Waterbury Democrat., 1901-06-11

who had long feigned not to hear any thing that was being said emerged from the screen of the morning paper and drawled:
 Seems to me you fellows have to ex- pend lots of ammunition killing man you declare to be dead. If he's the cad you say he is, how does it happen that Melville corresponds with himY
 "Melville's too soft hearted to refuse 10 answer his letters," answered Tor rance impatiently. They're probably begging letters, anyhow"
 "They're not" said the trooper, ss'cause I've seen 'em. As to being soft hearted, I was with Melville in that Modoc business when Squirt Fainter had to resign and when he cut Jimmie Cannon dead. I'll bet you what you like Melville would fire you, Nathan, quick as he did Fainter, or cut you, Torrance, dead as he did Cannon if you deserved 1t as they did. But he stands up for Langdon."
 'I've said before, Captain Charming" replied Nathan, with pronounced em- phasis on the title, turning the color of his stripes and half way round in his chair, Major Melville does not know Langdon. As for Fainter, any man who played the coward as he did would have to expect court martial at least, and Melville let him off the pub lie disgrace he deserved. He was shame to the regiment. AS for Cannon, there was a woman in that case, and others cut him as well as Melville"
 ''W-e-l now, hold on, Nathan" drawled Charming, drawing his lean length from the depths of an easy chair in which he was sprawled. T was stationed at Frisco about that time, and I know quite as much of the busi- ness as you do who happened to be in Europe on leave, as I remember when your regiment got into that cam paign"-
 ''Ny battery wasn't in itp' interposed Nathan hastily.
 "And," continued Charming placidly, .'Tainter isn't the only man to find the perils of Indian fighting too much for his nerve. We had case in my regi- ment and-there arc others. As for cutting Cannon, it's true others did it, but not until after Melville set the ex- ample. If Langdon was half as bad as you make him out, Melville wouldn't be backing him for employment at this minute and you wouldn't be taking such pains to prove your side of the, case, which, by gad, isn't mine."
 "All right" sneered Nathan, rising uneasily and making for the door in evident discontinue over Channing's pointed remarks. "I'm betting you and Melville will be wishing you had left bad enough alone before you are many months older, and don't envy you if the colonel happens to hear of your taking up the cudgels for the man he court martialed. Come on, TorranceY'
 ''No fear; he won't hear," drawled Charming. "Nonconductors are scarce in your set, Nathan. Good night to you-both."
 That episode led to split number two in the mess. Channing's words were held by Nathan's few followers as ga s1ur on the artillery" and he was asked to withdraw them. He wouldn't. He said they applied only to Nathan's im- mediate circle, which included, to the best of his belief, only three or possibly four officers of artillery. The mess di- vided against itself, and this was the condition of affairs when the Chicago papers came telling of the tremendous events at Sheridan. 1t so happened that Mrs. Torrance was giving recep- ton that afternoon, that Mrs. Melville had regretted" some days previous, but that Miss Ethel Grahame, the very attractive young woman referred to as devoted to riding in an earlier chap ter, had been induced, much against her will, to go in place of her aunt. There were many points" to this girl,