Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1901-01-09

There has been asmisunder-
standing of orders, in short, and he
was placed under arrest before
before had been furnished with a
mass of Information that should have
been sent tonne before" f4
''Well, what fault is that Of his?
See here, man, youdon't mean to say
it is because he didn't get here three
days ago? That's no crime,Sand I.
haven't knocked around with the;
army the last 40 years not to know
the regulations in such matters. Do
you mean without ever hearing what
kept him and what splendid, spirited
service he rendered there. along the
Laramie, that you've humiliated that
fine young fellow and put him in ar
rest?"
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, enforced 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. Il
want to take that boy back with me
to town and confront him with one
of his accusers this very day - the
man believe, by the ghost of Jim
Bridger, is at the bottom of the whole
business!" and Folsom Topped heav-
lily and disgustedly into chair, at
sound of 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!"
storIned 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, II can have no disturbance now
over this unfortunate matter. Real
ly, Mr.. Folsom, cannot permit my
Office 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
mind and was not coming in, had
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 a 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 learn
from my own daughter that you
spoke of him to a brother officer OF
his in terms of disparagement the day
you got aboard the car at Sidney Mr.
LOOMS corroborates it and so does
Miss Dean. I've heard of two other
instances. of your speaking sneeringly
of him. Now I ask you as man tc
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!"
Burleigh listened with solemn face
and with no attempt to interrupt. He
waited patiently until Folsom came te
full stop before he spoke at all
Then his voice was eloquent of un
deserved rebuke-of infinite sympathy
"Mr. Folsom" he said, it would be use
less for me to deny that before I knew
your charming daughter or her-ah-
very interesting friend did speak il
their presence-ah-inc per
haps, of Mr.. Dean, but it was in con
tinuance of a conversation begun be
fore we boarded the car, and what
said was more in sorrow than in crit
cism. The young gentleman had at
tracted my attention-my favorable
ah-opinion on the trip to the Big
Horn, and I was-ah-simply 'disap
pointed in his conduct on the way back
1t was perhaps due to-ah-inexperi
ence only, and my whole object in com
ing here in haste this afternoon wa:
to bear testimony to his ability anl
zeal as troop commander, and to urge
Oh ~ ~ r.
ton and restore him at once to duty
I had hoped, sir, to be here-ah-aheat
of you and to have driven him in my
buggy-ah-to meet you, but am dis
appointed am disappointed in more
ways than one"
Folsom stood and wiped his stream
ing face and looked the speaker square
in the eye, and Burleigh stood thu
scrutiny with unlooked-for nerve
Long years at the poker-table hat
given him command of his features
and the faculty of appearing the per
sonitication of serene confidence in hi!
"hand,' when the twitching of a nerv.
| might cost thousand dollars. Folsom
was no match for him in such game
Little by little the anger and suspicion
faded from his eyes, and a shame-facet
look crept into them. Had he really
so misjudged, so wronged this gentle
man? Certainly there was every ap
spearance: of genuine sympathy ant
feeling. in Burleigh's benevolent fea
lures. Certainly he was here almost a.
soon as he himself had come, and yer,
possibly for the same purpose. 1t wa
all that old fool Pecksniff's doing afte,
all. Folsom had known him for year
and always as more or lesssof an ass