Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-11-11
TEN YEARS TRIAL
The Story Of "a Soldiers Struggle
By Brigadier General Charles King
Copyright, 1901 by Charles King
cHAprER n

hSlS arc Two hllluS Oh uQeU VINO de-
serve to be held in abhorrence-those
who are forever saying mean things
about their fellows and those forever
hearing them. The first are active mis-.
chief makers, the second passive i. The
first are generally regarded as the
more dangerous and Objectionable.
But as the result of some 20 years
study am constrained to believe the
second the worst. The first has at
least the courage of his convictions
and says what he is mean enough to
think. The second lacks even that de-
gree of personal pluck and, not daring
to say the SANDER himself, gives, it
birth under the cloak of II heard"
LON many of you who read have fail
ca to meet the man who draws his
chair close to yours and confdentially
begins: Say. what's this about Jimmy
RuSh! Now. was told last night by
man in position to know" etc. Ask
him who the man is, and he shirks and
becomes mysterious. Hes a Well,
l promised not to mention his name,
but he's gentleman. 1t was told me
confidentially. The source is ALWAYS
intangible, but in nine cases out of ten
you can safely bet your last dollar the
Informant never existed and your
hopes of eternity that if he did he
wasn't gentleman. Gentlemen do
hot circulate SANDER
But cads who have fallen below the
plane Of their fellow men and cannot
climb back seek to restore their social
equilibrium by pulling others down.
Captain Nathan got back to Pawnee to
dnd himself in bad odor. Torrance,
who would gladly have done soldiers
duty had he been permitted, was involv-
cd, through his intimacy with Nathan,
III Nathans growing unpopularity.
santley, who had had to serve as Ma
than's adjutant, now had unjuatiy to
shoulder section of Nathan's oblthuy.
Woodrow escaped because Nathan ac-
cused him of rank INSTRUMENTATION, and
the youngster, with Rodney May and
others to back him, as much as told
( Nathan he hoped he would prefer
charges and have him tried by court
martial. A most unhappy state of af-
fairs was sprung on the batteries at
Pawnee, and the politely yelled COM
passion Of the cavalry was something
that made the gunners swear. Two or
three troops under Claiming and Stry-
ker had done tiptop service during the
riots. Infantry from Omaha and Leav-
enworth had saved hundreds of thou
sands of dollars in property and COW
cred themselves with credit for cool
even tempered. forbearing but resolutes
work. Everywhere had the regulars
won unstinted praise from all law
abiding citizens except that one mis-
handled little battalion at Brentwood,
ana nothing prevented court of in
qGiiy but the feeling that for the sake
of the cloth. the whole thing We're best
ignored or forgotten. An error of
Judgment" was laid at Nathan's door.
but nothing more serious. And old
Cat who secretly sympathized with
Woodrow, was instructed to release
the lad from arrest. with the caution
to hold his tongue and temper in tile
future. Then Melville was sent south
at the urgent advice of the doctors.
discussion of Nathan's failure.
But great was the Qualification among
the guardsmen of Nebraska. and wide
spread was the story of Mr.. Langdon's
prowess, and keen was the ridicule at
the expense of the Brentwood rifles
ant the rejoicing over the triumph of
the Grays. Great was the applause
that greeted I.aDgGon's soldier pupils
when they bore away the prize and
Langdcn ON their shoulders and great
er still the grief with which, few
weeks later. it was learned that the
Big Horn had held that gentleman ae-
countahlr for the robbery OF its safe at
Brentwood and discharged him from
the service of the road
And this takes us back to hearers"
at Pa"nep. Il heard said Captain
Nathan eon!identally to the new post
commander six months after; he riots
and not six days after the receipt of
the latest news from Nebraska II
heard from Il source that can't be ques-
toned that the real reason was that he
lad been peculating foF months. and
the robbery was TO conceal his own
stealings." II heard" whispered Tor
rance in the condolences 3begotten of
Burgundy to Major Smoker Of the
staff. that he had blown in over $4,000
In a bucket shop in Chicago, and de-
tectivcs had been on to him for weeks"
All manner of things detrimental to
Langdon had Nathan and his few sat
elites heard in the same way. and all
they did hear and much more they did
not was duly communicated to such as
would listen. who were. fortunately,
few. 1t was Natlans insidous stories
that turned the local shopmen against
the absent and the exile and inciden-,
tally pretty penny for their inform
ant, as the tradesmen sold their claims
to him for GO cents on the dollar, and
SO confessed to Melville long weeks
later.
Il heard" said Torrance, that old
Sharp ordered Langdon away from
Sheridan and sent the sergeant of the
guard to see him off the reservation
Il heard" said Nathan. that DR.. Ar
miStp0U paya him warming thar ~ ha