The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-11-01
Copyright, 1901, by Charles King

are forever saying mean things about
their fellows and those forever hearing
them. The first are active mischief MAX
srs. the second passive. The first are gen.
orally regarded as the moro dangerous
and Objectionable. But as the result OF
some 20 years study am constrained to
believe tho second the worst. The frst
has at least the courage Of his convictions
and says what ne is mean enough to
think The second lacks even that degree
Of personal pluck and not daring to say
the slander himself. gives II birth under
the cloak of 1T heard How many OF
you who read have failed TO meet the
man who draws his chair close 10 yours
and conhdentialiy 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 n, and
he shirks and becomes mysterious. He's
a Well. promised not 10 mention his
name. but he's gentleman. IL was told
me corfidentially." 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 II he did ne wasn't a
gentleman. Gentlemen do not circulate
slander.
But cads who have fallen below the
plane OF their fellow men and cannot
Cl1mD DdCh seek 10 TtSLOfc tnttT bOcldl
equilibrium by pulling others down. Cap
tain Nathan got back to Pawneo TO fnd
himself In bad odor. Torrance. who would
gladly have done soldiers duty had he
been permitted. was involved, through
his intimacy with Nathan. in Nathan's
growing unpopula1ty. Santley, who had
had 70 serve as Nathan's adJutant. now
had unjustly TO shoulder a section OF Ma
than's obliquy. Woodrow escaped because
Nathan accused him OF rank insubordi-
nation. and the youngster. with Rodney
May and others TO back him. as much IN
told Nathan he hoped he would prefer
charges and have him tried by court mar
tisl. A most unhappy state OF affairs was
sprung on the batteries at Pawnee, and
the politely veied compassion OF the cav
airy was something that made the gun
ners swear. Two or three troops under
Claiming and stryker had done tiptop
service during the riots. Infantry from
Omaha and Leavenworth had saved hun
dreds OF thousands OF dollars I'm property
and covered themselves with credit for
cool. even tempered, ,forbear1ng but resolute
work. Everywhere had the regulars won
unstinted praise from all law abiding cit
fKens except that ono mishandled little
battalion at Brentwood. and nothing pre-
vented a court OF inquiry but the feeling
that for the sake OF the cloth, the whole
thing were best ignored or forgotten.
IAN error OF Judgment was laid at Ma
tnan door, put nOtnlnk more beriOus.
And Old scat" who secretly sympathized
with Woodrow, was instructed to release
the lad from arrest, with the caution to
hold his tongue and temper In the future.
Then Melville was sent south at the ur-
gent advice OF the doctors. and by tacit
consent Pawnee ceased discussion OF Ma
-thar,s- failure.
But great was the giorincauon among
the guardsmen OF Nebraska, and wide
spread was the story OF Mr.. Langdop's
prowess and keen was the ridcule at the
expense of the Brentwood rifles and the
rejoicing over the triumph OF the Greys.
Great was the applause that greeted
Langdon's soldier pupils when they bore
away the prize and Langdon on their
shoulders and greater still the grief with
which, a few weeks later, II was learned
that the Big Horn had held that gentle
man accountable for the robbery OF its
safe at Brentwood and discharged him
from the service OF the road.
And this takes us back TO hearers
ut Pawnee. Il heard" said Captain Ma
than corfidentially to the new post COM
mander six months after the riots and not
six days after the receipt OF the latest
news from Nebraska-'I heard from
source that can't be questioned that the
real reason was that ne had been pecula-
ting for months, and the robbery was
to conceal his own stealings." 81 heard"
whispered Torrance In the condolences be-
gotten of Burgundy 10 Major snicker OF
the staff that he had blown In over
$1,000 in a bucket shop in Chicago. and de-
tectives had been on TO him for weeks.
All manner OF things detrimental 10
Lansdon had Nathan and his few sat
elites heard In tho 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.
II was Nathan's insidious stories that
"a ha local shODrnan aRainat the ah-
sent and the exile and incidentally n
pretty penny for their informant. as the
tradesmen sold their claims to him for
60 cents on the dollar, and so confessed
70 Melville long weeks later.
"I heard" said Torrance, that old
Sharp ordered Langdon away from Sheri-
dan and sent the sergeant OF the guard
20 see him OF the reservation"
''I heard" said Nathan, that DR.. Ar
instead gave him warning that IL he
wasn't of the post before morning gun
fire he'd give the whole story Of his mall
treatment of his wife to the papers. and
that's what started him"
And now there was no Melville to
stand his friend at Pawnee, for the major
was summering at the seashore slowly
regaining health and strength, and lads
like Rodney May and Woodrow had
neither rank nor years sufhcient 70 carry
influence And now, worse luck. there
was none to befriend him at Chicago, for
Channing, a soreiy stricken man, had
been taken TO a sanitarium In the noun
tains Summoned 10 the Offices or tho
general manager and hauled up before a
new king who knew not Joseph, Lansdon
could only sadly say he could throw no
light on the robbery whatever. Two
clerks. one of them the son OF the division
supeytntendent, knew the combination.
One OF them knew there was upward OF
$500 In the safe when Langdon went down
10 Gunnison. an usual on Friday even |
ing.
"Had ne gone on railway business7''
was the question.
mo; not this time-solely 10 instruct
the Gunnison company" was the frank !
reply. Mr.. Channing's secretary told |
or Langdon's letter appealing for aid to |
meet the payment OF $3.50. The station |
master at Gunnison described Langdon's |
nervousness the night OF the robbery: told |
of him twice leaving his couch and going |
out ana pacing the platform, and Lang