VOL- xxxi v Better Late Than Never. ONLY A FEW DAYS MORE AND BICKEL S GREAT ODD AND END SALE WILL CLOSE. The Attention of Shrewd Cash Buyers is Called to This Adv. The Following Goods Must Be Sold At Once. 180 pairs ladies' heavy "hoes ? 1 200 pairs child'.* grain shoes "5 150 pairs ladies' fine serge slippers 2 5 280 pairs good grain slippers 5° 126 pairs men's double sole heavy snoes. 1 00 M Cases Rubber Boots and Shoes to be closed out Regardless of Cost. \J\J The Above Mentioned Goods Are at Half Price. wr.AT) ON, DEAE READERS READ ON, 300 pairs men's fine buff shoes $ 1 2 5 I 400 pairs men's working shoes 95 ; 98 pairs Russia calf shoes 1 5° ! 130 pairs fine calf shoes (latest style) 2 , 200 pairs boy's fine shoes' tipped 1 00 j 180 pairs youth's buff shoes 75 Large Stock of Men's and Boys Plow Shoes. Cheap. These goods are all warranted to be perfect in every respect and they are only I sold at prices named on them to make room for the new goods. If you want to I get some footwear cheap—take in this sale. New Spring Goods Arriving almost every dav and too much cannot be said in praise of them. ASK to see our line of ladies' and gents wine color and fine Dougola shoes, they are beauties, and also our line of Oxfords in different colors. Repairing Done. REMEMBER THE PLACE. JOHN BICKEL. 128, S. MAIN St BUTLER, PA. T. H. BURTON, T. H. BURTON, "THE BEST I've seen for the money," said an enthusiastic buyer who had visited every store, reserving ours for the last, "and when I leave my $12.001 feel as if X had an SIB.OO suit for it." Nothing new to us, we always did claim to give the best—always felt as if the pub lic knew it too. We would like you to compare any thing you see elsewhere for tio.oo or even $12.00 with our $7.50. T. H. BURTON, T. H. BURTON, 120 S. MAIN ST. BUTLER, PA. I'M NOBODY, BUT JUST G F KECK Merchant Tailor. U. I • M2NOKTH MAIN HT., IH'TLEH, PA. Yet I know a few things, among others, that I am an up-to-date tailor Ttoe Latest la CUT And WORKMANSHIP—in price—most moderate. Where else can you get such combinations? You do get them of us, the finest made-to-order clothing. Call and examine our large stock of goods, Renumber Tfce Ptace. (1 F KECK Merchant Tailor, ,42 N. MAIN ST., BL'TLKR, PA. J. S. Young. J. S. Young. I desire to thank the public for their very liberal pat ronage since I went into the merchant tailoring buiness, and to show my appreciation of the same; and in order to make room for the extensive line of spring goods that are daily arriving, I will s_-ll anything in my stock at greatly reduced prices. J. S. YOUNG, Tailor.: 101 S. MAIN St., - - - BUTLER, PA [IOCWO I*o OJG Punc* # is 1 tualityjjk Power, 1 1 Hitch your V be sure! business |£ k it's in a % works to a : fahys Gold-1 v good watch. |j| jj 1 filied Case, | I r And that you buy it from # g E. GRIEB, JEWELER, 139 N. MAIN STRKKT, BUTLER, PA. BUTLER COUNTY | Mutual Fire Insurance Company Office cor. Main ami Cunninghau Sts. IW. WICK. Prn. NKM. KK rTKKKH. V\r* Pre*.' I H. OrillMtM. S W ', .MTTM*. « MBECTOKtf. j Alfred Wick. Ili-nriurwm Oliver; I>r. W. Irvln. Jiun<-* Hu-pli< ii«an C W. W. Black more. N. W.-il/.-l, K. Hiivmu, 11. .1. KlliiifU r. i Oii>. Ki'ltrrrr, < hns. Kt-I.hun, Geo. Kt'iiuo, John Kix-nii;. lOYAI WcJUWKIN Agent. Practical Horse Shoer 1 d WILL ROBINSON, formerly Horse- 3 Shoer Pt tile Wick House has # opened business in a shop in the T re*r of the Arlington Hotel, f where he will do Hone-Shoeing J in the most approved style. 4 TRACK AND ROAD HORSES A # SPECIALTY. « •""" ■ j until IS THE TIME TO HAVE nun Your CLEANED or DYED Ifyou want good and reliable cleaning or dyeing done, there is just one place !n town where you can get it, ami that is at THI MUIH DTI MM ill 6 Center avenue. W»A,.We do fine work in out door Photographs. This is the time of year to have a picture ot your house. Give us a trial. Agent for tho Jamc-Htown Sliding Blind Co.—New York. R. FISHER & SON, I B. UREDIN. »J . ATTORNEY AT LAW. Office on Main St. near Court UOUM. Libnuy Mi 17 THE BUTLER CITIZEN. Constipation Causes fully half tbe sickness in the world. It retains the digested food too long in the bowels | and produce biliousness, torpid liver, lnii- Hood's ge-stion, bad taste, coated ■ ■ ■ tongue, sick headache, in- ,11 0^ 1 soninia, etc. Hood's PilU 111 - j cure constipation and all its ™ ; results, easily and thoroughly. 25c. All druggists. , J IT. pared by C. I. Hood & Co.. Lowell. Mass. i | The oulv Tills to take with Hood's siarsaparilte Tliin In Yonr Opportunity. On receipt of ten cento, cash or (-tamps, a generous sample will fc.- mailed of the most popular Catarrh and Hay Fevtr Cure (Ely's Cream Halm sufficient to demon strate the great merits of the remedy. ELY BROTHERS, 06 Warren St , New York City, j Rev. John Reid, Jr.. of Great Falls, Mont., ! recommended Ely's Cream Balm to ice. I can emphasize fcirs statement, '"lt is a posi tive cure for catarrh if used as directed." — Rev. Francis W. Poole, Pastor Central Pres. ; Church, Helens, Mont. Ely's Cream Balm is the acknowledged i eure for catarrh and contains no mercury nor any injurious drug. Price, CO c^tte. PENNSYLVANIA **L. I WFSTEN PENNSYLVANIA DIVISIN. KA!LKO®L> TiMK TAH L: . Werners Division. Schedule in effect Nov. 10, 1896. South, — l Woe-li l>ay« —— A. S). A. M X. M. r. M. V. M IStTTLKR U.veca I- U0 11 JO 245 605 Hjxonbur.'. Arrive 854- 82' 114.; slo s.'i duller Jc't... '• 72~ *i- 12 07 3;.". 553 Butler Jet.. ..Leave 730 «i» 1212 3S 5 m Natrona Arrive 788 8 5-> 1221 :i4*< •02 Tarentiim 712 30J 12 2C 35* 007 Sprtngrfale.. 750 »12 12.'i8 402 ClareUOCt a 25 12 63 I 1« C 27 Hharpsburg so; a3l 101 422 Allegheny «'l.y *2ll :i 4:; 1 l r > 4:M r, 4.'i A. X. A. M. r. M. P. M. »• M. SI KDAY TKAINM —Leavo Bull. r lor Ailf (,li< iiy '.'lty un«l orlaclpal intermediate ftat'eo s 7:4l. N'ortl). .—— Week Days A. ». A. y A. *l. . .V. I', M. Allegbecy (.'itv.. I.v. 700 900 11 2.' 2 .'ls * :s> .. 711 012 11 n 2#o • naremoDt 31# 11 15 2 t>B Snnngdale uno It s» l' 657 T&renlum 732 939 12 OS 3 «o7 Nairona 737 543 12 13 33« Cl 2 Hutler Jc't Ar7 45 9V) 12£J 34% ti 2D lintier Jc't... . I.v 7 -l.' aSO 12 31 4S <; -in i-aroiiburK 810 10 15 12'>3 413 (ill jil'.r.KU \r 835 I<>3B I*s l.v 710 SUNDAY TItAINS- Leave fit; lor Butler and principal intermedial.- stations ~:i"> A. V .. nnd 7:15 I'. M. Week I>ayß 1- or the ii*n \«oek D»y j . a m a. in. p. in p. in. II 2" 6 2-0 Lv BCTLKB. ..Ar 1 12 • 10 15 600 11 IJS ' Altooua a 25 1(H) 100 3lt '• 430 G 2:i " ?''ilarlelpbirw '8 30 1120 a. m p. m a. :n j> ni On fMindir, train l- Ru'.ler 7:4' i si., (•< t:iitc. l:ir llarri hurjt, Alt«":..», atfi PI UL <« I !.. Through truir.B for the en-t leave Pitt • j Lnrg (Union Station), follows: Atlantic Lxpre », daily.. 310 A. X iia Limited " 715 " Day Kxpreiin, " 7 30 Main Lino LxnrfciiH *' 8 00 '• ' hiladelnhit Bipre>ja " 430 1' .V. Kantern Kxprcur: " 7 05 Pant, Line " 810 " I'hilad'a M.ui. Sunday only 840 a i:i For detail«d irlormntioii, F. Watt, Fa.-.-. Agt. W< ti.rn Dir-.ri. t, e .r Jilth Av«. tied Hmithlielci St, Pittol u-y, r"a. M. HUTCHISON, J. It, WOOD, Ge.i'Trt! Vntp'T. OOL'I Fas~r A/t,m pnTSBURG & WKSTI2I' X Railway. Allegheny Short Line, i-.chedule in effect, July i25 am Alli*Khcny I'lyer 8 15 am lo no am Akron Mall 8 15 am 7 3apro New CaNtle Accomo 8 15 am '■> 2, am Alleßheny Accomo 10 05arn,12 20 i»m Allegheny Exjir'-Hx 255 |iln 4 > pin ChiiMiro KxjitiM 3 pm 12 20 pm Allexbeny Mall « 05 pm 7 iO inn Kll wood Accomo cospm 7 :vt ptn ' .'t leaao Express « wpm :i u.*, am Allegheny Kxpre-Ks s (d pm Kane ana Bradford Mall 10 «..*. am .*» 'U) pm Marlon Accomo si ipm a so am Koxburg Accomo j 735 pin 8 or, urn SUNDAY TICAINH. DeKoretlt Jet. Accomo 8 15 am 7 30 j.ni AUeKbeny Accomo ; lo 00 ain Chicago Express 331 pm I 55 ; 132 113'. 0 o.*,lv..Mtadvllli! .lv. . 11;: i 1 "lt ! 8 isar at ; 1 I'. "02 12 02 ~T~ .11 arts town No I 1 I'.t 1: 01 .... 11 f.7 0 . . AdamsvlUe 1 14 r, "t .. 11 48 II ... OsgO'll .... | 1: || 1 21. II 4'i 1; ... 'tr.'inviit« ... 1, ;,n 1.1 1, I 19 II 2'J « ... I'l"'lW<' .... 04. I 49i #32 I oo'ilOl .... Fr« donla.. 7 'hi 2 07 1 1! 10 17 Mercer... . 7 la. /'2 28.10 33 pardon 7 30j 2 38 is 10 2:1 Drove city. .. 7 4>.' 2 l< 05 10 I'J llarrlHVllle 7 3 CO I . 57:10 02! Brancbion.... so-. 0.1; .... 53i V 071 .*.. .KelstCrN .... 8 101 3 131 . .. : »! 941 . . Kuclld. . .. s 22; 27 I W• "I H'jtlcr. 8 501 3Hi 220 ,'2O. At:- ;;beny. I'.vwiliji 7 p.mia.ni i .... a. niip. nr.. J. T. 111, A lit, lieneral MauaKcr, (ireenvllle, pa f W. (J. hAIU.KANT. (i I* A.. M.-ailvin,. p u ~ "M. A. BERKIMER, Funeral Director. 1 337 S. Main St., Butler. BL'TLKR, THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 1897, ( y r l. — r STB ■ mm k -it & BY camiacoA2i.ss' [Copyright. iß m . t-y J. B. Llppincott Company.] Newton Lambert has more than or.ee in the course of his years of service been heard to say tli«it of all the odd sensa tions he ever experienced that which possessed him on the occasion of bis re porting for duty with h;s fir?t com pr-ny was the oddest. Ac ustomea during his four years of cadet life to be have with punctilious respect in the presence of officers, young or old, and ac customed also through his two months' detail at the academy that summer to be treated with even the exaggerated deference which the old non-commis sioned officers seemed to delight in showing to young graduates, Lambert was unprepared for the hail-fellow-well met nature of his reception by the en listed men anil the absolute ini[rfis:-:ive cess of his one brother officer. That It was utterrly different from the customs obtaining elsewhere In the regular serv ice he knew very well. In visiting class mates already on duty with their bat teries among the New York and New England forts, as well as during his brief stay at the barracks, he had noted the scrupulous deference of the veteran Mrgeants when addressing their offi cers. ITe could understand awkward ness and clumsiness among the recruits, but the idea of a corporal clicifl'ing him On the cut of his clothes nnd—the idea of a two mon ties' recruit being a cor poral, anyhow! Never in the tales told t-f the Fire zouaves of 'f>l had he heard of anything much more free-end-easy than the manners of this camp of regu lars. Never In his wildest dream had he figured such a specimen of the com missioned officer as he found in Capt. Close. In th<* contemplation of this character the go-as-you-please style of the enlisted men sank into int-ijrnifi cenee. Long years afterwards Lambert used to go over this meet ing in his mind, and fen- two years, oft'-n importuned, lie would convulse his brother officers by vivid description of it. Hut there Tame a time when they no longer laughed and he no longer told the story nive to those he loved and trusted ut terly. Aroused by some unusual chatter among the men, the first, serpeant of company G, smoking a pipe while we>rk iug over a ration-return, stuck his head out of his tent and saw a young gen tleman in a light-colored suit, courte eusly raising a drab derby in his kid gloved hand, while he stood erect with soldierly ease before the company com mander. some of the men were tittering and till of them looking on. One glance was enough. The sergeant dropped pen nnd pipe and came out of his den with a single bound, buttoning his blouse und glaring about him as he did so. "Hush your d — d gab, you!" he fierce ly growled at the nearest group. "Get Into your coats, there!" he swore at knottier, while with menacing hand he motioned to others still, whose costume was even more primitive, to scramble back to their tents. In ten seconds si lence reigned throughout the camp al most as complete as that which was maintained, for tliat time, at the tent of the commanding officer. Lambert actually did not know what to say in jesponse to his superior's announce ment. It was full ten seconds, ejrmore, l>efore he determined in what form to couch his next remark. He hael in tended to say: "I have the honor to report for duty, sir;'' but a vague sus picion pc>ssesHcd him that this might be some game at his expense—some prank such as old cadets played upon "plebes." H i compromised, therefore, between his preconception of o ly soldierly report and his sense of What might lx- due his own dignity. "My name is Lambert,' said he. "And I am here for fluty as second lieuten ant." Slowly the man in the camp-cliuir laid down his work, sticking the needle Into the flap of the tent and hanging the threael ujsin It. Then lie heaved up out of the chair, hung the damaged trousers over its back and came pon derously forward. Not a vestige of a smile lightened his face. He looked the young gentleman earnestly in the eye tinrl slowly extended his big, brown, hairy hand. Seeing that It was meant for him, Lambert shifted his hat into the left, leaning his sword against the tent-pole, and his dainty kid—a wild extravagance so soon after th- war— was for an instant clasped, then slow ly released. Capt. Close unquestionably had a powerful "grip." "How'd you come?" he asked. "Kind of expected you Monday evenin'—-out from Quitman." "The general kept me over a day or two to let me see New Orleans, lie told me that you would lie- notified, sir. 1 hope you got the letter?" "Oh, yes. That was all right. There was 110 hurry. I didn't know as they could get passes over the Northern. I s'pose the chief quartermaster fixed it for you, though V" Antl the brown ey. H searched questionlngly the young officer's face. "Passes? No, sir; I bought my tick et through •" "No! Why, you needn't have done that. The Quitman road's blfldln' for ull the government freight it can get now. They'd have given you a pass in a minute. 1 suppose you wunt to be quartermaster and commissary?" And again the brown eyes looked almost wistfully into the blue. "I? No, indeed, sir. 1 don't know anything but a little tactics. What, I most want"—with a glance around und an npologetienl laugh—"is a chance to wash off the cinders and something to eat. I'm hungry as a wolf." The captain looked troubled. "I've had my grub; so've the men, 'cept those that come back lute in the night- been up to Buckatubbee with the marshal. Did you try over atToog'loo?" "Everybody was asle< p over there. I left my trunk at the rail way station and walked out." "Why, I told the sergeant to send a mule in last night on the chance of your comin' by the 'Owl.' Didn't anybody meet you?" "There was a mule, but no body," laughed Lnmbeit, "except a darky asleep In a freight car. The mule was lying in the dirt, and unapped his head ftall when I tried to raise him." "What Ix-eame of him? He didn't get awuy, did he?" asked Close, in great anxiety. "He d-dn't try to," answered Lam bert, in some amusement. "Like the eminent head of the late unpleasant ness, all he askeel was to b<» let alone. 1 left him browsing in the public square." "And the bridle an'taddle, too? Great Peter! That's bail. Some lousy nig ger's got him by this time, or his trap pin's at least, an' he'll swear the Freed man's Ilureau gave him the hull outfit and it'll be stopped against my pay. Sergeant!" he called; "wish you'd gc right down town an' catch up that mule an'—" "I can't go, sir," promptly answered Sergt. HnriiH, his hand going up in un accustomed salute in deference to the presence of the new officer. "I'm busy with 'hem ration returns. Here, Fin ney, yon go." "Go where?" said a young soldiei squatting at his tent door and greasing a pair of shoes with a bit of bacon-rind. He hardly deigned to look up. "The enptain wants you to go and get that saddle mule he sent up last night Jake must have gone asleep and forgot him."' "Would it be possible to send a wagon for my trunk?" interposed Lambert at this juncture, appealing to his superior. Close hesitated and made no Immediate reply. It was the sergeant who took the responsibility: "I'll 'tend to It, if you please, sir. The wagon's >{oing up In ten minutes to haul some >2ruin. He lively now, Fin ney. Drop them shoes and start." And Finney, conscious, possibly, of some change In the military atmosphere, gathered himself together and van ished. Meantime, in his anxiety about the government property thus placed in jeopardy, the captain see-ned lost to all thought of the newcomer's comfort. It was Sergt,. Burns who came forward with a camp stoo' and proffer of further hospitality. "If the lieutenant can put up with such rations, I'll send something from the cook-fire, sir," salel he, doubtfully, lookinp- at his commander very much as though he thought it high time for that official to suggest something better. Lambert said he should be* most grate ful if that could be done—and if there were no objections; and he, too, looked expectantly at the senior officer "1 ffuess that's about the. best, we can do," said Close, slowly. "'Tain't what you've been accustomed to, but it's what 1 always eat. Send us up something, I:.'ry-vjunt—enough for two; I'll take an other snack With the lieutenant." And in lessthun five minutes Lambert and his new comrade were seated by a little fire 011 which a tin coffeejiot was hissing, and with a broad pine shelf upon their kneer.. from big tin mugs and broad tin plate-s, were discussing a smoking repast of [>ork and beans, tc the accompaniment of bread and siruj. und orcumlesß coffee. "It's the way 1 always prefer to live when I'm in the field," said Close, "and it only costs you nine dollars a month." Lambert was too hungry not to rel ish even such a breakfast. He fancied he heard something that .sounded great ly like a suppressed chuckle 011 the part of the soldier cook at his senior's remark upon the cost of living in the field, but sensations and experiences were crowding thickly upon him and there was little time for trifles. Through the good offices of Sergt. Burns, a wall tent was pitched that moinlng for "the new lieutenant" tc the* left at the domicile of the company commander; a wooden bunk was knocked up In an "A" tent in the back, and Lambert began unpacking hi* trunk and setting up housekeeping.. "I suppose I tan get wliat furniture I want in town," said he to( lose. "Depends on what you want," replied the senior, warily, "and whether you care to throw away your money. What'd you want to get? They will skin the last, cent out of you there at Cohen's." "I merely wanted some cheap truck for camp, nnd seine washstand fixings," Lambert answered, falling into the ver nacular of his comrade with the ease of one just out of the nutlonal school, where every known American dialect can be heard "things I can throw away when we leave." Close was silent a moment. "I can let you have, everything you need, 'f you ain't particular 'bout their bein' new. They're just as good as anything you can buy, and won't cost you near so much." Then, after a little hesitation: "They ain't mine to give, or I'd let you have them for nothing." Lambert had precious little money left, even after drawing his November pay in New Orleans; but he had a big mileage, account to collect, for In those dajs nothing was paid to the young graduate in advance, even though he had to find his way by the Isthmus to tin- mouth of the Columbia. He t hanked his comrade, and by evening was put in possession of an odd lot of camp furni ture, some items of which were in good repair and others valuable only as relics of the war. A camp mattress and some chairs bore the name of 'l ight-, and the soldier who carried them in re marked tohisrhum: "Theydido'tburn every thine after the lieutenant died, aftftr all, <1 if 1 they?" From vjilcii Lam bert drew inference that the property in question had formerly belonged to un officer of that name w ho succumbed to the epidemic of the previous year. Hut the principal question remaining un sol veil was that of subsistence. War ing and Pierce had told him that in all probability he would find that ('lose was living on soldier fare and had no "mess arrangements" whatever. This, as we have seen, proved to is- the case and Lambert Inquired if there were no possibility of finding board. "Yes," said Close; "Mr. Parmelec, the deputy mnr .luil, lives up the road al>out half a mile, and he told ine lo ay he'd lie glad to accommodate you." Lambert lunched in camp at noon, and about three o'clock came forth from his tent buttoned to the throat in his handsome ly fitting uniform, his forage-cap cocked jauntily over his right eye, and • puir of white gloves In his hand. A In the city, furnishing (fii.nrds an>l or aolJier douching acrotw the op.-n space j derlles for the various ofll.er* then In front shifted to the opposite hand I quartered there, he remained with It. the bucket h>- voncarryinganetween the tents half a dozen eif the men were squatting, in the bright sunshine, pipes in full blast, engaged in a game of cards that looked suspiciously like draw poker, a frray blanket being outspread and little piles of white field beans decorating its outer edge at different i-oints. Surrounding the players weTe perhaps a dozen spectators, in various costumes more or less soldieily. At sipht of Mr. Lambert in his trim frock coat some of the number fueed half towards him; some, as though em barrassed, began to edge away. The gstmblers calmly continued their game. If the young officer looked as though he did not notice them, the c-lmnces are that, though he passed within ten feet c>f the group, no one cf the party would, in proper and sol dierly style, have noticed him, but Lam bert had seen enough "slouching" for one day. and his youthful soul was up in arms. lie looked squarely at the two men nearest him as he rapidly ap proached, whereupon one of them nerv ously tugged at the sleeve of a third. Others, after one furtive glance, pre tended they did not see the coming officer and became absorbed in the grime. Ten strides and he was opposite the p-roup find not a hand hael been rolseel in salute, not a man was "stand ing attention." Then he halted short, saying not a word, but the two men i.earest knew what was kicking, and, in a shamefaced, shambling way, brought their hands up to the enp visor. One of these was a corporal, and twv other non-commissioned officers were omong the players. For a moment there was an embarrassed silence. Then Lambert spoke— rather quietly, tex>. for him: "Corporal, have these men never been taught the salute anil when to use it?" A sergeant among the players slowly found his feet. Others seemed to try to slink behind their fellow.*. The corporal turned red, looked foolish and onlv mumbled inarticulately. "What say you, sergeant.?" inquired Lambert. "Why, yes, sir," said Sergt. McHride, uncomfortably. "So far as I'm con cerned, I can honestly say I did not see the lieutenant coming; but, to tell the truth, rir, we've gotoutof the habit of It in the company." "Then all these men who are still stated here know they should be up und standing attention?" asked Lam bert, as coolly as he could, though his blue eyes were beginning to Hash. He hud heard some tittering among the gamesters, two more of whom were now ffui* izAff tip. "Yes, sir; at leui't most of them do. Only, Capt. Close don't seem to mind, and—" "That'll do—l am waiting for you two," said Lambert. And the two who. J , "-TSiS <*, ' '4* t... - <*«"-• W*r« ■••ted by u llttlo tru. hnniffng their heads, had been tittering into each other's faces, finding their time had come, slowly and awkwardly found their feet, but not the erect jn>- sition of the soldier. "So far so good," said Lambert, calm ly. "Now, sergeant, explain the rest to them, as they seem to V uninstruct «d recruits." There wan a general ticd with wrath, but lie knew the lieutenant "had the best of hi 111." "i>on't make it necessary for me to repeat the lesson," said Lambert, be fore moving on; "especially you, sir." And the ex-Kcrgi-ant was plainly the man indicated. L'p nt the end of the row Sergt. Bums brought his broad palm down on his thigh with a whack of delight, then glanced over to see how the captain took it. The captain was carefully counting over the "greenbacks" ho had just re ceived, and, with these in hand, turned into the daxk recesses of his farther tent. The episode in front was of minor importance. "You got. a rakin* down, ltiggs," laughed some of the men as the lieu tenant wuu InKt. to sight beyond the wagon, while the victim of Ins Inlet reprimand glowered angrily after liim. "Dam young squirt!" snarh d 1 he fel low. "I'll learn him a lesson yet." "No, you won't, ltiggs," wa« the quick rejoinder of Mcßride. "He was right, as you ought to have •>cnne enough to know. I'm glad, for cue, to see It, for this company has sim ply been goin* to the dogs for the last »>ix months." Lambert's nerves were tingling n trlllc and his thoughts were not ths most cheerful as he went awuy. That he should find his company commander a miser, a recluse, and something of a mystery, had all been foreshadowed. But that discipline should have been abandoned in "G" company was quite another thing. Furnham, the captain proper, was an ofiicer who had held high command In the volunteers —too high, indeed, to serve- with equanimity under the field officer now at the head of the regiment, who had hud no war serv ice whatever. Farnham was within a few files of promotion to majority, and therefore despised company duty. So long as his company had been stationed court were to pet b;m ou* o' such a mire .i.s that. Ever since June, there fore. C'. -e Had i«n uloiv with the men and they with him, ar.d no one in au thority l.a l the faintest lucahow thinff» were g >ing. Inspectors were also un- Inovvn In thos*' days, and so loner as re ports and returns were regularly re eeived nt heaelquarters, and no com plaints (ar.< in from the civil author ities of uejrHg'enee or incHitercnce on the {.art of their military backers, all went smoothly. Now, tb< re had not Veen a few instances where civil and military olticials had clashed, but "Capt. riose and his splendid company" had Leen the tlieme of more than one laud atory report from the marshal on the score- of what he heard from his depu ties. The peneral commanding', indeed, had been much elated by high com mendation from the highest power in Washington, all due to services ren dered in running down ivu Klux and breaking up moonshiners by Cnpt. Close, of company G, —th infantry. '•lt's just exactly what the old duffer's cut out for," said the adjutant general of the department; "but I'm sorry to have to se e young I.ani!e;rt sent into ITe could hardly have l>een sorrier than Lambert was himself, as that young officer went briskly up the des olate road along the "branch." He had never seen a landscape so dismal in all his life. How on earth was he to em ploy his time? No drills, no roll calls, no duties except the sending forth of detachments at the call of this fellow Parnielee; no books except the few in his trunk; no companions except this heavy, illiterate, money-grabbing lout w ho did not know enoug'; to offer him a seat or a cup of coffee after his long night ride; riot a soul worth knowing nearer than Quit-man — and only the in ebriate Fotts there! Certainly Mr. Newton Lambert felt at odds with fate this sunny December afternoon. He had trWl to persuade himself that the laughable stories about Close were grossly exaggerated; but now that he had met that, ofiicer th'! indications were in favor of their entire truth. It seems that Close hael been on some detached service In connection with the treedmer'f bureau, and had only joined his regiment late in the autumn of the memorable yellow fever year, when, had he so desireel, he. could have re mained away. His appearance at the ► tricken garrison when the death rate average ! 20 a day, when the post was eommunded by a lieutenant, und some of the companies by corporals, every body else being either dc.r 1 . down or convalescent—added to th - halo which hung about his hitherto Invisible head. There was no question as to his con summate bravery. Grant himself had stopped in the rear of his regiment and asked h.s name after lis dash em the works at Donelson, and the unknown private was decorated with sergeant's chevrons on the spot. Before he had opportunity to learn much of his new duties, "the Johnnies jumped tho picket" one night and stampeded every body but Close, who was given up for lost until he came in two days later full of buckshot and Information. His colonel acted on the latter while the doctors were digging out the former, nnd Cloa • got a commission as first lieu tenant in a new for his share of the resultant benefits. One bloOdj ofternoo.i as they wer ■ scrambling back, unsuccessful, and i:> ' ran awful fire, from the works at. \ .eksburg, the colonel was left writhing on the lead twept glacis with 110 shelter but the «1ca«« an>l dyinpr etroui»«l lUITIT, Illiil LJUM headed the squad that rushed out and fetched him in. Everybody atMcl'her son's side could see that the. rebs were firing high, when once the daring sur vivors of the six who stinted reached their prostrate colonel, but the bul lets sounded just as dendiy to the four who got back alive, and Mel'herson sent for Close nnd wrung hi- hard brown hand and looked admiringly into the somber, impassive, face with its deep brown, almost dog-like eyes. Some of the Thirteenth regulars were the next to re port on Close. And these fellows, being at Sherman's headquarters, had Influence. In the midst of so rough a campaign. Close looked but little worse for wear than did his associates, and when he brought in ten prisoners with only two men at his back, turned them over to the Thirteenth, and went in for more before anybody could thank him, "Fncle Hilly" swore that man was one of tho right sort, and asked him what he could do for hini that very night. And then—so the story ran—Close said he guessed he'd like to be either a sut ler or a quartermaster—he didn't know which—and for once in his life the pop ular general looked bewildered. After Mission Hidgc, whe re he got an other bullet through liim, and otic that would have killed an ox, they simply had to put Close on quartermaster duty, he wanted it so much and had done such splendid lighting and so little talking for it. That was the end of him until near the end of the war. His train was captured by a dash of Forrest's cav ulry, and, though most of the guards got away, Close went with his wagons Andersonville was then his abiding place for a time, but in some way lie turned up again during the march to tin* sea, which he made 011 lnub bnck, and when congress authorized the or ganization of 16 regiments of infantry as a part of the regular army In 'Gfi the great generals at the head of military affairs were reminded of ( lose. Ho wrote from somewhere far out west, saving modestly that they had told him to let them know if they could ever b« of any use to him, and the time had oorne. lie had concluded to continue soldiering, and wanted to be a quarter master. He was offered a first Heu tenantcy in the infantry and accepted, though the examining board shook their heads over bis ill-written papers; was applied for by the colonel whose lifs he had saved at Vicksburg, und who was now on "bureau duty" in the south; and on that work Close remained, de spite sumo rumors of his unfitness, until the fever cut Its wide swath in his regiment. Tho and quar term aster were both down when Close arrived and reported for fluty. In his calm, stolid. Impassive way lie proved vastly useful. Indeed, at a time when men were flying or desert ing by scores, when <• \e 11 sentry duty hail to be alian doned, and when government pro[x!rty was bt-inif loaded up and carried away end sold In the city, it is difficult, to say what losses might not have been sus tained but for his tireless vigilance. He excised himself fearlessly among the dying. lie said he had had a light at tuck i;.' the fever at New Iberia earlier In the season and couldn't take it again. At all events, he did not. He was prob ably the only officer who remained longer than a week at the stricken post and escaped. At last came the welcome frost. Yel low Jack's conqueror, followed Ly new officers ami recruits In plenty, and Closer's occupation was gone. He had helped to bury the udjutunt, lint the quartermaster proved tough, and—to Clove's keen disap|Miintment, as the boys began to lay with returning health, uppetite, and cynicism- recov ered from his desperate Illness and rc sumed his duties. W hen December and tin' new colonel came, drills and dress uniforms were ordered, and Close got leave of absence and tried toget buck to bureau duty, where they did not wan? him. Then he appealed to Farnharn, and through him to Gen. Sherman His wounds made him stiff and sere: he couldn't drill or parade. It transpired that he had no full uniform, and his first and only frock-coat had been let out to the last shred and was still too tight for him. Then some queer yams bejran to be told. He was a quasi f xeeutfir for three officers who had died Intestate, and who had little to bequeath any how. He bad nursed them in their illness, and such items of their property as had not by medical orders been con- demned and burned he had for sale. Under the rep-illations the major wtfs the proper custodian of the effects of de ceased officers, but the major was him self almost a victim and had been sent north to recuperate after a long" and desperatestruggle. On an occasion when he simply had to appear in full uniform. Close turned out in plumed felt hat, sash, and epaulets which, when ques tioned, he said were the late Capt. Stone's, and so was the coat. If nobody could be found to buy them, he would, but he did not mean to buy "such truck" until it was absolutely necessary. Respc-t for his fighting ability in the field and his fearless service during' the epidemic prevented any "crowding" of the old fellow, though there was no lit tle talk about the habits he was disclos ing. The Iwehelorfe and "grass wid owers" cf the infantry and battery started a mess, but Close declined to join. He explained that he preferred to board with- a French Creole family a short, distance away, as he "wished to learn the language." They gave a big dunec Christmas week and taxed every officer ten dollars. Close bad nursed Pierce through the fever, and Pierce was treasurer of the fund. Close was accounted for as "paid," both for ♦he original ten und the subsequent as sessment of five dollars that was found necessary, but it came out of Pierce's pocket, for Close begged off one and refused the other, and Pierce would not tell until it was dragged out of him by direct questioning months after. It transpired that Close went only once a day to the humble dwelling, four blocks away, where he preferred to board, ne bssiduously visited the kllchcti of Com pany "Ci" at breakfast and dinner time to see that those meals were properly cooked 'ind served, and there could be no question that he jiersonally "sam pled" everything they had. ne wore the clothing issued to the men, until the colonel insisted on Ills appearing in proper uniform, and then had to rebuke him for the condition of the paper col lur und !rayed black bow that were at tached to the neckband of his flannel shirt. He wore the soldier shoe, and swore that nootber kind suited his foot, nc had to write letters occasionally, but when he did so he repaired to the com pany office or that of the post quarter master, and not one cent did he spend for stamps. Indeed it became a subject of unoffi cial investigation whether ho spent a cent for anything. He bought nothing at Fink bum's, the sutler's, where, in deed, he was held in high disfavor, his war* record and fever service to the contrary notwithstanding. He never touched a card, never played billiards, and never Invited anybody to drink, even when his brother officers called upon him in squads of two or three to nee if ho would. That he had no preju dice against the practice, then as uni versal in the service as it is now rare, nevex refused to take a drink when in vited, yet never seemed even faintly •jxhilarated. "You might as well pouf whisky In a knot-hole," said the sore headed squad of youngsters that with malice prepense had spent inany hours and dollars ono night in the attempt to get Old Close "loaded." lie had to go to town occasionally on board of survey or similar duty, and always sought a seat in somebody's am bulance to save the nickel for a six-mil© i ide In the tram car. When he had to take the car he would wait for some of the youngßtens, well knowing 'they would p»y his fare. Once when three of them "put up a job on liim" by the declaration after they were well on their way, that not a man in the party had less than a five-dollar bill, he of fered to change the Ave, but refused to lend a nickel unless they gave their word, on honor, that they were not striving to make a convenience of him. But the "closest" figuring ho luul ever done was that which he carried out for several months at the expense of a cer tain bank. Most of the officers on get ting their pay check towards the end of the month would take It to the near est hank or broker and get It cashed. Those were easy-going dtiys in the pay department. Many a time the impe cunious subs would prevail on the major or his clerk to let them have their sti pend a week before it became due, and It would l>e spent before it was fully earned. Close never Bpent a cent, that anyone could see or hear of, but he was on hand to draw It as eaxly as any of the rest. lie would take his check and vanish. The total footing up wf his pay, rations, servant's allow ance, "fogy," and all, was one hundred and some dollars and sixty-eight cent*. They used no coin smaller than the "nickel" (five cents) in the south In those days, and it was the practice of tho banks and money-changers genej olly to give tho customer tho benefit if tho check called for more than half tho value of the nickel, otherwise to hold it themselves. If the umountwere 62 cents tho customer got only 60; If it were 63 cents he was paid 66. Those officers who kept a bank account, and there wcro three or four, i*irliai)s, who did so, simply deposited their check for its face value and had dono with it. It was supposed tlmtnuch was Close's cus tom; but he was wiser in his generation, as was learned later. Close took his cheek to tlio paying teller and got 100 and some dollars and 70 cents. Than he deposited this cash with tho clerk at the receiving window and was two cents ahead by tho transaction. When it wan finally discovered and ho was politely told that hereafter he would bo credited only with the sum called for on the face of Ills check, ('lows got it cashed elsewhere and deposited his 70 cents regularly as before. "Hut what ho does It for is a mystery," said the bank official who let this sizable cat out of tho bag, "for ho never boa more than a few dollars on dvposlt more than a week. lie checks It out through some concerns up north." No wonder the fellows wondered what Close did with his money. A sol dier servant made up his room and blacked his boots; acompany laundress washed the very few items sent to her each week, and declared that tho cui>- tain stopped the price of two l>airu of gloves out of her wages because she wore the thumb off one of theni scrub bing the dirt off the other, lie never went to theater, opera, or other diver sion; never took part in any of tho gayetics of the garrison; never sub oeribed for a newspaper or magutlne, but was always on hand to get first look at those service journals which were intended for the I tost library. Ho smoked an old black l»ricr-root pipe, which he charged w Itbcoinml-isary plug tobacco, preferring It to all others. He chewed tobacco—aisry plujf —ajjd jMd No 17 not care who knew it. lie shaved him self, and when bis hair needed trimming it was done by the company barber, lie had no bills. lie would be neither borrower nor—well, there was some talk about his lending money on unimpeach able security and usurious interest, but to those officers who applied, either in jest or earnest, he said he never liad a cent to lend and wouldn't lend it if he had. Then what on earth did Close do with bis money ? Much of this was told to Lambert in New Orleans. More of it be learned later. On this particular day he was destined to have another peep into the peculiarities of this most unnsual char acter. He had walked perhaps half a mile, revolving these matters in his mind and keeping occasional lookout for Par melee's (which was evidently further away than he had been led to suppose), when be heard some one shouting after him. It was a soldier, running hard, and in a moment Lambert recognized In bim the affable corporal who was the first to receive him that morning. Tbla time the corporal saluted as be came, panting, to a halt. Possibly Sergt. llurns had been giving the company A "pointer." "Did anybody pass you, lieutenants anybody on horseback?" "So," answered Lambert, wondering w-hat now might be coming. "Well, cap says—er rather—the cap tain wants you to come back. Didn't nobody go along here a-horseback?" And the corporal was evidently per plexed as well as nearly breathless. "By gad, I thought 'twas takin' chances, even for the two of us. Two of 'em rode in an' sassed cap right to his face an' were off before a man of us could draw bead on 'em." "Who are they?" "Some of the very crowd Pnrmelee nabbed last night. They must have cat across at the ford. They've finished him, I reckon, for one of 'em was ridin' his horse." In ten minutes Lambert was back at camp, where all was bustle and sup pressed (excitement. Close wns seated at his tefrt, smoking imperturbably, and listening to the tremulous words of a tall, sallow civilian who was leaning against the shoulder of a panting mule. Mcßride, rifle in hand and equipped for field service, was closely inspecting the kit and cartridge boxes of a squad of a dozen men already formed. "Lieutenant," said Close, "Pve got to send you with a detachment over to the county jail. How soon can you get ready?" Lambert felt a sudden odd, choky sen sation nt the throat, and was conscious tbat his knees were tremulous. It was his first call, mind you, and it was sud den and vague. The symptoms made him furious. "I'm ready now," he said, reaching for bis handsome sash and belt, and disap pearing an instant within his tentdoor. "Ain't you got some ord-nery things? You don't want to wear such trappin's os them. I've got a sash an' belt an' sword here plenty good enough; and you can have 'em for half what they cost." "I prefer using these, captain," said L ambert. "Why, you may not get back In a week," persisted Close. "There's no tellln' where those fellows have run to. You ought to have some suitable clothes for this sort o' work —like mine." "I've got something different, but 1 "So you be, 'oordin' to wh»l~t£ls gen tleman aays. It looks like they must hove Btlrred up quite a row; but you needn't worry. There'll be no trouble once they see the regulars, and If there nhould be, you've got me on' the hull company to draw on." And Close** face fairly brightened up for the min ute. "There's your squad ready. Purm'lee'll tell you what he wants done. Reck'lect, If there's any trouble you draw ou mc," "I shall need some money, I'm afraid. If we're gone any time. That's the first thing I'll have to draw for." Clone's countenance fell. "Ten dol lars ought to be 'nuflf for yon anywhere here. I could get along with &tty cents," said he, slowly. Suddenly 1m brightened up again "Just sit dowD an' make out them mile age accounts c' yours. Hero, sergeant, you und this gentleman go on with the squad. Take the county roud. Tho lieutenant'll overtake you. Sit right down over there in SergU Burns' tent, lieutenant; he's got all the blanks and things. Never made out a mileage ac count? Here, I'll show you." And while Close slowly began his cal culations, the squad under Bergt. Mo- Bride tramped out upon the dusty red road, most of the men following as though to see them around the bend, while Lambert, vaguely troubled, and feeling, somehow, that h<» ought to be with his detachment even though his superior officer called him back, stood looking anxiously after them. "I thought you had twenty or BO loft in your wallet, lieutenant," said Close. "Just look, will you? You needn't be in any hurry. Mcßride knows Just what to do. IM change them clothes if IwM you." Lambert had slipped his hand into hi* breastpocket, then began searching the others. All in vain; the little, flat pocketbook was gone; and now 11 flashed across his mind that be must have whisked it out with his handker chief, which he carried, after the West Holnt fashion of those days, In the breast of his coat, just after he started on tho run back to camp. Even as he began to tell of his loss the-men came springing down the bank and bursting through the bushes in their baste to reach their arms and equipments. "What's up now?" hailed Close, still slowly writing and never moving from Ills seat. "Firing over near town, sir," called a sergeant. "That so?" u