Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1901-09-04


escort to the governor failed of confir-
nation. The sentinel had acted strict
ly in accordance with his orders. The
major had committed one of the gray
est crimes known to military law, first
in refusing TO obey and second In dar-
Ing to strike the sentry. Captain Mar.
tin and his associates, late of the CO.
lumbias, were interrogated by the
Judge advocate of the department and
hidden to hold themselves in readiness
to testify before the court that would
be convened forthwith, for Major Ma
than had been placed in close arrest.
But that wasn't all. Cresswell was n
hard hater and as hard n hitter. Ma
than's vile insult had been audible to n
dozen bystandcrs, and, though Lang
don had not been allowed to hear of it,
Cresswell followed up the rumor and
got the exact words. In formulating
the charges against the officer it was
| considered both unnecessary and un-
wise to refer to them. There was quite
enough to dismiss him from the service
without allusion to his insane out
break, but Cresswell wasn't satisfied.
He had never abandoned his theory
that young Belts was the culprit, and
long years after the occurrence and
soon after the seniors transfer to an
other road there leaked story from
the yards that had been suppressed
only so long as Belts was influential,
and the young man fled from Brent
wood between two days, no one knew
whittier. The matter caused no little
talk at the time, for the road made no
effort to run him down. 1t was learn
ed later that shortage of upward of
$1,000 was squared by relatives Of
the fugitive, and that 1t was supposed,
would end the matter.
Perhaps it might have done so but
| for Nathan's reiteratlon of the old
SANDER, and there was 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 FASTENED from Chicago in response
to wires" from the Nathans and who
had had long interview with the &C.
cused officer that morning and a short
one--a very short one-with the chief
| of staff that afternoon, came saunter-
ing down in evening dress to dinner, a
brace of magnates with him. The trio
We're suddenly accosted by Judge Cyess-
well, who presented his card and deliv-
cred himself substantially as follows:
| Mr.. Barclay, you We're general man.
ager of the Seattle at the time of GER
tain safe robbery in the Big Horn Of
flee at Brentwood. You were satisfied
of the innocence of Mr.. Langdon. be-
cause Immediately after his discharge
by the Big Horn you rendered him as
good position on your road. Is not
this truei"
Barclay flushed. He was n man &C.
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 most icy reserve of manner dis
couraged all attempts at conversation
except among his chosen intimates
But here was this COMPOUNDED Ken
tuckian-he knew him well by sight
and rerute-accosting him with scant
ceremony in a public place. He
! promptly froZe, but Cresswell warmed
to his work.
| 81 see 1t Is and that you distinctly
remember it. Moreover, you know
that young Belts has been a fugitive
from justice for months and that his
shortages, including the 500, We're
paid by his father, now in your en-
| ploy. | know this, because Mr.. Bur-
leigh Of the Big Horn has frankly told
me that he long since told you, and yet
| your precious kinsman, whom you
have fastened here to save If possible,
dared last week to publicly speak of
my partner, General Langdon, us the
safe robber."
'Your partner subjected Major Ma
than to gross indignity," INTERCEPTED
Barclay Jelly.
My partner did not, sir, and 1t 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 Cresswell's
voice resounded through the echoing
lobby. ga gentleman, sir, fran my
section of the Union can't soil his
hands by chastising coward, rs Maj
or Nathan is held to be, and the pro-
lection of his wifes petticoats pre-
vents my getting him where 1 can
brand him as liar, but as you are his
next of kin, by marriage at least, /
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 to occur that afternoon. Some
few of the officers. commissioned in
new regiments, were to return to Ma
Mia, 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
vestigator and the more conservative
story of The Carbuncle. Within an
hour he was at Lnngdon'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 babe
his elderly excuse him to visitors few
moments sent Hurricane to the camp
postoflice and let down the flaps of the
tent.
"That fellow is still in close arrest"
said he, "and cannot reach him until
he is released"
"And then?" asked Melville thought
fully.
"Then--I shall cowhide him."
"Langdon," said the general after u
moments reflection, chats what
brought me out here so early. Read
this first"
1t was a letter in Nathans handwrit-
ing. Langdon took 1t slowly and with
| obvious rpDupnance his ewes the while