The Sully County watchman. (Clifton, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1894, 1888-11-10
A LIEUTESANT'S STORY.
A Tale of Adventure in the West.

across good story teller in this world
one who knows how to embeliish 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 fine mood and
told the following thrilling story OF ad-
ventures in the far southwest.
Several years ago, I was inspecting
stations in the west. / had just arrived
at a little station out in the direotion-it
doesn't matter where. We had come
across the alkali desert and my throat
to send my clothes ont to be beaten just
like carpet. They were perfectly
white.
After / took bath and got dressed
felt better, and decided to walk down to
the signal station. This was in the morn
ing. The man l found in charge was a
big raw -boned fellow, over six feet high,
with as villainous countenance as ever
you laid your eyes on. Somehow or other
took a dislike to him from the first look
gave him. Well, l 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 IL, the man
keeping with me all the time. Is was
small room about the aize of a large closet
There we're lot of buxes 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 ia my personal
property" There was one thing about
Il 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 kpowit.
This box which was pied away under
all the others and all covered with cob
webs and dirt, had q new screw driven in
to it, and the screw head broke off n
silver of wood which looked quite fresh.
l noticed a5 the time but thought nothing
of it.
vent TO the hotel for my dinner. At
the table a man sat nsxt to me who 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 rs = man who was not wear
ing his own clothes, 10 to speak. lt was
only q slight impression, but 1T grew on
me as observed him. He seemed anxi-
ous to talk and opened a conversation
with me.
"Tenderfoot?" ho inquired.
didn't like mis- looks at all and the i'm
pudencs of his manner made me ans swer
him very shortly with p ain
"No"
"Ganuing"
"No"
Thought saw gun on your shoulder
this morning"
'Not much"
"Fishing rod, then"
"Nor fishing rod. either"
prospecting
"Inspscting."
"Whst might tsnderfoot like you .e q
doing ont here inspecting"
"What is that your business, sir? And
who told you that was tenderfootY l
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 fellow!"
81 have not tho ghost OF and idea"
said /.
~ think he Is a stranger in town." he
said after a moment. There have been
good many burglaries here lately and
we have watched strangers pretty close
ly.
Nothing more waz said, and after din
ner | went down to the signal office.
noticed that Thompson did not have on a
uniform. So / asked him:
''Where is your uniform!"
Haven't any," said he.
"This made me regard aim 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'n go down to tho telegraph Office
with this"
"How long will You be gomez
"About an hour"
"'Wel,' said |, IN wait here until you
return, | have good deal of writing to
do"
He went out, and somehow or other
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 TO unscrew the
lid. I went into the closet and pulled IL
out. | soon had ali the screws out and
lifted the lid off. You could have knock
ed me down with a feather. IL was tiilee
to The brim with silvarware-spoons
kni-es, forks, etc. The rascal had been
Disgusting the burglar un aer the signal
service officsr.
81 began TO put the Id on again and
had just finished putting in the last screw
when / heard step behind mo. turned
quick as flash. Thompson had return
ed and the carpet had deadenad the
sound OF his footsteps le was standing
Just behind me with Revolver pointed
at my head. / never thought what was
doing so far as know, but by sort OF
reflex action of the muscles / knocked
the revolver up with the screw driver
had in my hand 1t went off against the
ceiling and We closed for Il life and death
struggle.
"Thompson was taller than 1 and more
powerful. | was and always have beer
short .winded. It is all right with me foi
a minute or 40, but then am played out
Back and forth we wrestied, and he was
beginning to get the best OF me when
thought of ths old trick at wrestling
taught me at Trinity College, Dublin.