Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-19
INDIVIDUALLY the gang consisted |
of the captain. the aid-de-camp Cor,
m use the gangs less conventional |

10 use Une gang lcSS
IL pronunciation. the ''aid-de-kamp) and
one private; for the captain haf
thought it we'll to have military system
of organization. The captain and tint
aid de-camp had each seen the fullness
of eleven summers. The private had ex
perienced only nine.
The gangs ultimate destination was tc
be the Indian country, stronghold OF
Six-shooter Sam, the most recklessly dar
ing, elusory bandit in the territory, anc
the captains most adored hero to whom
the captain intended offering the gang
services and swearing fealty.
For to state the situation simply but
thrillingly. the gang was running away
No more would they be daily incarcerateo
in that abhorred institution erected b!
grown-ups for the torture of the young
commonly called a schoolhouse. No more
would they bow in CALLING submission fC
orders TO do the chores, reduce the wood
pile hoe the potatoes, etc, commanded
by paternal tyrants who seemed tc
think cause they happened to he born
fathers to their kids they could make
them do all the work while they sat
round down town and didn't do thing
but falkland boss" as the captain de-
clared Indignantly to the aid-de-camp.
They had been on their triumphant
-,
most successful getaway. and the day
was not we'll into the afternoon.
The captain. his shoulders majestically
bacl, and his stomach out. sat 1mposingly
on his mount. diminutive pet burro
known dignfiedly as William. The mount
was source of much dissatisfaction to
him. however. He felt that by virtue OF
his rank the steed occupied by the rest
of the gang. a horse. should he his. But
William forcbly. though briefly. objected
carving double and the gangs funds
hal been sufficient to purchase but one
equine. so he had resolved that to ride
en- solitaire on the burro. with its proud
caparison of a saddle. which lacked only
its horn. padding and one stirrup would
he more Seerly than to share the finer
mount with one of his men.
At present the captain was lost in has
ambitious dreams. But with Private BIZ
Osborne things were not WELL He had
never been on horseback more than ten
minutes in all his life before that day.
He had ridden fourteen miles since morn
ing. without saddle or blanket. Although
he was a fat little boy. he was. to say
the least. very unhappy. The horse was
tall statuesque steed. with an air of
austere melancholy and a backbone that
= koews no discrimination. The captain had
caristened he- Oklahoma Belle, after q
local racetrack favorite Oklahoma Belle
had passed into the gangs possession from
that Of a nomadic horse trader for the
consideration of s2.75. and to do the
gangs business acunen justice it must
he said that she was worth the money.
The captain fe.t superlatively proud of
the purchase. The aid-de-camp. though
he was not what YOU could call an euues-
trian and Bellies long legs consumed him
with terror. nevertheless was thrilled be-
cause she was his mount. But Private
BIZ. who shared her seating capacity
with the aid-de-camp, had regarded Belle
with antagonism from the outset. In
her usual pace. one of great deliberate
ness. her long. uncertainty jointed limbs
worked with the stilt-like movement that
gave him the hiccoughs and a crick in his
side; whenever she INDUCED in a burst
of speed she trotted in a way that Jared
his very soul.
I'm ag-oin' to set sideways" he an
nounced defiantly. I've got to- De-
With conduct scarcely sanctioned by mill
tary etiquette as that becoming an officer
and gentleman. his frightened superior
gave him a gouge in the ribs with his
elbow that made his eyes water
Nav. you amt. no such stuff Git It
back there. What's / tell you bout
scrousin' round! First thing you're goin'
to pull us both off, declared the abide
camp wrathfully.
Anguished.y the private resettled to his
old posture. We'll. 1 don't care if you
are an aid-de-kamp.' he snuffled. Il
guess If you was as stiff and near wored
through as I am you couldn't set still
neither. You've got all the gunny-sack
under you, n she amt near so poor I'D
where you are. neither" he reproached.
Then. appea!ingly: IF you kids'd go slow
enough SOS I could keep up I'd get off
m walk awhile
L.
ahead. refined in his mount. He assumed
a high military pose. He addressed his
staff. "Aid-the-kamp." he began grand
ly-then paused. searching for a beseem-
ing interrogatory. "Aid-the-kamp, what
ailest our-our man behind thou?'
The ''aid-the-kamp'' shifted misera bly,
in his seat. He was utterly at a loss
for a becoming reply.
'Aw. he got foxy, n l punched him
one" he explained desnerately.
''Aw. he keeps a jabbin' me all the
time protested the indignant private.
He won't let me move ner notnin'."
The captain regarded them aggrevediy.
You kids don't do it right at all he
reproached. You ought to s'lute n
say
1t will never be known what they ought
10 have said. for ere he finished the cap
tain's Jaw dropped. His gaze fixed af-
frightedly on nearby hill down which
was blowing a reO-Seared buggy drawn
by roam horse travelling at a lively gait
us papa. kids he gasned. He's
after me-, He looked wildly about.
Make fer de crick" he commanded
An abandoned road led to a creek to
the right Into this he urged William
who responded CALAMITY. short dis
lance along. however. the bundle of COM
missary supplies fastened to the saddle
loosened. AS it bobbed about. it tickled
Il spot Of Williams back-a spot which
he greatly enjoyed having tickled. and OF
show his appreciation by bucking in the
ed no abatement either of appreciation or
nj vivacity. Every step his short gray
legs shot UP and out as far as his archi-
lecture would hermit All this made Ok
lahoma Belle think the situation needed
strenuous effort. She started a-going.
Her lengthy limbs stretched out The
dirt few. Every time her riders yelled
Whoa" she gave a tremendous hump.
seemingly in emulation of Williams airy
Williams heels. and they reached the
descent to the creek. II was a precipi-
ions slope. corrugated with washouts.
Below rolled the creek SPAWNED bv six
loose rotted planhs 1t was a terrifying
prospect. and as the aid-de-camps star
ing ewes rested upon il he cast pride to
the elements and EMBODIED Bellies neck.
This rendered Private Bits position ex-
tremelv hazardous. necessitating an al
priving him Of what assistance had been
vouchsafed him nv the grasp of his brief
legs on Bellies ribs. He considered ii a
dastardly act on the part of the aid de-
camp and as Belle. with a mighty hump.
took the first washout. Private Bill. re-