The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-10-31
powerful newspaper man west of oma-


ha."
But he hadn't. Armstrong was poor:
he was the servant OF the stockholders
and they OF the Seattle; he couldn't af-
ford 10 throw up his job and see his
wife and children suffer. but he had a
conscience. He knew that Langdon
was right and The Banner wrong. He
tempt. but the man In him oyercame
the sense OF indignity. and, putting him
self In Langdon's place and asking him
self what he would have felt and said.
he went back TO his Office raging. not at
Langdon, but at fate. He had seen much
OF Melville during that officers brief
stay; he knew his reputation and the
career; he knew OF Melville's sympathy
for Lanedon and had heard Melville 5
high encomium OF Langdon as an officer
and a gentleman; he was filed with ad-
miration OF Langdon's conduct at the
time OF the riots and had then referred
10 him IN terms OF unstinted praise; but
that danger ended. The Banner had 10
return 10 the paths OF policy dictated by
It's owners He actually thought that his
assurance OF personal liking for Langdon
ought TO compensate for the harsh things
said OF him in The Banner ana was
stung when it didn't. But at heart ne
could not but admire Langdon for his
square. straightforward response IL
was a revelation, an eye opener. IL
set him 10 thinking Of the other SIDE:
not the paper side, OF the question, ana
then he wished that he had that month
10 live over again. There should be no
more abuse OF Langdon in The Banner
II he could help n.
And so there was a certain reaction
In favor OF Langdon. Some or the rifles
resigned their warrants. secured Their
discharges and then set 70 work TO
raise another company for Langdon 10
drill. The men were easily found.
Seventy stalwart young fellows signed
the petition and brought II to Langdon
TO add his name. Then IL went 10 the
governor There were vacancies In the
regiment. A company was mustered
In at Neosha. another. made up mainly
OF farmer boys. at Gunnison Junction.
But some strange. occult innuence
seemed against the would be Brentwood
Light guard. The petition hung nre.
State Senator Suplee and representa-
tive Carter said that they would see 10
IL that the Light guard was duly ad-
mltted, but they didn't. Meantime the
rifles prospered. as a social organlza-
ton at least. took In number OF
honorary members at 800 apiece. got
swell" uniform, gave series or most
successful dancing parties and what they
termed exhibition drills, where the clock
work precision with which some 30 OF
their number executed the loadings and
frings ia unison evoked tumultuous ap-
plause 1t prompted the rifle TO issue
a challencge TO all comers west or the
Mississippi and east of the mountains
10 compete for al valuable prize at the
Exposition building in April, the an
niversary OF their muster In, ana the
next thing the rifles knew Eric Lang
don was going down to Gunnison twice
A. week 10 cuach-the- -GaHHiseH- -Grays,
Company X, Fourth Nebraska, and
Brentwood which had refused TO avail
itself of his services, was properly scan
dalized that he should tender them else
where.
The Sun couldn't say much now, be
cause it was down on the rihes anyhow
ner wouldn't say much, because Arm
strong was ashamed OF what he had sala,
and this happened 70 be matter that
didn't bother the seattle. But me ,,,i En -
make Langdon friendless In his new posi-
ton at the yards, now oaly ana Ire
quently expressed its abnorrence or tne
man who could turn traitor 10 ms own
people and work against the best inter.
ests OF the community In whose midst
he had found a homo and the llVeIhooo
written to Charming TO compel his subor-
dinate to remain at his post. Chsnnlng
answered that his post now included Gun
nison. Efforts were made TO STIR up
cabal against him among the Grays, out
he had a two weeks start and had won
their good will. besides. there was now
that $1,000 prize hanging up for all COM
ers, and companies from Minnesota. iowa
and Kansas had entered the list. SO
the Grays stood firm. Then the Brent
woods strove to hedge and TO limit the
contest TO companies mat hao hot re-
ceived professional assistance" but that
reacted upon themselves. Then The sun
was inspired 10 see what II could do 10
stir up a strike against Langdon In tne
yards OF the Big Horn, where there muG
be men who rebelled against the super
vision OF a strict, soldier bred overseer.
There were. but they were In the minor
ity. and the three who started ana cireu-
lated a paper calling for Langdon's 5 dis
mlssal or a strike were suddenly, by
Channlngs order hauled up before the
superintendent and given the sack;
Then anonymous letters began 10 rain IN
on the Superintendent at Brentwood and
higher officials in Chicago. bangdon
was drinking again, Langdon was gam
bling, Langdon was speculstlng through
a broker in Omaha, and these, inVesu-
gated unbeknown to Langdon, fell nat.
He had won the respect OF the better
class OF men. ne had become an expert
trainhand: he minded his own business.
yet was full Of sympathy and interest In
the affairs OF the operatives and the
crews OF the trains In March the super
intendent OF the Seattle onered MN a
would move 10 Sioux city, and the oner
was declined. In April the great drill
came Off The dag OF the rifles was
trailed in the dust. They were not even
placed" by the judges, and the great
prize was won I'm almost a walkover by
the Gunnison Grays
Time and again Langdon had received
warnings from the police that there was
a gang on the south side ever watching
for a chance 10 do him up and from
mine host OF the Brentwood that there
were influential men on the north side,
potent In the councils OF the Big Horn,
who would hurt him II they could. one
day there came curt summons from
local lawyer 10 the effect that bills 10
the amount of $3.50 had been placed in
his hands for collection. and calling upon
him TO take immediate steps TO meet
them Langdon called 20 inquire, and
was curtly almost insolently, received.
He learned enough, however. TO convince
him that two Of the bills were those OF
dealers at Pawnee 10 whom he had reg
ularly and conscientiously been paying
$40 month apiece The inference was
plain. Nathan had bought IN the bal
ance OF the claims and sent them
through Perrigos bank for collection. In
his trouble Langdon wrote 90 Claiming.
but no answer came. Twice the latter
had written him that the president and
certain directors had spoken to him