Waterbury Democrat., 1900-10-31

nored and m1sleu in this, maJrer., There are collateral circumstances brought about, enforced on me in fact, by injudicious friends of this young man, and he-he must blame then-he must blame them, not me. Now if you'll permit me to glance over this mass of matter, I can the sooner do justice in the premises" And over his goggles the colonel looked pleadingly up into his visitors iratc features.
 Read all you like, but be quick about it," was the angry rejoinder. "I want to take that boy back with me to town and confront him with one of his accuscrs this very day - the man I believe, by the ghost of Jim, Bridger, is at the bottom of the whole business!" and Folsom Topped heav- 1 fly and disgustedly into chair, at sound of rap at the door, which opened an inch and the adjutant's nose became visible at the crack. 1 Maj. Burleigh, sir, would like to sec you.''
 1 And I'd like to see Maj. Burleigh!" storIncd Folsom, springing to his feet. Commanding officers of the Stevens stamp had no terrors for him.. He had known his man too long.
 "Gcntlemen, gentlemen!' cried Peck sniff, "I can have no disturbance now over this unfortunate matter. Real ly, MT. Folsom, I cannot permit my office to be the scene of any-of any"
 But his words wandered aimlcssly away into space as he discovered he had no listener. Folsom, finding that the ma jor had apparently changed his mind and wac 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 ill arrest here this afternoon, yet learn from my own daughter that you spoke of him to a brother officer of his in terms of disparagemcnt the day you got aboard the car at Sidney. Mir Loomis corroborates it and so docs Miss Dean. I've heard of two other instances of your speaking sneeringly of him. Now I 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 tho 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 full stop before he spoke at all. Then his voice was eloquent of un- deserved rebuke-of infinite sympa thy. "Mr. Folsom" he said, it would be use less for me to deny that before knew your charming daughter or her-ah- very interesting friend l did speak in their presence--ah-incau per- haps, of MT. 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- tracteL my attention-mv favorab'--- ah-opinion on the trip to the Big Horn, and I was-ah-simply1 disap- pointed in his conduct on the way back. It 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
 
 -ah-Col. Stevens to reconsider his ac- tion and restore him ct 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 I am dis appointed-I 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 unlookedfor nerve. Long years at the poker-table had | given him command of his features, and the faculty of appearing the per sonihcation of serene confidence in his hand" when the twitching of nerve might cost thousand dollars. Folsom was no match far him in such game. Little by little the anger and suspicion faded from his eyes, and a Ehame-faced look crept into them. Had he really so miSjudged, so Wronged this gentle man? Certainly there was every ap- 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. It was all that old fool Pecl1sniff's doing after all. Folsom had known him for years and always as more or less of an ass man of so little judgment that, though a major in the line at the out bpeak 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, ''and let me reassure you," and the doors ot the commanding officers sanctum opened at once to the omnipotcnt dis burser of government good things Folsom following at his heels. "Col Stevens" he began, the moment he was inside, and before the colonel could speak at all, lin moment of eN' aSperation and extreme nervous-ah- depression the night I-er-started