Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1901-07-31

seem to deprecate. His son had step
ped Into Langdon's place, but wise
heads and old hands among the men
declared that he'd never fill his shoes.
Then came a queer thing-a note from
the general superintendent Of the Seat
tie, asking Langdon to call. He did
and was again rendered the Office ut
Sioux City.
"a proof" said the superintendent,
"of Mr.. Barclays magnanimity. He
rendered 1t In spite OF the rumors af-
1fecting Mr.. Langdon's integrity, not
to mention Mr.. Langdon's open dis
courtesy. In fact, Mr.. Barclay wished
to see Mr.. Langdon and talk it over"
Langdon went. He had sent most of
his hundred dollars to pay off pressing
debts and was in sore need. lie watt
ed full two hours before the magnate
would see him, and then Barclay, tilt
ing back in his chair and rendering nei-
Their hand nor seat, but in very distant
and patronizing tone, Informed Lang
don that If he saw fit to make writ
ten application for the position and
could furnish bonds the Seattle might
be disposed to consider It," Two or
three directors were with the airy man.
ager, at the moment and were curiously
studying the pale faced, thin checked
man who had baked the mob and
saved the Big Horn. They stared aft
er him in amaze and then in silence Mt
one another as Langdon made his brief
reply, turned on his heel and left the
room.
Pray do not strain yourself in the
effort Mr.. Barclay. will not make
application and should not furnish
bonds If did"
That was one offer declined. Then
came another. The managing editor
of The Palladium sent for Langdon
and asked him If he had ever done any
newspaper work, and Langdon said
that be had not, but he would be glad
to try almost anything. The Palladium
had begun a crusade against the off,
GERS of the army in general and at
Sheridan in particular. Facts to SUBJ
stantiate its theories being necessary,
The Palladium had drawn upon the
repertory of certain discharged and
disgruntled soldiers ever to be found
about the saloons and upon the imagi-
nations of its reporters, to the end that
many sensational stories were pub
lished. which, while delighting the en-
emies of the army among the turbulent
and unruly element In Chicago, sue
ceeded only In disgusting the educated
mn a. 70 n
ers. The Palladium lost caste and SUBJ
scribers in the clubs, the professions
and business circles generally. The
management saw and pondered. It
could not change its policy or drop the
matter at its present stage without
tacit admission of defeat. They per-
haps could find a man who knew
whereof he spoke, who could tell of
many a discreditable thing at the ex-
pense Of officers Of the army-things
that, unlike almost everything 1t had
asserted in the past, could not be dis.
proved and denied. In the interests Of
the Seattle and the hope of winning
friends and subscribers among the Of
ficers Of both roads 1t had vigorously
abused C'roasted" was the technical
term Mr.. Langdon and published sew
eral letters from its own correspondent
at the scene of the riots (who happened
to be the editor of the Brentwood Sum,
in which poor Eric was held up to pub
lie obloquy us drunken desperado. a
reckless murderer, etc. The Sun peo-
pie found especial delight in the repeti-
ton Of that assonant II not allitentive
headline, "a Kicked Out Captain" and
The Palladium had taken it up until
one Of its own reporters, gentleman
from top to toe, who had known Eric
in happier days at the Point, made We
hement personal appeal to the manage
ment and succeeded in having 1t stop
ned. 1t was The PalIadium's policy
when dbcrediting Langdon to refer to
''the unimpeachable verdict Of brother
officers, gentlemen Of unstained honor.
which had cast him from the fold
Now 1t needed circumstantial instances
with which to impeach these same
brother officers Of unstained honor, and
who more likely to be In possession of
.