Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1897-04-27
court-martia! can properly consider
Where is this gentleman?''
II don't know, SIR
& ."What is his name?"

II don't know, sir"
& what is his name?"
"Ecan't tell, SIR
"You know it, do you not?''
II suppose do, sir, butt can't tell
it, 81
I'm the event of your trial he is the
only man who can help you, and the re-
port I have to make of your miscon-
duct is most serious. Drunkenness
only aggravates housebreaking and at
tempted robbery, as we'll as assault"
&c. II broke no houses, sir, and attempted
no robbery. AS for assault, the lady her
self will say I meant no HARM"
''But your own comrade admits. he
found you in the cellar entrance at the
foot of the steps, on premises you were
forbidden to enter, to all appearances
stealing wine, and he was striving to
get you away when the noise brought
Mrs. Walton upon you. The case is
fragrant"
Riggs threw. his hands forward in
despairing gesture, dropped them again
by his side, and stood silent.
do you mean you have nothing to
say for yourself ?-that you cannot dis
prove the charges?''
II have plenty to say for myself, sir,
but nobody to say anything for me.
The worst anyone can ever prove of me
is that I've been a drinking man. I'm
no thief; I'm no burglar; and I'd burn
me hand off before I'd lay it to hurt a
woman, old or young. I never knew
what was doing, if 1 grabbed the lady
by the throat. But I'd be a worse man
than the lieutenant thinks me if I'd
do what he asks"
"nhis is nonsense, Riggs. What have
asked you to do that would be either
criminal or wrong?'
"To defend myself at the expense of
a friend, SIR said Riggs, with melo-
dramatic gravity. 'I'll never betray
the man that's trusted me-"
''Take him back to the guard tent,
sentry" said Lambert, hardly know
ing whether to be amused or disguised.
"The man isn't sober YETI
And then for the first time the young
officer became aware of the presence of
4 horseman at the side of his tent. With
his hat brim pulled down over his eyes
and the rain dripping from bit and boot
and bride rein, there sat his acquaint-
ance Of the owl train-Mr. Barton
Potts.
Zone of your men said you wished to
see me, lieutenant" said Mr.. Potts,
with a courteous wave of his hand. II
was coming anyhow, but rode round
from the balm yawnduh and came in
long the branch. Excuse me if I've
stumbled on something I wasn't ex-
pected to hear"
'Certainly, Mr.. Potts. Can you dis
mount and come in? T much want to
talk with you.''
''And I want to have a talk with you,
1ieutenant-ve'y much-and I'm COM
ing for the purpose, but not just now.
There are some matters I must tend to
in town for my aunt, Mrs. Walton, at
once. But let me add my thanks TO
hers-and much more than hers-for
your prompt assistance last night. I
know that man by sight. I've seen him
around here befoh, and it's Gawd's mer-
cy I wasn't there last night. I'd "a
shot him dead"
'You can be sure he shall not escape
justice, Mr.. Potts, though your aunt
seems to refuse to see me with regard to
the matter"
I'LL explain all that later, suh," said
Potts, lowering his voice. "I've simply
got to go at once. But I'll see you to-
night; and meantime let me repeat
hot
friend round heah, sub. You treated
me like a gentleman when I was drunk
and possibly o1fensive-though I hope
not, suh-and you've behaved like 4
gentleman to my people, and by and by
they'll see it. Just you wait. BY the
bye, you remember Col. Scroggs?'
II don't think I do. Some Of that
name were among the prisoners who
escaped yesterday, I'm told.''
Eyes, sub. The same family, sub;
Col. Scroggs' brothers. I can't discuss
them just now, but if the colonel should
come here to see you before Capt. Close
gets back, if you'll take my advice
you'll listen to him. He wants to speak
about shat arrest and square things;
and-well, know a gentleman when !
see one, just as know asrough-like
that soldier you were examining. The
colonel was conductor of our train
night before last. Now I've got to ride
like hell. Coed day, suh.''
And, pulling off his hat and sticking
spurs to his mQd-covered steed, Mr..
Potts galloped away along the Tugaloo
road into the gathering darkness.
Soon after nightfall the rain ceased
and the wind died away, For the first
time since he had turned in the night
before Lambert bethought him of the
lantern he had purposed buying, even
if he had to send to Cohen's on Sun
day. s Burns sent some candles over
from the company stores and the young
German "striker' set two of them
alight in his tent, with empty whisky
bottles-off which he had deferentially
washed the labels-as candlesticks.
One thought led to another. The pro-
posed purchase reminded Lambert that
all the money in his possession was now
the $2O-bill borrowed of Close, and this
reminded him that he wanted five dol