Загадочная история Бенджамина Баттона

           "Colonel!"calledBenjaminshrilly.

           Thecolonelcameup,drewrein,andlookedcoollydownathimwithatwinkleinhiseyes."Whoselittleboyareyou?"hedemandedkindly.

           "I’llsoondarnwellshowyouwhoselittleboyIam!"retortedBenjamininaferociousvoice."Getdownoffthathorse!"

           Thecolonelroaredwithlaughter.

           "Youwanthim,eh,general?"

           "Here!"criedBenjamindesperately."Readthis."Andhethrusthiscommissiontowardthecolonel.Thecolonelreadit,hiseyespoppingfromtheirsockets."Where’dyougetthis?"hedemanded,slippingthedocumentintohisownpocket."IgotitfromtheGovernment,asyou’llsoonfindout!""Youcomealongwithme,"saidthecolonelwithapeculiarlook."We’llgouptoheadquartersandtalkthisover.Comealong."Thecolonelturnedandbeganwalkinghishorseinthedirectionofheadquarters.TherewasnothingforBenjamintodobutfollowwithasmuchdignityaspossible—meanwhilepromisinghimselfasternrevenge.Butthisrevengedidnotmaterialise.Twodayslater,however,hissonRoscoematerialisedfromBaltimore,hotandcrossfromahastytrip,andescortedtheweepinggeneral,sansuniform,backtohishome.