Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-07-11
STRANGE ADVENTURES
OF BILLY BUMPUS
IN THE GUARDHOUSE
BY Farmer Smith

This is a very interesting life" said
Billy Bumpus to himself as the artillery
man led him off to the guardhouse. II
wonder what will happen next?"
Billy had been in the hospital on account
of the wound I'm his tail. which had both
cred him somewhat. Sambo, the colored
cook had mistaken him for a burglar and
shot him.
81 wonder what I am being put i'm the
guardhouse for, eating a rubber blanket
or upsetting that nurse?' Billy could not
help wondering as he was led through the
cannon and cross the parade ground toward
the guardhouse--a place he was not familiar
with
The strange part Of It was that the house
was full at the time Billy was taken there
and there was nothing for the guard to do
but put the goat in room with a soldier
to look after him. Not only was the man
locked up, but he was handcuffed as well,
Get in there. you goat" shouted the
soldier, ak he thrust Billy behind the open
door and closed it with bang.
Billy was tired from his walk. he was
also weak from the loss Of blood, and he
was glad to lay down and take a rest, pay
ing little or no attention to the things which
were going on around him.
BY and by the man who was in the room
with Billy came over and patted Bnly's
head.
Snifr,
Sniff,
SNIFF!
81 smell steel" said Billy to himself and
sure enough, right in front of him, he saw
the handouts on the soldier.
II was just minute before Billy began
to eat those handcuffs-and they did taste
good you are a great goat" said the
man, when he noticed that Billy was making
him free. 81 guess I will let you eat those
Just enough to let me free and then"
But by this time Billy had eaten his
companion free and the man made him
stop for it would not do to be discovered
with the handouts gone. Every time some
one came the soldier would put the hand
cuffs back on his wrists, so that the guard
would not notice that he was free.
There was not much to eat in the guard
house. for only a little bread and water
were put under the door through a little
hole. The soldier ate the hread ana drank
the water while Billy devoured the tin
plate the bread had been on and also the
pan which had held the water.
IT'S hard lines old top" said the SOL
dier to Billy Il don't think much of this
being locked up, but it gives one time to
think. l haven't done much thinking be-
fore"
Il wonder what that nice man had done
to be shut up in this place." thought Billy.
It was growing late by this time, and
the lights were winllng and blinking on the
parade ground Since Billy had been in the
artillery he had not seen very much of camp
life. for It was not like the infantry. He
thought Of this and then got up and looked
out of the window. 81 smell iron" he ex-
claimed.
There was nothing for him to do but
| eat the iron bars out Of the window.
Thank you" said the soldier when he
| discovered what had been done, but he did
| not wait to say more. out the window he
| went and Billy after him. There was a
| shot and then another The sound Of mems 5
voices greeted Billy as he started to run.
Then he thought Of how he had been
| wounded before, and so he stopped and list
ened.