Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1901-08-14

uiaiiu, ZOE Tue governor signed that
commission before ever the rifles got
back from the scene of their glory.
Eric was Captain Langdon now and no
mistake.
Mr.. Burleigh stopped to see him the
week he hobbled out on crutches and
said that the road had decided to send
Belts elsewhere and to tender Lang
don his old place. Langdon said he
had no objections to their sending
Belts to Halifax IL they wished, but
declined the position.
"You still resent their firing you on
account Of that safe business, / sup
pose" said Burleigh in his attractive
western way.
81 resent their treatment of me at
TINT time on every account" was the
than had the combination, yet they
We're retained and one Of them pro-
noted"
Burleigh WINGED. OF course he knew
1t, but Belts was close to the manage
ment by marriage and his son pet of
the connecting link. 1t was their story
and that of the station master at Gun
nison that hardened the hearts Of the
management against Langdon. Now
he would not return to their employ.
He stuck manfully to his studies in
Cresswell's office, was able to pitch his
crutch down cellar in April and to drill
his men in the public square under the
CLEAN Of the electric lights during the
bright evenings in May, was at the de-
pot to see Melville and the family the
through en- route to the hills, and a
week later was surprised by letter
from the major begging that he should
come up for visit, weeks rest, fish
ing and camping.
There were several reasons why Lang
don disliked to go. First, there was
Cat" the cavalry colonel who had
brought him to trial at Pawnee. "Cat'
would be glad to see him, wrote Mel
vile, but would Langdon be glad to
see "Cat?' No! Langdon knew he would
not. Melville didn't tell the particulars
of his conference with SCAT" without
whose full knowledge and consent of
course he would not ask Langdon to be
his guest, and Scat" did not tell Melville
the real reasons of his assent. But the
way in which his civilian guests spoke
of Langdon had set the colonel to
thinking. 1t had not previously &C.
CURED to him that just as certificates
of long and faithful service in the army
are of little aid In the rush for civil
employment so is army condemnation
of little harm when man displays the
traits the people want Mr. Burleigh
lacked finesse and tact. He was coarse,
but farsighted, and he told "Cat' that
the road would have given Langdon a
good salary to buy him back, but he
would not be bought. "That fellow will
be in congress first thing they know,
and he won't be led by the nose" "Cat"
still had an eye on that longed for star
and suppose now that Langdon should
get there and be assigned to the mill
rtary committee, just how much help
could "Cat" look Tor at his hands?
'"Tell Melville to invite him by all
MEANS" said Mrs. Cat. But "Cat"
demurred. Why had I4angdon left
Sheridan so mysterlously? Why had
the Big Horn discharged him If they
had not good reason to connect him
with the robbery OF the safe? Mel
vile, with his grave, courteous smile,
promptly disposed Of the first. 1t was
to spare Nelson possible breach with
the post commander. Sharpe felt that
he ought not to allow Langdon to re-
main at the post one day after he was
able to move, first, because of the bad
blood between him and Armistead;
second, because Of his anomalous posi-
ton as dismissed officer But Sharpe
knew Nelson was impetuous Of speech
and intolerant of interference. Ho
liked him well and thought for him
and so chose Il time when Nelson had
to be at stables to send his adjutant to
Langdon to break to him, diplomatical-
ly as possible, his desire, and Langdon
left between two bugle calls, hurt and
heartsick, but convinced that the step
was due to Nelson, If not to Sharpe.
When fairly away from Chicago and
beyond reach of Nelson's reproaches or
representations, Langdon had written
and given good reasons for his action
on that count at least. The Armistead
affair was something that would have
to be left for time to settle. 1t might
crop out any moment In the future.
On the other matter, the safe rob-
berry, "Cat" owned to himself with
shame that he had trumped it up as an
objection even when he disbclieved Its
truth, for Melville's clear eyes had
fathomed his soul when the major
calmly asked, "You surely do not be-
ieve Langdon party to that, do your
"Oh-no, no, certainly don't! oh,
well, ask him by all means, ii you
like. ILL merely suggest these as
matters-others might desire explain
ed. Then--there's Torrance. Now,
how do you expect them to meet7"
"They are not apt to meet at all. Mr..
Torrance, you know, has not been well
come at my quarters since that occur
renee" was Melville's quiet reply, and,
much to Torrance's chagrin, such was
the case. He had been living with the
bachelors mess during the campaign
and here in camp, Mrs. Torrance hay
ing taken that opportunity to go east
visit her kindred and replenlsh her
wardrobe. He had partially re-estab-
lished himself in the bat cries by sol
dierly conduct In the campaign and
during the mob days, but he knew Mel
ville's household had heard all about
the language which led to Langdon's
assault, and how could that be con-
doned? He was sorely unhappy man
that summer, and May and Woodrow
said 1t served him right.
There was another reason why Lang
don didn't care to leave Brentwood just
then. Cresswell was a relentless hater.
He was still trying to ferret out his as
sailant or assailants, and he had never
ceased his shadowing of Belts and his
aspiring son. Cresswell worked in Sc
crecy, binding Langdon to silence. He
had been most helpful and liberal to
Langdon in every way, even when he
dreaded his looming up as competitor
for congress. He was fairly well to do
md could aosi1v bova Ion,, rial,or hut