In Barracks and Wigwam — page 85: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

CHAPTER XII. A CALL TO SERVICE FOR TROOP A. The sun had vanished behind the bluffs of the Mis- souri, and the soft September twilight was gathering over Fort Sandiman, with its groups of dusky buildings that housed a regiment of infantry and six troops of cavalry, and its surrounding picket fence cordoned by blue- Sie sentries. The day’s routine of toil had ended, supper was over, and now had come the hours of leisure and recreation that would be cut short all too soon by the imperative sound of taps. Here and there strolled troopers and in- — fantrymen, smoking and chatting ; the parade-ground was dotted with ladies in evening dress, and their gayly- — uniformed escorts; lights were appearing in the long, — shed-like barracks of the men, in the cozier quarters of the officers, in the handsome residence of the colonel, and in the company offices. : Dim figures flitted by the open windows of the hospital, and from the stables came the champing and clatter of horses. The telegraph operator was dozing in his den, — a his legs crossed over his table, and a newspaper held care- i lessly in his hand. Close by on a bench outside the sut- _ler’s store, sat half a dozen mén belonging to Troop A. This was Private Osborne’s own troop, and Linn was with the group that evening, listening to the conversation © and laughter in-silence, and with a thoughtful and sober _ expression on his face. His home and college life in dis-. _ tant RE TALK seemed oe far ees to ins cone chiopks|eom :