Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1901-06-26

low tone, when, to his amaZement, Nell
son sternly whispered, "Hush! and,
clapping his hand over his own lips to
emphasize the order, glanced in anx-
ious fear toward the bed. The caution
was too late. With dilating eyes, Eric
Langdon was struggling from the pill.
low and striving to rise.
"What is 1t, Eric? Lie still, man."
spoke Nelson soothingly, yet command
ingly, as he fastened to the bedside.
doctor whoY demanded Langdon,
with menace in his tone.
"Dr. Olmstead, man." answered Nell
son, with prompt mendacity. "O-l-m-
s-t-e-a-d-O lmstead. What's got into
you besides broth and one hot Scotch?
I'll give you another presently If you'll
settle down and behave yourself"
"Olmstead was not the NAME" was
the stern answer. Don't trifie with
me, Nelson. You said Armistead, did
you not? he continued, whirling sharp
on the steward, and that amazed and
COMPOUNDED compounder Of drugs could
only gulp and turn redder in the face.
at is Armistead, them" said Lang
don, with full conviction. "Send that
man out. and his bottles with him." he
continued, turning full on Nelson again.
"pve got to talk to you" And, obedi-
ent to a signal, the steward withdrew.
For moment there was dead silence.
Throwing himself back on his pillow,
his lean, long hands outspread on each
cheek and temple, Langdon lay staring
at the ceiling. Then in sharp, almost
savage, tone he demanded, How long
has that man been at this post|
about a month or less. Why?"
Because he or must quit 1t inside
of "a hours
Nelson stood few seconds gazing
full into the set face and cleaning
eyes of his friend. Little by little he
was recalling and piecing together the
stories that had been whispered about
Eric Langdon's pretty, volatile, reck-
less wife-about her daring life in
Washington while her husband was on
distant duty with his battery, about
the attentions and devotions of elderly
reprobates in and about the capitol,
men whose pockets seemed lined with
gold and whose records were scanned
and lined with scandal. But there
were tales of still another, a younger
man, distant kinsman, Virginian
of grand old family, boy lover in her
early girlhood, man who became her
shadow and sought to be her knight,
for there was tale Of a scene ut the
Shoreham cafe-a senator in his cups
and STRIPPING doctor in all his youth
full strength and chivalry, a sneering
Jest between one half drunken nabob
and n kindred spirit and reputed rival
at an adjoining table, an instant spring
from third table on the part Of tall,
athletic young gallant in evening dress,
a stern, furious demand for Immediate
apology, followed by a Touchdown
blow that sent $5,000,O 900 sprawling In
bedraggled human shape, bottles, dish
es and glasses raining and crashing up
on him. They dragged him out cover
ed with rage and lobster salad and
bore him off to bed. Even in execu-
tive session the story was suppressed,
for there was no bar to the confirma-
tion of certain appointment to the
medical corps Of the army. Indeed
was it not whispered that the appoint
ment was made at the instigation Of
certain senators ito get the young man
into the army and out Of Washington? ~
Nelson was not much of repository
for gossip. He listened only Impatient
ly at best and remembered but vague
ly. Yet now 1t was all coming over
him again, bit by bit, that Armistead
was the hero Of that exploit, that in
the winter of 1884 and 1885 there was
lively discussion in Washington socie-
ty as to whether Armistead was there
to get Mrs. Langdon into mischief or
out of 1t. Those who knew him we'll
and Of his infatuation for her in her
girl days swore stoutly that he was
ever standing between her and scan
dal. Those who hardly knew him at
all, and they wele 20 to i, took the OPP
posite view, and those who in the least
knew her had no charity for either.
Until commissioned and ordered out of
Washington, however, he was her
shadow, as has been said, and yet It
was his tribe, his own brothers, who
instigated the proceedings that divert
ed Cousin Spots little fortune from
the nav Of Mrs. Langdon to their own
itching palms. And now Of all places
on earth here was Eric LangdQn under
Armistead's care and his-Nelson's-
roof; this, too, at time when Lang
don sorely needed rest, peace and
friendly aid. "By George" said Mel
son to himself, at is fatefull"
But Langdon was the first to break
the silence.
what is the first train back to Chi
cago?"
"seven twelve tomorrow morning,
Eric. But not peg do you stir till we
straighten you up. DR.. Bloodgood
shah attend you, though. The other Is
liver man. There's no reason you
shouldn't take his medicine, dear boy.
Come, now, be reasonable. You need
this bromide or whatever 1t Is"
Not dropg" was the fierce reply.
Get me out Of this, Nels, for Gods
sake, even II have to waikiki he
cried, feebly struggling to rise, but
Nelson, with his powerful frame, was
on him in a minute. Hoyt came sprint
ing up the stairs and thrust tho bewil-
dered steward aside.
Just send my man for Bloodgood,
will you?" painted Nelson to the new
conner. '"Then help me strap this luna
tic. Do quit your struggling, Eric.
You'll only make yourself thousand
times WORSE"
The sweat was starting from Lang
don's brow and the muscles in his neck
stood out swollen and distorted. he
was fighting flercely for liberty, he
who SO short 4 time before with long
sigh had thanked God humbly for
warmth and refuge. All the misery Of
his married life seemed to have hurled
itself in concentrated force upon him
again and robbed him Of his reason.
Nelson had to summon the steward to
his aid, and Hoyt, too, when he return
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