The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-10-18
CHAPTER XIV.


obscurity OF Fort Emory. welcomed the
new brigadier and bade him. II a possible
thing. to quash the proceedings. but now
n was Lorng who was obdurate.
This matter has been scandal for
months" said ne. 1T must be settled
now, once and for all.
But, oh. what complications had not
been brought about by Pecksnin 8 spell
of brief authority Never before intrusted
with higher command than that or a
regiment. 10 the head of which he had
risen by reason OF long years OF unim-
paired bodily health and skilful avoid
ance OF all danger. the old colonel had
lost no time I'm moving, bag and baggage
TO Omaha, in having Nevins transported
thither I'm opening wide his ears 10 his
story OF the heinous wrongs inflicted on
him by that Arizona court through the
malignity OF It's judge advocate, OF that
Judge advocates heartless treachery 10
two helpless women, one Of whom was
Nevin's wife, the other the officers own
deserted and broken hearted betrothed.
Then came Petty ordered 10 join his
company in the field and eager as ever
10 seek some loophole OF escape. Report
ing 10 pay his homage to the temporary
commander at headquarters. he soon got
an inkling OF what was going on. and all
at once there flashed upon him the mag
nifcence OF his opportunity.
Here he could at one and the same
time feed fat his ancient grudge against
Loring and make himself indispensable
10 the aging commander OF the depart
ment. perhaps even secure another stan
billet certainly at least succeed In being
kept there on duty and away from the
perils OF the field until after the court.
and meantime what would friends be
worth IL they could not move the pow
ers at Washington?
re- 1axy hs. Hl
stevens, adding fuel to the flame OF that
ingenious veterans suspicious. But IL Is
doubtful IL even Petty dreamed or the
depth OF Neyins' scoundrelism, Burleigh,
whom the ex-captain had "bled ana
blackmailed, had passed beyond the par
OF human arraignment, dying IKE
gentleman" even while captive In the
hands OF the authorities. and so did New
ins impress his uncontradicted tale OF
loyal service TO the state on the olo
weakling in command that stevens had
declared that there was no evidence on
which 20 hold him, had ordered ms re-
lease from custody on parole, unless the
civil authorities desired TO prosecute MIN
for "personating an officer, ana hau
written TO the division commander, prais-
ing Nevins' conduct and urging that the
sentence OF Imprisonment be set aside.
And then he never could tell just who
brought this about. whether IL was mrs.
Burton or Miss Allyn. with their tears
and tribulations; whether IL was NeVins'
with his bold accusations. or Petty. with
his insidious tales, but between them all
tha old colonel was induced TO send MS
adiutant and acting aid TO examine GER
tain baggage OF Lorfngs stored AT the
hotel. Never having given up his room
when hurrying of TO Gate CITY eApeSuns
20 ba hack within n week and merely 10
nav reana- rent-Mhen- absent, as was lhe
Advancement OF the day. Loring had leit
his trunks and desk securely locked.
Two officers and the protesting hotel
clerk were present at the opehlhs ine
locksmith even seemed TO nate MS Jop.
the adjutant had never meaner one, pu'
petty was eager. Fresh from an inter
view with Geraldine. he was the direct
ing sn,rit 1t was his hand that extracted
from deep down under the packed cloth-
ing I'm the trunk a small TIN poN, wrap
ned I'm a silk handkerchief Wi'hIn tne
hox. when opened, were certain letters an
Romans hand, Geraldine Allyn s-iet-
,ers written 10 Loring I'm the days OF
,h.,r brief engagement, letters long since
,a,rrred 10 her under his hand ana seal.
GA With them, in closely folded wraps Oh
,,ssue naper. inclosed in stout envelope.
O Valuable solitaire and as valuaple
ring The regimental adJutant IL was VINO
opened the box and who mace mess us
oa,,orIes Half an hour later they were
,san,taod NV Nevins, In the presence OF
Ia pecksniff. as the diamonds lntrusted
e. roripp's care I'm Arizona, ana NeVlns
,Droeessed TO be disappointed because the
watch too. was not found with them.
Not until late July did Lorihe ,ea,n
of the action taken IN ms Sanoionn,enfs eio
sa,ce or-the resulting deNelopmehtS
NJ, a word would he vouchsafe IN eN-
,at,or when old Pecksniff, whiting
na,o~ tho criticisms OF his superiors'
cen, his adiutant to Invite remarks
"rbe court has been ofdefeeT- e-t'''
Ioring, with GOODNESS descrlpeu as ~
temptuous. nhaNo "i'
there" . ia 800,
,he colonel as has been said, went back
20 his post The new commander ar
r,ved and ordered NeYins 10 an IOWA
nr,son 10 serve out the year AWARDED
him. sent Captain Petty summary W
Iar,aIe and bade Mrs. Burton go apout
her business when that lachrymose per-
son came 20 urge that he should DO sone-
,hi,g ",o make Lieutenant Loring setue'
sha hsd lost her lovely boarder. too, ror
M sooner had Mrs. Fletcher heard OF
the new accusations against Lori"g tnah
she appeared at Omaha ana Whlsheu her
,,hara hut indignant old John Foi-
som could perhaps have told. he cut
racLsnIff dead when that officer rerrn-
"a IN Emory and refused 10 go near INC
fort lie threw open his doors ana nus
heart 10 Ioring when the conNalesclng
engineer was brought in from the ranch.
Thy new general actually came, osten,
sibiy 10 inspect the post, put spen' ~
bo,,rs al FoIsom's by Doring's side TO the
one devoted TO Stevens. and everybody
fell that there was a storm brewing that
would break when finally the witnesses
Tor the defence arrived and the Loring
court could meet. , 49,.
Rut who would have dreamed there
eould be such a dramatic scene before
military tribunal?
n came with the third day OF the trial.
The court had been carefully selected by
old pecksnirf whose adjutant had obe-
dIently signed the charges drawn up
under the chiefs directions. There were
only nine Officers In the array-'no ON
ers being available without manifest IA
tiiry 90 the service" read the formula
OF tho day. Five were officers Of Stev-
ems regiment, one n cavalry major. the
others OF the pay commissary and quar-
termaster's department. None had known
IorinR. Everybody expected him 90 oo-
t.ct 10 sone at least. but he objected