ing the head off of a Colonel in nice, new
uniform that hadn't a speck of field mud
on it, which tickled me, and then he tore
the stuffing out of a Major who had spent
most of his service in New York, which
ticked me some more. | couldn't help
grinning, and when the Secretary, shutting
them out spied me. thought my time had
come, and had a cold chill. but he beck
Oned me up. asked ne where / belonged.
where | was wounded, how long / had
served, and so on, and ! got pretty talka-
tive. and he seemed to listen with interest.
/ told him that / had expected to meet n
Congressman there, but that he had prob
ably gone. He said that would not make
any difference; that my service was bet
ter recommendation than any Congress
man could give, and asked me what
wanted. / told him that he Board re-
fused to examine me because the time set
for my appearance had passed, and |
would have to get a new order. l had
told them that the Surgeon would not let
me go, but that did not seem to make any
difference with them, and so l rushed over
to the War Department in hopes of finding
Judge julian there yet l can't just say
what the Secretary said when | told him
what the Board had done. but it sounded
something like what l have heard team
sters say to mules. He turned around to
a clerk and told him to make out an order
at once, which he handed to me, and said
that he was glad to assist any man who
had been fighting for his country. and that
it would give, him much qualification to
commission me if ! passed. and to let him
hear from me if | wanted anything. Why,
he is one of the incest men l ever met,
and l certainly hope | may be able to
vote for him. for President of the United
States when I4incoln's term is ont.
''The only soft spot l have ever been
able to find in Stanton is for the men who
are actually doing the fighting for the
country" said Judge Julian. ''He will
turn from Major-General any time to
help wounded soldier. | should like to
SEE him President of the United States. |
and he would make an excellent one. but /
fear much that he is accommodating too big
a crop Of enemies to ever permit that"
WELL" said the Sergeant. IF | have
any say he will be nominated, and elected,
too. | will work for him tooth and toe
nail. But how did you ladies get alOngE'
Get along" answered Maria trium-
phantly, fiourishing the pass from the
President. Get alongi We got more
than along. We got clear there with both
our large Indiana feet, as the boys say. |
Mr.. Lincoln has given us pass TO Colds
boro and an order on the Captain of any |
stopped and puzzled-.'it |
was not ship. What was it he said?'
1T wasn't railroad car" suggested Mrs. |
Klegg. trying TO recall, because it went |
on the water. it seems TO me-"
"Was it Il canal boat?" asked Annabel, |
endeavoring to help. Does canal run to |
ANY transport said Judge Julian. SIT |
is an order to the Captain of any trans /
port"
Transport" echoed Maria, still more
puzzled. what is n transport? Will we
have to walk part of the way. as the boys
do? Seems to me have heard 81 speak
about transports. but it pears like when
they went by them things they had to
walk and help along
"a transport is any sort of a vessel not |
armed, but used to carry men and sup
plies" explained Judge Julian. ''The
puzzle will be now to find the proper sort
of one for you to go on that will sail
SOON
81 am in hopes can help you out"
said Serg't AmmOn. Zone of my chums
in the regiment who was mustered out
nth the first companies last July. is now
in the Quartermaster's service, and has
charge of a boat that is going to Sherman.
| think he said it was going this after
noon when he met me. i will go right now
and see him and find out what sort of
craft it is. and whether you can be com
fortab.e on H.
Il don't mind whether it's comfortable
or not" said Maria. "Only find out if it
will take us there at once. That's the
main thing"
They had Just finished their monday
Inner at the boarding house when the
Sergeant came in radiant with pleasant
excitement.
''Give me something to eat" he ex-
claimed. Il am hungry as bear.
Haven't been as hungry since l was
but things have been going my
way so this morning that it has given me
4 raging appetite. / can talk while / am
eating"
BE very, careful not to eat too much"
said Mrs. klegg, noticing with motherly
the way he attacked the viands.
They say it's awful dangerous for boys
Just from the front to get where there are
lome victuals.f Mrs. Hollensteen's son
,ver on Wahoo Greek killed himself that
way The doctor said it was nothing
,lse."
.'No danger, of overeating on Washing
on clearinghouse grub" remarked the ,
Sergeant with his mouth full, neverthe- I
ess. "if it. were something of your cook
ng. Mrs. Klegg, it would be entirely diff =,
erent; but then, man would have the
satisfaction of dying happy"
well. what did you find out?" asked c
Maria, anxiousiy.
II had the good luck to run into Jim b
1llison-tIlats my old chum of the Sd G
nd Cav: he is now Quartermaster of @
he colOred troOps-just after l went out h
nd | fixed it all up with him. There
re n couple of nice staterooms that were e
eserved for officers who won't be able to h
%. and l fired at him the Presidents G