The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-10-22

Nelson soothingly. yet commandingiy, as
he shastened 10 the bedside
doctor whof" demanded Langdon.
with menace I'm his tone.
"Dr. Olmstead, man." answered Nelson.
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 II you'll settle down
and behave yourself"
"Olmstead was not the name" was
the stern answer Don't trife with me
Nelson. You said Armistead. did yo,
notY' he continued, whirling sharp o.
the steward, and that amazed and con
founded compounder Of drugs could onls
gulp and turn redder In the face
"It IL Armistesd. then" said Langdon
with full conviction. Send that man out
and his bottles with him." he continued.
turning full on Nelson again. i've got g.
talk TO YOU" And, obedient 10 sigma
the steward withdrew
For a moment there was dead silence
Throwing himself back on his pillow, hi
lean. long hands outspread on each cheek
and temple, Lsngdon lay staring at tht
ceiling. Then I'm sharp. almost savage.
tone he demanded How long has that
man been at this post7"
About month or less. Why?"
Because he or j must quit 1t inside OF
"a hours"
into the set face and cleaning eyes OF
his friend. Little by little he was recall
ing and piecing together the stories that
had been whispered about Eric Lang
don's pretty, volatile, reckless 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, a distant kinsman, a Nir-
ginian OF grand old family. a boy lover
In her early girlhood, man who became
her shadow and sought to be her knight.
for there was a tale Of a scene at the
Shoreham cafe-a senator In his cups and
a STRIPPING doctor I'm all his youthful
strength and chiyalry, a sneerlng jest be
tween one half drunken nabob and kin
dred spirit and reputed rival at an ad-
joining table, an instant spring from a
third table on the part Of a tall, athletic
young gallant I'm evening dress, stern.
furious demand for immediate apology,
followed by a knockdown blow that sen
5000, 900 sprawling In bedraggled human
shape, bottles, dishes and glasses raining
and crashing upon him. They dragged him
out covered with rage and lobster salad
and bore him off to bed.
Even In executive session the story
was suppressed for there was no bar TO
the confirmation OF a certain appointment
to the medical corps OF the army. In
deed was II not whispered that the ap-
pointment was made at the instigation OF
certain senators Ito get the young man
into the army and out OF Washington"
Nelson was not much OF a repository for
gossip. He listened only impatienty at
best and remembered but vaguely. Yet
now IL was all coming over him again,
bit by bit, that Armistead was the hero
OF that exploit, that in the winter OF 1884
and 1885 there was lively discussion In
Washington society as to whether Armi-
stead was there to get Mrs. Langdon Into
mischief or out OF It, Those who knew
him well and OF his infatuation for her
In her girl days swore stoutly that he was
ever standing between her and scandal.
Those who hardly knew him at all, and
they were 20 TO /. took the opposite view.
and those who I'm the least knew her had
no charity for either. Until commission
ed and ordered out OF Washington, how
ever, he was her shadow, as has been
said, and yet II was his tribe. his own
brothers, who instigated the proceedings
that diverted Cousin SPOTS little fortune
from the NAV OF Mrs. Langdcn TO their
own itching palms. And now OF all places
on earth here was Eric Langdon under
Armistead's care and his-Eelson's--
roof: this. too, at a time when Lang
don sorely needed rest. peace and friendly