The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1897-06-11

i
81 don't know, sir."
"What is his name?"
"I-can't tell, sir"
"You know it, do you not?"
81 suppose I do, sir, butt can't tell
| it,
"In 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 well as assault"
81 broke no houses, sir, and attempted
no robbery. As for assault, the lady her
self will say 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 20
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? ?"
''I 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
woman, old or young. I never knew
what 1 was doing, if I grabbed the lady
by the throat But I'd be worse man
than the lieutenant thinks me if I'd
do what he 2sks."
''This is nonsense, Riggs. What have
I asked you to do that would be either
criminal or wrong?"
''To defend myself at the expense of
friend, SIR" said Riggs, with melo-
dramatic gravity. I'll never betray
the man that's trusted me-
F'Take him back to the guard tent,
sentry" said Lambert, hardly know
ing whether to be amused or disguised.
''The man isn't sober yet"
And then for the first time the young
officer became aware of the presence of
a 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 courteous wave of his hand. 81
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? / much want to
talk with you"
"And 1 want to have talk with you,
lieutenant-ve'y much-and I'm COM
ing for the purpose, but not just now.
There are some matters / 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 mere befoh, and it's Gawd's mer-
CIV 1 wasn't there last night. I'd "a
shot him dead"
|
justice, Mr.. Potts. though your aunt
seems to refuse to see me with regard to
the matter"
''I'll explain all that later, subj" said
Potts, lowering his voice. GIVE simply
j., got to go at once. But I'll see you to-
night; and meantime let me repeat
: what [ said. You shan't lack for a
friend round heah, sub. You treated
me like gentleman when 1 was drunk
and possibly offensive-though 1 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? %
ST 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. / can't discuss
them just now, but if the colonel should
. come here to see you before Capt. Gloss
gets back, if you'll take my advice
you'll listen to him. He wants to speak
about that arrest and square things;
and-well, I know a gentleman when
see one, just as l know a rough-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, subj"
And, pulling off his hat and sticking
spurs to his undiscovered steed, Mr.
6 Potts galloped away along the TugaloC
road into the gathering darkness.
! Soon after nightfall the rain ceased
and the wind died away. For the frs
D. time since he had turned in the nigh
: before Lambert bethought him of the
lantern he had purposed buying, ever
if ~ had to send to Cohen's on Sun
< day. Burns sent some candles ovel
h from the company stores and the young
German striker set two of then
|. alight in his tent, with empty whisky
;. bottlcs-off which he had deferentially
: washed the labels-as candlesticks.
S One thought led to another. The pro
5 posed purchase reminded Lambert tina