Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1901-06-19

which the party Of subalterns had
charged past his carriage on the up
hill drive, Woodrow had no defense to
the spur of the moment, May having
led on with "Come ahead, fellows!
Pm not going to trail behind that DASH
ed pawnbroker," and the rest having
impetuously followed. But 1t was done,
and their regrets were ON account of
the regiment, not for Nathan. 1t was
bad form, as they owned, to show to
civilians contempt for brother officer,
no matter how much they might feel it.
These episodes growing out Of Lang
don's departure were the talk of the
club and indeed of every household on
the post the rest of the week. The in
spector general could not help hearing
them, but said not word. The colo
mel commanding was sorely perturb-
ed man. lie felt that If he did not
punish somebody-do something to vim
dictate the good order and discipline of
his command-there would be rap
from department headquarters, posi-
bly, from Washington, and this was
more than candidate for the star of a
general officer could contemplate with
equanimity. lie excused himself the
moment dessert was over at Nathan's
dinner party that evening and, though
1t was after tattoo, began an investiga-
tion of the affair. A dozen of the bat
terymen and all the junior officers
present at the station were summoned
to the adjutant's office, and in five min-
utes he had the facts. There was not
the faintest attempt to equivocate or
dissemble. Lieutenants May, Wood
row, Sparrowe and LIE Due said they
heard the call for three cheers, and
May said that, though he didn't shout,
he swung his cap and had all the ap-
pearance of it. He disclaimed any dis
authority, the president or the post
commander. Mr.. Langdon was his
best friend. He was sorely distressed
ut his dismissal, and he did come with
in an ace Of cheering, only he knew
Langdon himself would have disap-
proved. The colonel used some rasp-
ing language, in the course of which
as cavalryman he reflected on the
sense Of subordination and discipline
that did not appear to prevail in the
batteries, thereby antagonizing every
gunner at the post, and then, dismiss
ing the officers with no little asperity
in his reprimand, he summoned Ser
geant Rancey, an Irish idol in Battery
d, and whirled on him with the stern
query, SIS it true you called for three
cheers for Lieutenant Langdon, the
best officer in Battery DIP"
"True as shootin, SORT" was the
prompt reply.
$50 to your quarters in close arrest,
Sir" said the colonel, and without the
culver of muscle of his sun tanned
face the Irishman spun on his heel and
stalked out. Then Sergeant Blossom,
down east Yankee, was summoned
in.
did you join in the cheers for Lieu
tenant Langdon?" asked the colonel.
Eyes, sir" was the emphatic answer.
"Didn't you know that was tanta-
mount to mutinyi"
mo, sir. There was no such thought
or intention. We meant to show our
sympathy for a beloved officer and an
unfortunate man; that was ALL"
I The colonel wheeled impatlently in
his chair. He loved the old style SOL
dler, who knew nothing beyond the
will of his superior officer. These mod
ern evolutions of soldiers in the ranks,
men Of education who read and
thought for themselves and spoke bet
ter English than some of the officers,
were thorns in his flesh. He did not
know just how to take Blossom, much
less what to do with him, but compro-
missed by bidding him stand aside until
he had questioned the others. One
after another dozen came In, prompt
ly acknowledged that they had cheered
the departing officer, disclaimed all
imputation Of disrespect and inferen-
TALLY any expression Of regret. Every
mothers son Of them seemed to wish
to be understood as maintaining that
he had perfect right to cheer, and If
he hadn't he was ready to take his
punishment. "Confound It," said the
colonel to his silent adjutant, "if
slap 'em in arrest Nathan won't have
sergeant for duty. The whole bat
terry seems to have been in 1t. Tell
them to go to their quarters-go to
grass-go to Ballyhack-but there must
be no more cheering. won't have it."
"There won't be-" said his staff off,
Ger dryly, now that Langdon's gone"
He, too, had loved the fellow and was
sore hearted over his downfall.
"There's nobody else they'll be apt to
cheer for unless it's Melville"
The colonel turned suddenly and
glared, but the adjutant's face was
placid and unconcerned US he quietly
stepped to the outer room and in low
tone babe the assembled throng dis
perse. Then In silence he rejoined his
chief.
you're always quoting Major Mel
yille," said the latter petulantly. SIS
there no one in your own corps worth
considerlng?"
PLENTY" answered the adjutant,
"yet none just like Melville. There's
the man to straighten out this matter,
colonel, If you really want 1t DONE"
81 can straighten out post matters
without having to cali on an-an-an
outsider" answered the colonel haugh-
tily, for he had the same conception Of
his corps that the Chinese had of Chi
na-everybody not of 1t was an outside
barbarian. Moreover, he was distinctly
Jealous of Melville, and 1t kept crop
ping out In the most absurd and palpa-
BILE way. Early in the spring, when or
dered to the command of this important
station, the department commander
had said to him: 1--WE have applied for
Melville to command your artillery.
He'll be q tower Of strength to you and
relieve you of all responsibility In the
management Of the batteries" And
this remark, intended to reassure. had
just the opposite effect. The colonel
did not wish to be relieved of any care
or responsibility, did not wish 1t to be
supposed he needed tower of