Waterbury Democrat., 1901-07-02
TEN YEARS TRIAL @ @
 Tbe Story of a
 Soldiers Struggle By BrigRdier General CHARLES KING

Ferhaps it might have done so but for Nathan's reiteration of the old islander, and there was a scene in the lobby of the Palace hotel one evening just within the week of the episode, when the president of the Seattle, who had hastened from Chicago in response to wires from the Nathans and who had had a long interview with the ac- cused officer that morning and a short one-a very short one-with the chief of staff that afternoon, came sumter ing down in evening dress to dinner, a brace of magnates with him. The trio were suddenly accosted by Judge Cress- well, who presented his card and deliv cred himself substantially as follows:
 MT. Barclay, you were general man. ager of the Seattle at the time of q cer- tain safe robbery in the Big Horn of- flee at Brentwood. You were satisfied of the innocence of MT. Langdon. be cause immediately after his discharge by the Big Horn you rendered him as good a position on your road. Is not this trueE"
 Barclay flushed. He was a man ac- custOmed to dictate and to be ap- preached only with much show of def erence Triple doors and keepers guarded his office against intrusion, and a most icy reserve of manner dis couraged all attempts at conversation except among his chosen intimateS. But here was this confounded Ken tuckian-he knew him we'll by sight and repute- accosting him with scant ceremony in a public place. He frozo T111f CpoccruoII xuarn1o6 to his work.
 'sI see it is and that you distinctly remember it. Moreover, you know that young Betts has been fugitive from justice for months and that his shortages. including the $600, were paid by his father, now in your em- ploy. I know this, because Mir. Bur leigh of the Big Horn has frankly told me that he long since told you, and yet your precious kinsman, whom you have hastened here to save if possible, dared last week to publicly speak of my partner, General Langdon, as the safe robber."
 Your partner subjected Major Ma than to a gross indignity," interjected Barclay jelly.
 My partner did not sir, and it is my belief that you know he did not; that the order Major Nathan refused to obey was that of the commanding gen. eral." And now Colonel Cresswells voice resounded through the echoing lobby. "A gentleman, sir, from my section of the Union can't soil his hands by chastising a coward, as Maj or Nathan is held to be, and the pro- lection of his wife's petticoats pre- vents my getting him where I can brand him as liar, but as you are his next of kin. by marriage at least, I have taken this opportunity of making known my sentiments to you. You have my address, sir. Good evening to you, sir"
 And the colonel majestically lifted his hat and strolled magnificently away Of course that rencontre was in the morning papers, and so at last LangdOn heard of Nathan's language.
 The formal muster out of the Wash oes was 10 occur that afternoon. Some few of the officers. commissioned in new regiments. were to return to Ma nila. certain others were to remain awhile in San Francisco, but the bulk of the men would scatter for home soon after the final ceremony, the governor and his advisers having decided against the parade. Melville at breakfast time read the sensational account in The In- Testigator and the more conservative story of The Carbuncle. Within an hour he was at Langdon's tent and found the colonel supervising the pack ing of his soldier goods and chattels. Each knew what was uppermost In the mind of the other, and Langdon bade his orderly excuse him to visitors few moments, sent Hurricane to the camp postoffice and let down the flaps of the tent
 That fellow is still in close arrest, g said he, "and cannot reach him until he is released
 And then?' asked Melville thought fully.
 "ThenlI shall cowhide him."
 "Langdon," said the general after a moments reflection, that's what brought me out here so early. Read this first''
 1t was letter in Nathan's handwrit- Ing. Langdon took it slowly and with obvious repugnance, his eyes the while
 
 on another missive, a little note that the general still retained. Opening the first, however, he read as follows:
 My Dear General Melville-A man never knows how friendless he is in the army, unless luck has gone back on him and he is down. am down. that have made bad of it and know there will be sympathy for me in that court. I suppose you've the detail. It's packed to convict, and ia the present exaggerated feeling to the relative merit of the volunteers and regu- lars my break seems much serious than it really was merely lost my temper and said and did things that were indefensible, I suppose But put yourself in my place. have reason to believe that was being discrimnated against and that Colonel Langdon had purposely placed sentries there to publicly humiliate What would you think to have your horse backed almost from under you by private soIdier7 I'll warrant that Colonel Langdon would have used the lash quicker than l did In fact, hardly struck the sentry at all But, of it's useless to talk of it. They've about convinced Mr. Barclay that the least can look for is dismissal unless can get those charges withdrawn. I willing to admit was nasty, or l suppose I ought to say violent, and I'm willing to do anything you say to make amends, both to the soldier in the and to the colonel 4 written apology, l suppose, is what they'll want
 But Langdon's indignation rose with every line
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