Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-11-25
TEN YEARS TRIAL
The Story Of a Soldiers Struggle
BY Brigadier General Charles King
Copyright, 1901, ~ Charles King.
CHAPTER XII-Continued.

CHAPTER XII-Continued
Claiming, he who commanded the
respect and confidence of the yards and
shops OF the Big Horn, was saunterins
disconten'edly in the Riviera, doing as
his doctors babe, utterly homesick, ut.
1srly unable to appreciate or under
stand what he saw and only wishing
himself back in the cab of Baldwin.
whirlias 1.-THE limited" over the prairie
Go miles an hour Charming knew ev-
cry mothers son In the Brentwood
yards BY name. The new incumbent
knew not one of them Claiming
argued, Burleigh bulied. and clash
was inevitable. The management of
both roads had announced in uneauyo-
cable terms that they would not yield
to the demands Of the men. The may
or OF Brentwood was sorely frighten-
ed. The governor had been requested
to order troops to the scene and over
awe the would be strikers and very
properly refused. For it is our good
American policy in dealing with enc
mics or insurgents, white, red or
brown. ,nobs, Indians or Tagalogs. new
er to show fight untilpractically fore.
ed into it. The railway companies In
anticipation Of the strike had gathered
some hundreds Of workmen across the
Missouri ready to be rushed by special
train TO Brentwood. but neither the DO
lice, posses nor militia had been mobi-
lized.
Pondering anxiously over the stua.
ton, Cresswell was walking slowly
homeward UP Thayer street. He had
been talking with the mayor and GER
tain city fathers at the Brentwood and
now wished to see Langdon, but Lang
don evidently wasn't home and the
town clock had struck the quarter. The
Office door was closed and doubtless
locked. and Cressweirs keys were in
his workaday pockets at the house.
Confident of meeting Langdon, he
strolled on toward the armory and be-
came suddenly aware of the division
superintendent of the Big Horn talk
Ing with two of the boys. Cresswell
didn't like that official. but for reasons
OF his own preferred to make much of
him. He stopped and held out his
hand.
"Oh. good evening. Mr.-er-ah-Colo-
mel Cresswell," stammered the railway
man in some confusion, 81 didn't see
you. I'm glad to see you. Can you
tell me where can find Mr.. Langdon?
I've Knocked and hammered at the Of
flee, and these gentlemen say that he
went straight home half an hour ago."
ut is true" said one of the young
soldiers. II saw him 60 in there Just
before 10 o'clock"
.odd" said Cresswell. Suppose we
walk over, Mr.. Superintendent"
They did, and they knocked ana
hammered for two minutes without
response, and then Cresswell bethought
him of the rear door.
You wish to see him personally 2"
queried he Of the official, with doubt in
his tone
'fss.s The road sent me an impor-
tant message. may as well tell yotl--
centidentially, Of course. They want
hin to go to that meeting that's in full
blast at this minute. They think the
mon will listen to him."
II see" said Cresswell, with sarcastic
emphasis. Having kicked him out in
to the cold for another mans crime,
they want him to help them out Of an
other scrape. You must feel gratified
Al being the bearer of such message.
However, come on. Well try the
back"
An alley parallel with Thayer street
divided the block, and Cresswell's Of
fec buildings covered about half the
lot. Wood, coal and ice were delivered
by way of tlat alley, which accounted
Tor the worn parh to the open cellar
way, but not for the footprints in tho
SHOW on the steps leading up to the
back door. Cressweli tried the knob,
aud the Goof WAS fast. But who left the
cellar steps uncovered? Have you a
gum" he asked. and the superintend-
Git faltered, Yes
Gripping his own revolver. faith
fui friend OF kentucky days, Cresswell
cautiously descended the steps and felt
his way through the dampness and
dark. He Ind no match, and Lighting
would only reveal him 10 providers IL
there We're any. He knew the prem
:ses thoroughly and quickly reached
the lower hall and the stairway to the
ground door above him. 1t was dark
as Lrebus, and lie, breathing heavily,
felt his way UP the creaking flight VA
til within reach of the top. Then
something fell with stunning force and
Gapced before his eyes, and he went
crashing back the way lie came, bound-
ing, rolling and sliding till he brought
up seuseless and bleeding at the foot Of
the stairs.
CHAPTER XIII.
Noen Of Oct. % struck on the deep
toned bell of the city hall, Brentwood's
pride, and sharp at the sound every
hand In the railway shops, sheds and