The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1910-12-08

prim travelling garb sprang from he
seat and. brushing the burly ma
aside. precipitated herself upon tn
shrinking object in the corner.
Mortimer Watson Lowndesr' erie,
she Where on earth have you been +?
Mortimer Watson wept dismaIly.
Two days later the colonels office a
Fort Gushing was the scene of some
what remarkable trial The tribuna
consisted. in point of fact Of a singl,
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
Susly regarded rival, was seated at a
! little table. Lieutenant Lanier. some.
what pale, but entirely placid. occupied
chair TO the left Of that table. with
Captain Sumter, as his troop command
er and counsel, by his side. Captain
Snafiie was in support of the post
| commander TO cross question If he saw
fit. Barker, the adjutant. was present
as matter of course Sergeant Fitz-
roy, with trouble in his eyes and wrath
in his heart. was fitting uneasily
about.
IF you are ready, Colonel Button, y
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 Snaflle. 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?'
Snaffles face was sight when the
door opened and there entered very
self possessed young man.
whats he mean by coming here in
'citsY said Snanle.
Yes, Colonel Riggs: If this mans a
soldier why isn't he in uniform?'
With perfect respect, at 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
Ip DO
duly enlisted trooper, l believe. Take
that chair"
And am still, sir"
But your discharge is ordered"
"It was applied for and recommend
ed. and General Whipple told me in
Chicago a few days ago 1t was set
tied. but that would have made no
difference, sir. | should have been
proud 10 wear the uniform until Of
icially discharged"
Riggs wheeled in his chair "Colo-
mel Button, 1t has been fully explained
% this man and to the next that what |
hey tell us here is to be just what |
hey would swear TO before a court. |
You can decide for yourself on hearing |
t whether you wish them to swear to
'ou came to enlist"
"As the representative of three
in Chicago and the east.
They were anxious to have an Indian
and the life of an enlisted
nan described as it really was. l
81 ,f
egiment right after the news of the
Irazy Horse battle on Powder river"
do you stu hold that job?'
mo, sir" And there was ,twitch of
he muscles about the corners of the
nouth suggestive of amusement.
"Why?"
Il failed to-give satisfaction. Only
craps of my letters were published"
What did they want"
Criticism principally and confirma-
ion o: the stories of abuse and ill
reatment of soldiers by their officers"
Were your letters never published:" .
Three of them eventually, after the !
lmpaign, in the New York Morning .
Iail."
Whereupon Riggs spun in his chair .
NJ rejoicefully surveyed Button, who /.
1t like man in daze, staring open /.
yed at the witness.
Then, as l understand ii, you were i.
Ivorably impressed with the life and
:
In spite of hardship and privation. !.
IS. sir, and because | found complete ;
of the stories about the Off .
RS. both as regarded their dealing /
it'll the Indians and with their own
en- =
Were there any persons with the
who knew you and your
ission?"
Two, sir, as it turned out. Trooper I
lry, who enlisted at the same time
did, and civilian, Mr.. Lowndes,
no recognized us at Fort Frayne. !,
e were at college together. He and
Try became very intimate toward the /,
st, and yet | think they kept my !
cret in spite of our falling OUT
DO you care to tell us why you fell
IT." I
Il prefer that Mr.. Lowndes should
that. He and Cary had been chums