Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-11-08
A LIEUTENANTS STORY.
A Tale of Adventure in the West.

A Tale of Adventure in the West.
It is 2 somewhat rare thing to come
across a good story teller in this world
one who knows how TO embellish his yarn
just enough, and yet not to delay the
point too long. If there was good hand
at this sort of thing, Lieutenant Walsh,
of the signal service corps, is that one.
This morning he was in a fine mood and
told the following thrilling story of ad-
ventures in the far southwest.
Several years ago, [ was inspecting
stations in the west. I had just arrived
81 little station out in The direction-it
doesn't matter where. We had come
across the alkali desert and my throat
and eyes were filled with the dust, I had
to send my clothes out to be beaten just
like a carpet. They were perfectly
white.
After I took bath and got dressed /
felt better, and decided TO walk down to
the signal station. This was in the morn
ing. The man I found in charge was
big -boned fellow, over six feet high,
with as villainous a countenance as ever
you laid your eyes on. Somehow or other
/ took dislike to him from the first look
| gave him. Well, went into the Office
aud looked over things. IL is usually the
custom to examine all the property in the
store room also. | went into it, the man
keeping with me all the time. It was
small room about he size of large closet
There were lot of boxes in it. looked
into some of them. In showing them
around | saw one under them all. / look
ed at it, but this fellow said, we'll call
him Thompson, that is my personal
property" There was one thing about
1t that noticed at the time and that for
some reason stuck in my head and prob
ably was working there all the time, al
though did not knowit.
This box which was piled away under
all the others and all covered with cob
webs and dirt, had a new screw driven in
TO it, and the screw head broke off a
silver of wood which looked quite fresh.
| noticed &C the time but thought nothing
of it.
I vent to the hotel for my dinner. At
the table a man sat n KIT to me VINO at
tracted my attention right away, He was
dressed like cattle man and had all the
rough ways of his class, but somehow he
impressed me as a man who was not wear
ing his own clothes, SO to speak. 1t was
only a slight i'm preston, but it grew On
me as l observed him. He seemed anxi-
Gus to talk and openeda conversation
with me.
"Tenderfoot!" he inquired.
/ didn't like his looks at all and the i'm
pudencs of his manner made me answer
him very shortly with plain
mo"
"Ganning?"
"No"
"Thought l saw gun on your shoulder
this morning"
IN OF much"
''Fishing rod, then"
"Nor fishing rod, either"
prospecting?
"Inspeoting."
'What might tenderfoot like you &c a
doing out here inspectingw
"What Is that your business, sir? And
who told you that was tenderfoot? 1
was out here on these plains before you
were born, as it is plain enough to see
from the way you wear your disguise"
At this last word he colored up and
soon after left the table. A gentleman
on the other side of me said:
''Who is that felIow?"
81 have not the ghost of and idea,"
said l.
said after a moment. "There have been
g good many burglaries here lately and
we have watched strangers pretty close
ly.
Nothing more was said, and after din
ner | went down to the signal Office. L
noticed that Thompson did not have on a
uniform. So I asked him:
"Where is your uniform?"
Haven't any," said he.
'This made me regard him with still
more suspicion. He had TO take an after
noon observation and telegraph it TO
Washington. After he took it he then
said:
''I'I go down to the telegraph Office
with this"
Chow long will you be gomez"
"About an hour"
"'Well,' said I, 'I'll wait here until you
return, | have good deal of writing to
do.'n
He went out, and somehow or other 1
began to wonder what was in that box
tpat looked as If it were newly screwed
up and yet was hidden away under all the
others. The idea of looking at it grew
upon me until decided 30 unscrsw the
lid. | went into the closet and pulled it
out. / soon had sll the ssrews out and
lifted the lid off. You could have knock
ed me down with feather. It was filled
TO the brim with silverware-spoons,
knives, forks, etc. The rascal had been
Disgusting the burglar under the signal
service officer.
81 began to put the lid on again and
had just finished putting in the last screw
when / heard a step behind me. 1 turned
quick as flash. Thompson had return
ed and the carpet had deadened the
sound of his footsteps. He was standing
just behind me with a revolver pointed
at my head. | never thought what / was
doing so far as | know, but by a sort OF
reflex action of the muscles l knocked
the revolver up with the screw driver
had in my hand. 1t went off against the
ceiling and we closed for life and death
struggle.
"Thompson was taller than and more
powerful. / was and always have beer
short-winded. It is all right with me fo
minute or so, but then l am played out
Back and forth we wrestled, and he wa.
beginning to get the best of me when
thought of tbs old trick at wrestling
taught me at Trinity College, Dublin.
felt for his collar bone with my chin.
found it and down he went.
eAll this time, they told me afterward
1 had been yelling murder and police
loud enough to wake the whole town
Just as Thompson fell, in dashed m,
fresh friend at the dinner table. An &C
complete of Thompson's? Oh, no
Chicago detective, who had the signal of
fioer in his bracelets quick as flash
Thompson got five years in the peniten
tlary, and got dinner from the promi