Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-09-16

81 beg pardon" quickly spoke DR..
Armistead. "Mr. Langdon's face was
familiar. / fancy have seen his pho
tograph. But that is of no conse-
quence. Permit me-" he continued,
pulling himself together with evident
effort and assuming the conventional
manner of the physician. He bent and
took Langdon's wrist and gazed
thoughtfully, scrutinizingly, unflinch-
ingly into the deep, haggard eyes.
There was 4 moments silence. Then,
Strengthening up, the doctor spoke.
"Mr. Lapgdon is to be with you, Mr.
Nelson?"
Certainly"
"Then shall send the steward with
medicine from the hospital. l should
get him to bed as soon as possible
1--WE sent for stretcher, robes and
blankets" interposed Nelson sharply.
That's what intended to do from the
. start"
very good. Now word with YOU"
And the doctor drew the artilleryman
aside. "Your friend will need nothing
tonight but some hot broth and soda
tives. If. however, he should be rest
less or ill or if you become anxious"
and here the young surgeon seemed to
hesitate in embarrassment. 81 suggest.
your calling on Major Bloodgood, my
senior"
"You consider it so serious" asked
Nelson in quick alarm.
| hn 1,,,{v
"But what, DR.. Armistead?" asked
Nelson holly. "Am 1 to understand
you decline to see my friend and
guest?"
The doctor flushed. He was yir-
ginian, Jealous in honor" sensitive to
a turn. 1t was a moment before he
spoke. Then the answer came calmly
enough.
mo, Mr.. Nelson, but your friend will
probably decline to see me. Here comes
the stretcher." And so saying the doc
tor left the room.
Half an hour later, in Nelson's own
bed, comforted with a hot footbath
and nourishing food, Langdon closed
his eyes to thank the God that had not
left him friendless in his prostration
He heard the voices of old comrades in
the room below. He heard Nelson tip
toeing about the bed arranging lamps
and books for the night. Nelson had
spread some blankets on 4 roomy old
couch and was patting and shaking up
a pillow, when the steward came softly
in with some walls and medicine glasses.
CDR. Armistead says" he began in
low tone, when, to his amazement Mel
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 it, Eric? Lie still, man."
spoke Nelson soothingly, yet command
ingly, as he fastened to the bedside.
doctor who?" demanded Langdon,
1 with menace in his tone.
Or. Olmstead, man." answered Mel
son, with prompt mendacity. "O-l-m-
s-t-e-a-d-Olmstead. 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 trifle 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.
ut is Armistead. then" said Lang
don, with full conviction. "Send that
man out, and his bottles with him." he
continued, turning full on Nelson again
1--WE got to talk to you" And, obedi-
ent to signal. the steward withdrew
| For q 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 month OF less. Why"
Because he or must quit it inside
of "a hours"
Nelson stood a 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, younger
man, q distant kinsman, virginian
of grand old family, boy lover in her
early girlhood a man who became her
shadow and sought to be her knight.
for there was tale of scene at the
Shoreham cafe-a senator in his cups
and STRIPPING doctor in all his youth
full strength and chivalry, sneering
Jest between one half drunken nabob
and 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,
n stern furiOus demand FIR in,nad;otn