The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-11-06
Copyright, 1901, by Charles King

that a sound meant death when SOUND
was impossible. for huge coarse hand
was over his mouth, 10 be replaced in an
instant by a chlorformed sponge and silken
| handkerchief. When consciousness re-
| turned. he was In wagon. blndfolded
| bound and gagged, then was holsted into
and empty freight car and trundled miles
| away through the night. His gag was re-
moved as soon as the train went on. ana
he was given water, was assured that no
| harm was intended-"the boys" thought
| he d better take a little trip up the coun-
| try while business was dull in Brent
wood. and they made him comfortable
| with blankets and pillows despite the
] jolting OF the clumsy car. At dawn he was
taken from the train and driven miles
| across country In another wagon TO
| ranch where people treated him with
| every care and kindness, but he was
| kept under lock and key until IN night
| OF the 30th when there were sounds OF
| weeping and dismay I'm an adjoining
| room, and he learned that there was
| terrible raid by the Sioux up the road
And then fast as horses could bring
| them came three railway men-not ms
I abductors, for two or these were men
| he had known In the Brentwood yaros,
and the voices were different They roio
| him OF the deadful deeds at Rosebud ana
! the plight OF the train; told him the
| troops were coming, that the strike was
| done and that all matters connected with
| IL and damages OF every KIND were 70 De
| settled later. The question was would ne
| resume duty at once with his company
| and head them to the rescue, leaving
| everything else TO be settled later, it
| they would take him To the railway he
accepted instantly-there was nothing else
TO do-and the whole country knew the
! rest
since then the strike seemed to be
| dropped matter. The men would not re-
| new nor the officials reopen IL, both SIDES
| being content TO ignore II, both Officials
| claiming that the hands had sunlciently
| punished themselves and the hands pro-
| Tossing to believe that the road was pre-
pairing TO accord them the terms demhho.
ed To the wrath OF Cressweh ana
doubtless OF other lawyers averse TO an
| settlements out of court no proceedings
were instituted.
The road dealt literally with the fami-
| lies OF employees who had suffered by the
Sioux outbreak and had sent Langdon 10
the best hospital In the state 70 De MOS
skillfully and tenderly cared for. There
he pursued his studies in the days or MS
conyalescence and by March was once
again at Brentwood, occupying MS oiu
room over Cresswelrs office ana super
vising from a seat twice week the
drill of the rifles now at last In full com
mand. for the governor signed that COM
mission before ever the rifles got back
| from the scene of their glory. Eric was
| Captain Langdon now and no mistake;
MIR Burleigh stopped to see him the,
week he habbled out on crutches ana
said that the road had decided 10 send
Belts elsewhere and to tender Langdon
his old place. Langdon said he had no
objections 10 their sending Belts 10 Hall
fax II they wished, but declined the posi-
tion.
You still resent their firing you on
account OF that safe business, / sup
IL. 80 tive
western way.
II resent their treatment Of me at that
time on every account" was the an
swer You, well know that others than
| had the 6omb.nation, yet they were
retained and one of them promoted
Burleigh WINGED OF course he knew
H. but Belts was close TO the manage
ment by marriage and his son pet or
| the connecting link. IL was their story
| and that of the station master at Gun
nison that hardened the hearts of the
management against Langdon. Now he
would not return to their employ. He
stuck manfully TO his studies in Cress-
wells office. was able 10 pitch his
crutch down cellar In April and to drill
| his men I'm the public square under the
gleam OF the electric lights during the
bright evenings, in May. was at the de-
pot 20 see Melville and the family the
| lovely June morning when they went
| later was surprised by letter from the
major begging that he should come up
for n visit. weeks rest, fishing and
I! camping.
There were several reasons why Lang
| don disliked 10 go. First, there was
| "Cat," the cavalry colonel who had
brought him to trial at pawnee. Cat
, would be glad to see him. wrote Melville,
| but would Langdon be glad 10 see "Cat7'
| MOI Langdon knew he would not. Mel
| VILE didn't tell the particulars OF his
conference with cat without whose
| full knowledge and consent, of course,
he would not ask Iangdon to be his
guest and "Cat" did not tell Melville
| the real reasoRs OF his assent. But the
| way I'm which his civilian guests spoke OF
Langdon had set the colonel 10 thinking.
| IL had not previously occurred TO him
| that just as certificates OF long and faith
| ful service I'm the amy are OF little aid
| in tho rush for civil employment, so is
| army condemnation OF little harm when
man displays the traits the people
want. Mr.. Burleigh lacked nnesse and
tact. He was coarse, but farsighted,
| and told "Cat" that the road would have
| given Langdon a good salary TO buy
| him back. but he would not be bought.
| THAT fellow will be In congress first
| thing they know. and he won't be led
| by the nose" "Cat" still had an eye
| on that longed for star, and suppose now
that Langdon should get there and be
| assigned 10 the military committee. Just
| how much help could Cat" look for at
| his hands?
Tell Melville TO invite him by all
means" said Mrs. Cat. But Get de-
INJURED. Why had Langdon left Sheri-
| dan so mysteriously? Why had that Big
| Horn discharged him II they had not
| good reason 10 connect him with the rob
| berry Of the safe? Melville. with his
| grave. courteous smile promptly dis
posed Of the first II was to spare Mel
| son n possible breach with the post
Commander Sharpe felt that he ought
| not TO allow Langdon TO remain at the
| post one day after he was able TO move.
| first. because Of the bad blood between
| him and Armistead; second. because OF
| his anomalous position as a dismissed
| officer But sharpe knew Nelson was
| impetuous Of speech and intolerant OF
| Interference. He liked him well and
| thought for him and so chose a time
| when Nelson had n he "A stables tO send