Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1899-02-16
(CONTlNUED.j

There was man at Cooke who could
have told them Loring showed wisdom
in his observance of caution, and that
man was Nevins, who had been sent for
by the commanding officer the morning
after the adjournment of the court and
subjected to questioning and lecture
that nobody else heard, but that every
body speedily knew must have been Sc
we're, because Nevins, lately so meek
and lachrymose, was seen to go to his
tent flushed with rage, and then from
within those canvas walls his voice was
heard uplifted in blasphemy and execra-
tion. Nor did be take advantage of
garrison limits the rest of that day, ncr
once again that day appear outside
At SO great distance from civiliza.
tion trif1es prove Of absorbing interest
and callers came to see what they
could do for him" and learn for them
selves, and Nevins' face was black as a
storm and his language punctuated
with profanity He raved about tyranny
and oppression, but vouchsafed no in.
telligible explanation of what he con-
fessed to be the commanding officer
latest order-that he was remanded to
close arrest. Let it be here explained
for the benefit Of the lay reader that
when an officer is accused of crime or
even OF misdemeanor he is placed in
arrest, which means that he is suspend
ed for the time being from the exercise
OF command, must not wear sword
and must oonfine himself to certain
limits-to his tent or quarters if in
close arrest, as for one week the officer
generally is, and to the limits of the
parade or garrison if allowed out for
exercise.
No sentry is posted, for an officer is
supposed to be on honor to observe the
prescribed restrictions, and only when
he breaks his arrest by visiting the
quarters of some brother officer or by
going outside of camp is he in danger
Of other humiliation. To none of his
few visitors did Nevins reveal the fact
that on the previous night, if not be.
fore, he had broken his arrest and gone
far out on the mesa, back of the post;
that he had been detected, by whom he
knew not, reported to the commanding
officer and by him severely reprimanded
and threatened with close confinement
under guard, as when first brought back
to the post, if he again ventured beyond
the restricted limits now assigned him.
'.'.s I'have twice sent to ask that Mr..
Lor:ng should come to see me- rallied
Nevins. 81 have important matters
papers and messages from my wife
and he holds aloof By God, Gleason,
you tell him for me that if be can't
treat me decently and come to see me
before tattoo this night, demand that
he hand back those diamonds and things
do you understands
And that message Mr.. Gleason, who
of all things loved sensation, faith,
fully promised to deliver, and fully
meant to; but the game at the sutler' 8
developed into a big one that eventful
night. Jack pots were the rule before
the drums of the infantry hammered
out first call for tattoo, and in the alb
sorbing nature of his occupation he
never thought of Nevins' charge except
as something to be attended to later.
and not until guard mount of another
day, when his head was muddled with
the rotations of an all night session and
the befogging cocktails of the morning,
did Mr.. Gleason approach the engineer
upon the subject, and then there was
scene
Loring was standing at the moment
in front of the rude brush and adobe
quarters of Major Starke conversing
with two or three officers. or rather lis.
tening in silence to their observations.
Turnbull was seated under the shelter