Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1899-05-25
CHAPTER XIV.

meeting the wrathful division COM
mander had sent Colonel Stevens back
to the obscurity of Fort Emory, well
coined the new brigadier and babe him,
II possible thing, to quash the pro-
ceedings, but now it was Loring who
was obdurate.
"This matter has been a scandal for
months, said be-. "It must be settled
now, once and for all.
But, oh, what complications had not
been brought about by Pecksniff's spell
of brief authorityl Never before in
trusted with higher command than
that of regiment, to the head of which
he had risen by reason of long years Of
unimpaired bodily health and skillful
avoidance of all danger, the old colonel
had lost no time in moving. bag and
baggage, to Omaha, in having Nevins
transported thither, in opening wide his
ears to his story of the heinous wrongs
inflicted on him by that Arizona court
through the malignity of it's judge ad-
vocate, of that judge advocates heart
less treachery to two helpless women,
one of whom was Nevins' wife, the
other the officers own deserted and bro
ken hearted betrothed.
Then came Petty, ordered to join his
company in the field and eager as ever
to seek some loophole of escape. Report
ing to pay his homage to the temporary
commander at headquarters, he soon
got an linking of what was going on,
and all at once there flashed upon him
the magni6cence of his opportunity.
Here he could at one and the same
time feed fat his ancient grudge against
Loring and make himself indispensable
to the aging commander of the depart
ment, perhaps even secure another staff
billet certainly at least succeed in being
kept there Oh duty and away from the
perils of the field until after the court,
and meantime what would friends be
worth if they could not move the pow
ers at Washington?
Day after day he was closeted with
old Stevens, adding fuel to the flame of
that ingenious veterans suspicious
But it is doubtful if even Petty dreamed
of the depth OF Nevins' sooundrelism.
Burleigh, whom the ex-captain had
"bled" and blackmailed, had passed
beyond the bar of human arraignment,
dying like gentleman even while
captive in the hands of the authorities,
and SO did Nevins impress his uncon-
tradicted tale of loyal service to the
state on the old weakling in command
that Stevens had declared that there
was no evidence on which to hold him,
had ordered his release from custody on
parole, unless the civil authorities de-
sired to prosecute him for 'personating
all officer, and had written to the di-
vision commander, praising Nevins'
conduct and urging that the sentence of
imprisonment be set aside.
And then he never could tell lust
who brought this about, whether it was
Mrs. Burton or Miss Allyn, with their
tears and tribulations; whether it was
Nevins, with his bold accusations, or
Petty, with his insidious tales, but be-
tween them all the old colonel was in
duoed to send his adjutant and acting
aid to examine certain baggage of Lor.
ing's stored at the hotel. Never having
given up his room when hurrying off
to Gate City, expecting to be back
within week and merely to pay room
rent when absent, as was the arrange
ment of the day, Loring had left his
trunks and desk securely locked.
Two officers and the protesting hotel
clerk were present at the opening. The
locksmith even seemed to hate his job;
the adjutant had never meaner one,
but Petty was eager. Fresh from an in
terview with Geraldine, he was the d.
recting spirit 1t was his hand that ex-
tracted from deep down under the pack
ed clothing in the trunk small tin
box, wrapped in silk handkerchief.
Within the box, when opened, were
certain letters in woman's hand, Ger.
aldine Administrations written to Lor-
ing in the days of their brief engage
ment, letters long since returned to her
under his hand and seal, and with them,
in closely folded wraps Of tissue paper,
inclosed in stout envelope, valuable
solitaire and as valuable ring. The
regimental adjutant it was who opened
the box and who made these discoveries.
HALF an hour later they were identified
Oy Nevins, in the presence Of old Peck
GILL, ao Guo uAhLuUuuh lutruSCeu 10 LOT
ing's care in Arizona, and Nevins pro-
fessed to be disappointed because the
watch, too, was not found with them
Not until late July did Loring learn
Of the action taken in his enforced alb
sence and of the resulting developments
Not word would he vouchsafe in ex-
PLANTATION when old Peoksniff, whiting
under the criticisms of his superiors
sent his adjutant to Invite remarks {"
''The court has been ordered" said
Loring, with GOODNESS described as con-
temptuous. "I'll make my remarks
there.
But long before that court could meet
the colonel, as has been said, went back
to his post. The new commander ar
rived and ordered Nevins to an Iowa
prison to serve out the year awarded
him, sent Captain Petty summarily to
Laramie, and babe Mrs. Burton go
about her business when that laohry-
NOSE person came to urge that he should
do something ''to make Lieutenant Lor-
ing SETTLE" She had lost her lovely
4 L. r.