Waterbury Democrat., 1901-06-27

ally sunny temper as much as a week, and Cannon's coffee was cold and streaky on the morrow. That visit was quite the episode of midwinter at Pawnee in ways more than one. Ma than, Torrance and Santley, who had been quite a close community, had flare up of some kind and parted com pany. This was quixotism No. 1-this trip to Pawnee and to the defense of Lieutenant Santley, according to Cress wells views. He was for duel when first the story of Santley's malignant persecution of his new partner reached his ears. 1t was nearly a vain effort for Langdon to tell him the story was grossly exaggerated. It had all the ele- ments of probability, said Cresswell, and he hardly knew what to make of Isangdon's indifference. Then, several months later still, as the result of CresswelTs persistent proddings, there were indications that the M. v. people were actually bestirring themselves over that old safe business, and one April morning Brentwood was excited by the story that young Frewen, an English lad whose father had died in
 
 fore, was behind the bars awaiting trial on charge of being the safe rob Der. This was certainly not what Cresswell had been working for. He believed that Betts junior was the man, as he had the safe combination and access to the office at all hours. Frewen had neither. Brett senior was ''up the road'' the night preceding the discovery of the loss, and Langdon had been in the office alone for an hour after the money was placed in the drawer and before he took the evening train to Gunnison. The officers of the road at the time seemed certain that everything pointed to -Langdon, but it transpired later that every cent he had spent could otherwise be accounted for.
 Young Betts was something of swell in his way, a gallant among the Brentwood girls, but he had spent no money beyond that which he received as salary and that given him by his father" which statement the senior confirmed. For a time it looked as l though the thief had been scared into hiding his plunder and was waiting un- til the hue and cry was over before unearthing and using it. Frewen was a shy, quiet little fellow who lived with his widowed mother and gave her most of his scanty salary, but he was in love with pretty Brentwood girl, who favored his suit at first, but tired of the prospect of long engagement and began tormenting him by going oc- casionalfy with Betts and others to evening entertainments. Frewen was jealous and unhappy awhile, and then came change. He returned from a | brief visit to Omaha, appeared for the | first time in his life in stylish raiment and began to cut dash in social cir eles, joined the rifles, then in the hey | day of their fame and fortune, and took pretty Aileen to parties where Betts was not even bidden, and in April came the crash. It would have | lifted the last prestige of suspicion from Langdon's name had Frewen been convicted, but he wasn't, for Langdon, his captain, turned to and proved him innocent. 1t was a simple matter. The contemplation of her boys misery had been too much for even | grasping and parsimonious woman. Mrs. Frewen had money stored away that she had scraped and saved for years, but denied, fearing that the pen sion paid her by the road would be | stopped if ever the management found she was fairly we'll to do. Langdon's almost laughing development of that case was joy to the Brentwood yarn | spinners for long months later, but it | put "the road" in bad light, notably the house of Betts, and won him more enmity. Therefore did Cresswell call him contumacious and quixotic. Both Betts and both roads were arrayed against him now, and CresswelI fret ted. What was he to do with partner who made enemies among the seats of the mighty and would not truclzle to | the Mammon of unrighteousness Langdon saw unerringly what was passing in the seniors mind and that summer told him so "You have been a good friend to me, and must not hamper your hopes and plans, colonel" said he. eff you should be nominated for congress, I'll take the stump for you. If not, they need active lawyers in the far northwest, where the road is pushing through the Idaho mines. I'll swing my shingle out there.'
 Two things happened to add force to the project. For the very reason that his opponents proved him to be 'cor- poration lawyer" the farmers and ar tisans joined forces against Cresswell, and he failed to capture the conven- ton, man of far inferior mold becom-, ing the nominee for congress. It sour ed the Kentuckian more than a little, | yet was exactly what Langdon had prophesied. No elder likes to see the power to say T told you so" in the hands of a junior partner. Langdon discreetly said nothing except in an- swer to his seniors remarks He was having an experience of his own.
 The command of the regiment to which the rifles were assigned as Com pany c had been vested in veteran of the civil war who once knew some thing of old time tactics, but could not master the new. In June the regi- ment was under canvas and such in- structions as the colonel could give it for an entire week, and the whole or | ganization could see that the Brent wood and Gunnison companies that had had the advantage of Langdon's | coaching were head and shoulders