Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-09-16

you've got to get to bed and have
good treatment" was the almost in
slant verdict, and helplessly Langdon
bowed his head upon his breast. 1t
was DUSK when the way train let them
Off at Sheridan. Ryan sought to wrap
his overcoat about his failing patient,
/ but Langdon refused. The honest
lrishman thought it was because the
officer was too proud to be seen in a
priVate's uniform and felt no rebuff.
The officer would have taken it gladly
had there been another to spare. "If /
weren't too old to list" he had said to
his humble companions in Chicago,
I'd take. n blanket on the spot They
hurried him against the rising gale to-
ward the officers club and messroom,
well knowing that there they would be
apt to find more of the commissioned
force than elsewhere. He was breath
less, weak, shivering, when they reach
ed the door and were confronted at the
very threshold by two officers muffled
In their capes, plunging out into the
blast. g
What on earth have you got here?"
gruffiy queried the foremost, hating
short In displeasure at the sight.
Its Lootenant Langdon, SORT" said
Ryan, with touch of his cap. "We
found him sick and starved in town,
and DR.. Fownes said fetch him
straight here"
"Here? Man alive, this is no.
| SCb,,4 I'm Dro,,,a,,v, t,,,,,;odI- ,n4on
rupted the other. sit is Langdon! Why,
Eric, old boy, don't you know Nelson?
Come right in. Bring him right in
here, men," And half Leading, half
bearing, they ran the dropping outcast
into the light and warmth of the club
room, scattering the group at the fire
and sprawling him in deep, easy chair
before the blaze. "Give me that hot
Scotch of yours, Snipey," ordered Nell
son to a youngster in battery dress,
who eagerly obeyed. "Now, Eric, swal-
low and don't say word" And the
hot liquid was absorbed in the midst Of
profound silence. Tell me again the
doctors directions, corporal" said Nell
son after a moments study of the eff
Iect OF MS pOuOn.
''That the lootenant needed to be put
to bed and doctor wild him." was the
Irishman's rendition of the order,
whereat there was chuckle.
Call right. 1 understand. You men
did just right. Steward, give Corporal
Ryan and his comrade a good. hot tod
dy. Thank you both, men. I'll see you
in the morning"
And they were going when Langdon
feebly held out his hand and whisper
ed. Nelson bent to hear
He says you two saved his life, and
| So do I. Get stretcher from the hos
pital and my buffalo robe and blan-
kets, Ryan. Now, We'll have you fixed:
all right in five minutes, Eric, old boy.
Snipey, see If Pills is in the cardroom.
What's your hurry, Bremen? l may
want your help"
The burly officer was again making
for the storm door. He growled some
inarticulate answer and shot out into
| the storm. Nelson glared after him a
| moment and frowned. 1--WE don't need
him." he said as he turned back to
Langdon, over whom others were now
sympathetically bending. Two or three
Of the party had drawn aloof and were
comforting in low tones, glancing occa-
sionally at the group by the freside.
Then, taking up their caps and over
coats, they edged away to the door.
Again Nelson glared, took silent note
of their faces and gave significant
bob of the head. There's as much hui
man nature and human sympathy in
that squad as you'll find in skin
game" muttered he to silent crony..
The latter looked grave and perturbed.
"They never knew Langdon, and they:
only see the possibility Of the coloners
coming down rough on us for harbor-
ing and consorting with dismissed Of
| ficer."
Dismissed be hanged! Langdon's a
better man today, broken as he is, than
| the cad who preferred the charges"
was the hot reply.
| '"That's why Pm with you" was the
quiet rejoinder. "All the same, men
like Bremen and those doughboys will
say the court declared the charges sus-
tanned and Langdon disgraced."
"Disgraced for smashing that sneak
Torrance? By Jove, 1 hold him in
| higher esteem
"Ah, Nelson, it isn't all that. Its
that unpaid bill business-all that load
of debt that showed him under, and
you know it,
"Know it?t Yes, and know, what's
more, how little he was to blame. Had
our colonel or Melville been in COM
mand there, do you suppose they would
| have let him be court martialed? No,
| sir! 1t was Nathan's snide work with
that dashed old numskull Of a dra-
goon-old Cat He never had the bow
els OF a snake. Find the doctor, Snip
| ey?" he eagerly asked as the youngster
came hurrying back.
| Coming the minute he finishes his
hand" was the answer, and, true to his
word, the young army surgeon speedily
entered and came at once to the reclin-
| Ing figure in front Of the fire. Langdon
had been feebly replying to the SYM
pathetic questions of one or two asso-