The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1888-10-27
The Lieutenant's Story,

IL IL d somewhat rare UnlnS TO
come across good story teller in
this world-one who knows how to
embellish his yarn just enough and not
veto delay the point too long. 1fthere
ever was good hand at this sort of
thing Lieutenant Walsh, of the Sig
1al Service Corps, Is that one. This
morning he was in q fine mood and
told the following thrilling story of
adventures in the far Southwest:
Several years ago 1 was inspect
ing stations in the west. | had just
arrived at little station out in the
direction-it doesn't matter where.
We had come across the Alkali des-
ert and my throat and eyes were fill
ed with the dust. 1had to send my
clothes out to be beaten just like a
carpet. They were perfectly white.
after / took q bath and got
dressed felt better, and decided to
walk down to the signal station.
This was in the morning. The man
found in charge was big, raw
boned fellow, over six foot high, with
as villainous a countenance ns ever
you laid your eyes on. Somehow or
other l took a dislike to him from
the first look 1 gave him. Well, 1
went into the Office and looked over
things. 1t is usually the custom to
examine all the property in the store
room also. l went into it, the man
keeping with me all the time. 1t was
small room about the size of q
large closet. There were a lot of
boxes in it. Hooked into some of
them. In showing them around saw
one under them all. Hooked at it,
but this fellow said, we'll call him
Thompson, That is my personal
property There was one thing
about it that / noticed at the time
and that for some reason stuck in
my head and probably was working
there all the time, although I did not
know it.
"This box, which was piled away
under all the Others and all covered
with cobwebs and dirt, had a screw
driven into it, and the screw had
broken off a silver of wood which
looked quite fresh. noticed at the
time, but thought nothing of it.
81 went to the hotel for my dinner.
At the table man sat next to me
who attracted my attention right
away. Hewas.dressed like a cattle
man and had all the rough ways of
this class, but somehow or other he
impressed me as man WHO was not
wearing his own clothes, so to speak.
1t was only a slight impression, but
it grew on me as Iobserved him. He
seemed anxious to talk and opened q
conversation with me.
I" "Tenderfoot? he inquired.
81 didn't like his looks at all and
the impudence ofhis manner made me
answer him very shortly with a plain
emo
"'Gunning?'
"'No.'
Thought saw gun on your
shoulder this morning?'
"'Not much
Fishing rod. them
I" Nor fishing rod, either
'Purspectin'?'
Inspecting
What might a tenderfoot like
you be doing out here inspecting'?'
What is that your business, sir?
And who told you that l was ten
derfoot? said l. 4 was out here on
these plains before you were born, as
it is plain enough to see from the way
you wear your Disguise
cat this last word he colored up
and soon after left the table. A
gentleman on the other side of me
said:
"'Who is that fellow?'
80 haven't the ghost of an idea,'
said l.
" 4 think he's a stranger in town,
he said, after moment. There have
been good many burglaries here
lately and We have watched strangers
pretty closely
Nothing more was said, and after
dinner went down to the Signal
Office. I noticed that Thompson did
not have on a uniform. So / asked
him:
Where's your uniform?'
Haven't any, said he.
"This made me regard him with
still more suspicion. He had to take
an afternoon observation and tele-
graph it into Washington. After he
took it he said:
"'Tll go down to the telegraph
office with this
How long will you be gone?'
"'About an hour
Well said /. I'll wait here until |
you return, as have some writing
to do
"He went out, and somehow or
other l began to wonder what was
in that box that looked as though it |
were newly screwed up and yet was
hidden away under all the others.
The idea of looking iuto it grew up
on me until / decided to unscrew the |
lid. went into the closet and pulled
it out. / soon had all the screws out |
and lifted the lid off. You could
have knocked me down with feath-
er. 1t was filled to the brim with |
silverware-spoons, knives, forks, |
etc. The rascal had been Disgusting
the burglar under the signal service
officer.
~ began to put the lid on again
and had just finished putting in the
last screw when / heard q step be-
hind me. turned quick as a fash. |
Thompson had returned and the car
pet had deadened the sound of his |
footsteps. He was standing just be-
hind me with a revolver pointed at |
my head I never thought what I |