Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-09-25

lily and disgustedly into chair, at
sound of rap at the door, which
opened an inch and the adiutant's
nose became visible at the crack
"Maj. Burleigh, sir, would like to
see you"
"And I'd like to see Maj. Burleigh!"
stormed Folsom, springing to his feet.
Commanding officers of the Stevens
stamp had no terrors for him. He
had known his man too long.
Gentlemen, gentlemen!" cried Peck
sniff, 81 can have no disturbance now
over this unfortunate matter. Real
ly, Mr.. Folsom, I cannot permit my
Office to be the scene of any-of any"
But his words wandered aimlessly
away into space as he discovered he
had no listener. Folsom, finding that
the major had apparently changed his
mind and was not coming in,~ had
changed his plan and was going out.
He overlook Burleigh on the board
walk in front and went straight to
the point.
maj. Burleigh, you told me short
time ago that you had nothing to do
with the allegations against this
young gentleman who was placed in
arrest here this afternoon, yet learn
from my own daughter that you
spoke of him to brother officer Of
his in terms of disparagement the day
you got aboard the car at Sidney. Mr..
Loomis corroborates it and SO does
Miss Dean. I've heard of two other
instances of your speaking sneeringly
of him. Now / ask you as man to
man what it is you have to tell? He
has saved the lives of my son, his
wife and child and the people of the
ranch, and by the Eternal I'm his
friend and mean to see justice done
| him!"
Burleigh listened with solemn face
| and with no attempt to interrupt. He
| waited patiently until Folsom came to
a full stop before he spoke at all.
Then his voice was eloquent of IN
deserved rebuke-of infinite sympathy.
.Mr. Folsom" he said, sit would be use
less for me to deny that before knew
your charming daughter or her-ah-
very interesting friend 1 did speak in
their overwhelmingly, per-
| haps, of Mr.. Dean, but it was in con-
tinuance of conversation begun be-
! fore we boarded the car, and what I
| said was more in sorrow than in criti-
cism. The young gentleman had at
| tracted my attention-my favorable
| ah-opinion on the trip to the Big
Horn, and l was-ah-simply disap-
pointed in his conduct on the way back.
1t was perhaps due to-ah-inexperi-
ence only, and my whole object in COM
| ing here in haste this afternoon was
to bear testimony to his ability and
| zeal as troop commander, and to urge
| -ah-Col. Stevens to reconsider his ac-
| ton and restore him at once to duty.
had hoped, sir, to be here-ah-ahead
of you and to have driven him in my
buggy-ah-to meet you, but am dis
appointed am disappointed in more
| ways than one"
Folsom stood and wiped his stream
| ing face and looked the speaker square
in the eye, and Burleigh stood the
scrutiny with unlooked-for nerve.
Long years at the poker-table had
given him command of his features,
and the faculty of appearing the per-
sonitication of serene confidence in his
"hand," when the twitching of nerve
might cost a thousand dollars. Folsom
was no match for him in such game.
Little by little the anger and suspicion
| faded from his eyes, and shamefaced
look crept into them. Had he really
SO misjudged, SO wronged this gentle
man? Certainly there was every APP
pearance of genuine sympathy and
feeling in Burleigh's benevolent fea-
lures. Certainly he was here almost as
soon as he himself had come, and very
possibly for the same purpose. 1t was
all that old fool Pecksniff' s doing after
all. Folsom had known him for years
and always as more or less of an ass
a man of SO little judgment that,
| though major in the line at the out
break of the war, he had never been
| trusted with a command in the field,
and here he was now full colonel with
only three companies left him. Bur-
leigh saw his bluff was telling, and he
| took courage.
| "Come with me-" he said, 'sand let
me reassure you," and the doors of
the commanding officers sanctum
opened at once to the omnipotent dis
burser of government good things,
Folsom following at his heels. Sol.
Stevens" he began, the moment he was
inside, and before the colonel could
speak at all, Gin moment of ex-
ASPIRATION and extreme nervous-ah-
depression the night I-er-started
east so hurriedly after most exhaust
ing journey from the Big Horn, spoke
disparagingly of the action of Lieut..
Dean in face of the Indians the day we
met Red Clouds band, but on mature
reflection / am convinced misjudged
him. / have been thinking it all over.
] recall how yigilant and dutiful he was