The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1910-11-18

THERE ENTERED VERY SELF POSSESSED
YOUNG MAN.
seat and. brushing the burly man
aside. precipitated herself upon the
shrinking object in the corner.
Mortimer Watson Lowndesr' cried
che. where on earth have you beenT
Mortimer Watson wept dismally.
Two days later the colonel's Office at
Fort Cushing was the scene Of some
what remarkable trial. The tribunal
consisted. in point Of fact. Of single
man. acting as judge, jury and attor-
ney-to wit. "Black Bill" Riggs, in
spector general Of the department Of
the Platte.
Colonel Button was of course at his
usual desk. Colonel Riggs. his jeal-
ously regarded rival, was seated at q
little table. Lieutenant Lanier, some.
what pale. but entirely placid, occupied
a chair to the left Of that table. with
Captain Sumter. as his troop command
er and counsel, by his side. Captain
Snaffie was in support of the post
commander to cross question II he saw
fit Barker, the adjutant, was present.
as a matter Of course. Sergeant Fitz-
roy, with trouble in his eyes and wrath
In his heart, was fitting uneasIy
about.
IF you are ready, Colonel Button"
began Riggs with elaborate courtesy,
II am, and let me briefly say that
have seen Trooper Rafferty, at the hos
pital, also certain other men named
by Captain Snaffle, but in order that
all parties may be given opportunity
to hear and to examine and at the re-
quest Of Lieutenant Lanier, who de-
sires the fullest investigation and pub
Lefty. have invited you and the cap
tain to hear what consider the really
valuable evidence. viii you call in
Trooper Rawdon"
Snaffle's face was a sight when the
door opened and there entered a very
self possessed young man.
whats he mean by coming here in
'citsY" said Snafile.
Eyes. Colonel Riggs; If this mans
soldier why isn't he in uniformT
With perfect respect, at a nod from
Riggs, the newcomer replied, my
uniforms and other belongings Of mine
were taken from my trunk in town
during my absence"
"You could have borrowed one" said
Snaffie truculently.
81 told him he need not" retorted
Riggs. "Mr Rawdon. you were a
duly enlisted trooper. believe. Take
that chair"
And am still. sir"
But your discharge is ordered"
at was applied for and recommend
ed, and General Whipple told me in
Chicago a few days ago it was SET
tied. but that would have made M
difference. sir. should have been
proud TO wear the uniform until Of
fcially discharged"
Riggs wheeled in his chair "Colo.
mel Button. 1t has been fully explained
to this man and to the next that what
they tell us here Is to be just what
they would swear to before a court.
You can decide for yourself on hearing
1t whether you wish them to swear to
1t or not. Now. Rawdon. tell us how
you came to enlist"
"As the representative of three
newspapers In Chicago and the east
They were anxious to have an Indian
campaign and the life of an enlisted
man described as II really was. I
joined squad Of recruits for this
regiment right after the news Of the
Crazy Horse battle on Powder river"
do you still hold that jobw
"No. SIR" And there was twitch or
the muscles about the corners Of the
mouth suggestive Of amusement.
"WhyT
IL failed to-give satisfaction. Only
scraps of my letters were published"
what did they want?"
Criticism principally and confirma-
ton OF the stories Of abuse and III
treatment of soldiers by their officers"
"Were your letters never publishedr
"Three of them eventually, after the
campaign, in the New York Morning
Mail"
Whereupon Riggs spun IN his chair
and rejoicefully surveyed Button, who
sat like a man In a daze, staring open
eyed at the witness.
"Then, as understand II, you were
favorably impressed with the Life and
.onditions?"