Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1901-05-03
CHAPTER XII.

Stevens, was having his bad quar-
ter of an hour. Leaving his team
with the orderly. John Folsom had
stamped into his presence unan-
nounced, and after his own vigorous
fashion opened the ball as follows:
"Stevens, what in the devil has that
young fellow done to deserve ar
rest?"
"Oh, ah, shut the door, Mr.. Adju-
tant," said the commanding officer,
apprehensively, to his staff officer.
''and-d I desire to confer with Mr..
Folsom moment" whereat the adj
jutant took the hint and then hied
himself out of the room.
"Now, ah, in the first place, Mr..
Folsom, this is rather long and-d
painful story I'm-m-ah, ah-in a
peculiar position
"For Gods sake talk like man and
not like Burleigh,' broke in the old
trader, impulsively. "I've known you
never used to talk in this asinine way
until you got to running with hin.
Come right to the point What
crime is young Dean charged with?
Those girls of mine will have to know
it. They will know he's in arrest.
What can I tell them?"
"Crime-ah-is hardly the word,
Folsom. There has been a misunder-
standing of orders, in short, and he
was placed under arrest before-ah-
before I had been furnished with a
mass of information that should have
been sent to me before"
''Well, what fault is that of his?
See here, man, you don't mean to say
it is because he didn't get here three
days ago? That's no crime, and I
haven't knocked around with the
army the last 40 years not to know
you mean without ever hearing what
service he rendered there along the
Laramie, that you've Inundated that
fine young fellow and put him in ar
rest 90
Pecksniff whirled around in his
chair. REALLY now, Mr.. Folsom, I
can't permit you to instruct me in my
military duties. You have no concep-
ton of the way in which I've been ig-
nored and misled in this matter.
There are collateral circumstances
brought about, er-forced on me in
fact, by injudicious friends of this
young man, and he-he must blame
them-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
irate features.
Read all you like, but be quick
about it, was the angry rejoinder. 81
want to take that boy back with me
of his accusers this very day = the
man 1 believe, by the ghost of Jim
Bridger, is at the bottom of the whole
business!" and Folsom Topped heav-
lily and disgustedly into a chair, at
sound of a rap at the door, which
opened an inch and the adiutant's
nose became visible at the crack.
Maj. Burleigh, sir, would like to
see YOU
"And I'd like to see Maj. Burleigh!"
stormed Folsom, springing to his feet.
Commanding officers of the Stevens
stamp had no terrors for him. He
had known his man too long.
Gentlemen, gentlemen" cried Peck
sniff, Il can have no disturbance now
over this unfortunate matter. Real
ly, Mr.. Folsom, 1 cannot permit my
ofhce to be the scene of any-of any
But his words wandered aimlessly
away into space as he discovered he
had no listener. Folsom, finding that
the major had apparently changed his
Il
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 in
arrest here this afternoon, yet 1 learn
from my own daughter that you
spoke of him to a brother officer Of
his in terms of disparagement the dag
you got aboard the ear at Sidney. Mr.
| Loomis corroborates it and so does
Miss Dean. I've heard of two other
instances of your speaking sneeringly
of him. Now 1 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 the
ranch, and by the Eternal I'm his
! friend and mean to see justice done
him!"
Burieigh listened with solemn facs
and with no attempt to interrupt. He
waited patiently until Folsom came t.
full stop before he spoke at all
| Then his voice was eloquent of un
deserved rebuke-of infinite sympathy
Mr.. Folsom" he said, sit would be use
ess for me to deny that before I knew
your charming daughter or her-ah-
very interesting friend I did speak il
their presence-ah-incau per
haps, of Mr.. Dean, but it was in con
| tinuance of a conversation begun be
Il e IL -.