The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1890-12-20

he had brought out here from town."
"What? You internal idiot? Why,
she's his own sister, and this gentlemans
wife!'
The silence, broken only by the hard
breathing of some of the excited men
and the moaning cry of the woman, was
for a moment intense.
'Isn't this Mr.. Hurley?" asked Blake,
suddenly, as though to make sure, and
turning one Instant from his furious
glare at his superior officer. The stranger,
still held, though no longer struggling,
replied between his set teeth:
"Certainly. I've told him So
"By heaven, Buxton, is there no limit
to your asininity? What fearful work
will you do next?"
"Tll arrest you, sir, if you speak an
other disrespectful word!' Numbered
Buxton, recovering consciousness that as
commanding officer he could defend him
self against Blake's assault.
''Do it and be-you know what I
would say if a lady were not present.
Do it if you think you can stand having
this thing ventilated by the court. Pah!
I can't waste words on you. Who's gone
for the doctor? Here, you men, let go
of Mr.. Hurley now. Help me, Mr.. Hur-
ley, please. Get your wife back to her
room. Bring me some wateS, one of
YOU" And with that he was bend
ing over Hayne and unbuttoning the IA
tigue uniform in which he was still
dressed. Another moment and the doc
70, hol IL, onl xx,it1, hin, holf tho
young officers of the garrison. Rayner
was led away to his own quarters. Bux-
ton, dazed and frightened now, ordered
the guards back to their post, and stood
bordering over the enormity of his blum
der. No one spoke to him or paid the
faintest attention other than to elbow
him out of the way occasionally. The
doctor never SO much as noticed him.
Blake had briefly recounted the catas-
trophe to those who first arrived, ard as
the story went from mouth to mouth it
grew no better for Buxton. Once he
turned short on Mr.. Foster, and in ag-
grieved and sullen tone remarked:
II thought you fellows in the Riflers
said he had no relations"
"We weren't apt to be invited to meet
them if he had; but I don't know that
anybody was in position to know any,
thing about it, What's that got to do
with this affair, I'd like to hear?"
At last somebody took him home.
Mrs. Waldron, meantime, had arrived
and been admitted to Mrs. Hurley's
room. The doctor refused to go to Capt
Rayner's, even when messenger came
from Mrs. Rayner herself. He referred
her to his assistant, Dr. Grimes Hayne
had regained consciousness, but was
sorely shaken. He had been hoored by
blow from the butt of musket; but
the report that he was shot proved hap
PLY untrue. His right hand still lay
near the hilt of his light sword; there
was little question that he had raised his
weapon against superior officer, and
would have used it with telling effect.
Few people slept that night along Off
GERS row. Never had Warrener heard
of such excitement. Buxton knew not
what to do. He paced the floor in agony
of mind, for he well understood that
there was no Sinking the RESPONSE
bility. From beginning to end he was
had gone so far as to order his corporal
to fire, and he knew it could be proved
against him. Thank God, the perplexed
corporal had shot high, and the other
men, barring the one who had saved
Rayner from furious lunge of the lieu
tenants sword, had used their weapons
as gingerly and reluctantly as possible.
AT the very least, he knew, an investiga-
ton and fearful scandal must come of it,
Night though it was, he sent for the act
ing adjutant and several of his brother
captains, and, setting refreshments be-
fore them, besought their advice. He
was still commanding officer de lure, but
he had lost all stomach for its functions.
He would have been glad to send for
Blake and beg his pardon for submitting
to his inSubOrdinate and abusive lam
guage, ii that course could have stopped
inquiry: but he we'll knew that the whole
thing would be noised abroad in less than
no time.
At first lie thought to give orders
against the telegraph operators sending
any messages concerning the matter; but
that would have been only temporary
hinderancc: he could not control the in
struments and operators in town, only
three miles away. He almost wished he
had been knocked down, shot or stabbed
III the melee; but he had kept in the rear
when the sliirmish began, and Rayner
and the corporal We're the sufferers.
They had been knocked "epdwise" by
Mr.. Hurley's practiced fists after Hayne
was struck down by the corporal's mus
ket. 1t was the universal sentiment
among the officers of the TIL as they
scattered to their homes that Buxton had