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THB IJLK0A8TER DAILY INTMQCJaR, 8ATU
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'IS i
DUNRAVEN RANCfi.
' 'U
A Story of American' Frontier Life.
By C APT. CHARLES KING, U. S. A.,
AUTKOm OF "THS OOUMMlfU DAtTCMRVR," urOM THS KAMXB,"
CeHrrlgatee, tSM, by J B. Lisflacett
Special Arraageattat threas;h
. TeD3wia( tha trail, lie reds down
s mm tall Salt mile, and still taste
MMMaObTMk. KQWb(M0lMOtaer
faere wai tfeere sign of bridle fata lead
faenptae steps. Tur&tafttehis.sftia
east Impatience, Im ssnrNelan st rapid
lop mtem tb utetrealng "bottom,"
aadsoeareeebed the blots, waich reaa
perhaps forty ee Sfty (act above tha
stream, Oaea ea tha crtat, tha prairia
strsteaed before aim northward, level aa
anoer.ontll it mat tha sky j but it waa
aenthward ba longed te leek, and thither
quickly turned. Yea, thera it lay Dun
raven Ranch, In all ita lonely majesty.
Frem where he gased the nearest build
ing steed a geed long mile away. That
It waa the homestead he divined at once,
for a bread veranda ran around the
lower story, and white curtains were
visible at the dormer windows of the
upper fleer. Back of it and en the eastern
flank were ether buildings, massive look
ing, single storied affairs, vldentlr
stables, storehouses and corrals. Thera
was a tall windmill there en odd sight
in se remote a region and a big water
tank.
Perry wondered hew it ever get there.
Then at the southwest angle was a build
ing that looked like an office of some
kind. He could see horses tethered there,
and what seemed te be human figures
moving about. Beyond it all, te the
east and south, wcre herds of grazing
cattle, and here and there in the dim dis
tance a horseman moved ever the prai
rie. This reminded him of the stranger
who had given him the slip; and he
gazed westward in search of liim.
Far up the valley, between him nnd
the distant pest, he could plainly see a
black object just descending the Elopes
from the southern prairie te the stream.
Net another was in sight that his prac
ticed eye did net .knew te be cattle.
That, then, was his horseman, once mere
going fort-wards in the valley, after hav
ing made a three or four mile detour te
avoid him. "New, what sortef a Chris
tian is tliat fellow?" thought Perry, as
he gazed at the distant speck. "Going
te the fort, tee. By thunder! I'll find
out who he is, anyhow. New I'm going
te the ranch."
Down the dopes he rode. Down the
winding trail once moie he trotted, peer
ing through every gap among the cot cet cot
tenwoods, slaking Nelan's thirst nt a lit
tle peel in the stream, and then, after
another long half mile, lie came te a
sudden turn te the right. The read
dipped and twisted through the Etrcam
bed, rose te the ether side, wound through
the cottonweeds and then out en the
open turf. Huzzal There it stretched
up the slepesstralght away for the south,
straight through a bread gap between
two heavy gate pests standing en the
stake line of that rigid fence. Nelan
broke into a brisk canter and gave a
neigh of Balutatieu; Perry's eyes glistened
with anticipation aa he bent ever his
charger's neck, keenly searching the odd
looking structure growing en his vision
as they neared the fence. Then, little
by little, Nelan's eager stride shortened
and grew choppy. Anether moment,
and horse and rider reined up short in
disappointment. Between the gate pests
swuug a barrier of cobweb lightness,
slender and airy as spider ever were, but
bristling with barbs, stiff as "bullfinch"
and unyielding as steel. One glunce
showed Perry that this inhospitable gate
was firmly locked.
Fer a moment he sat in saddle, study
ing the situation, while Nelan poked his
head ever tlie topme3t strand of wlre
and keeping at respectful distance from
the glittering barb3 Razed wistfully ever
the inclesed prairie in search of comrade
quadruped who could tell him what
manner of place this was. Meantime
his rider was intently eying the heavy
padlock that was secured en the inner
side of the gate. It was square in shape,
massive- and bulky something utterly
unlike anything ha had ever seen among
the quartermaster's stores. Dismount
ing and holding Nelan well back from
the aggressive fence with one hand,
lie .gingerly passed the ether through the
spike fringed aperture and turned the
padlock se as te get a better view. It
was of English make, as he surmised,
and of strength sufficient te resist any
thing short of a trip hammer. Evident
ly no admission was te be gained here, he
reasoned, and yet it was through here that
that horsemen had come but en hour be
fore. Here were the fresh hoof prints in
the trail, and it was evident that the
rider had dismounted, opened the gateL
led his hore tlueugh, closed and fast
ened it, then remounted and ridden
away. Perry was plainsman enough te
i ead this from the hoof prints. Studying
them carefully, a leek of surprise came
into his face; he bent down and closely
examined the two or three that were
most clearly defined upon the trail, then
gave a long whistle as a. means of ex
pressing his feelings and giving play te
his astonishment.
"Johnny Bull holds himself tee high
and mighty te have anything te de ith
us blarhted Yankees, it seems, except
when he wants his horses shed. 'Ihe&e
shoes were set at the pest blacksmith
shop, or I'm a duffer," was the lieuten
ant's verbal comment. "New, hew win
it dene without the quartermaster's
LueAing it? That's the cavalry shoe!"
Pondering ever this unlooked for revo reve
Jatinn, Mr. Perry once mere mounted
and turned his disappointed steed again
down stream. At last, full half u mile
farther en, he saw tliat a wire fence ran
southward again across the prairie, as
though marking the eastern Leundary
of the homestead inclesure, nnd con
jecturing that there was probably a trail
along tliat fence and an opening through,
even if the southeastward line should be
found fenced still farther, he sent Nelan
through the Menee te the open bank en
the northern side, cantered along until
the trail turned abruptly southward,
and, following it, found himself once
mere at the fence just where the heavy
corner pest steed deeply Imbedded in
the soil. Sura enough, here ran another
fence straight up tlie gentle slope te the
south, a trail along its eastern side, and
a bread cattle gap, dusty and tramped
with the hoofs of a thousand steers, was
left in the fence that, prolonged down
stream, spanned the northern boundary.
Inside the homestead let all was virgin
turf.
Following the southward trail, Perry
rede briskly up the long InclLie. It wai
east of this fence ha had seen the cattle
herds and their mounted watchers. fe
waa-far beyond the ranch buildings, but
felt sure tliat once well up en the prairie
he could have en uninterrupted view of
them and doubtless meet seme of the
ranch people and satisfy himself what
there was in the stories of their churlish
and repellent demeanor. The sun was
climbing higher all this time, and he,
ager i". pursuit of his rtCQAJjelsunss,
L"UTO.
Comply, Paitaajphla, aa Pabllshed by
tke American Press Asseciatien.
gave llttle heed te Meeting minutes. It
fair means could accomplish, it, he and
Nelan were bound te have acquaintance
with Dunraven llanch.
Ten minutes' easy lope brought him
well up en the prairie. There westward
new was the mystereus clump of brown
buildings, just as far away as when he
steed, baffled and disappointed, by the
gateway en tha Menee. Here, leading
away towards the distant buildings, was
a bridle path. Herein the fence was a
gap just such as he had entered en the
stream, and that gap was barred and
guarded by the counterpart of the first
gate and firmly secured by a padlock
that was the ether's twin. Mr. Perry's
comment at this point of his explora
tions was brief nnd characteristic, if net
objectionable. He gave vent te the same
low whistle, half surprise, half vexation,
that had comforted Ids soul before, but
supplemented the whistle with the
unnecessary remark: "Well, I'll be
damned!"
Even Nelan entered his pretest against
such incredible exclusiveness. Thrusting
his lean head far ever the topmost wires,
as before, he signaled long nnd shrill
a neigh that would have caught the ear
of any herse within a mile and then,
all alert, he waited for an answer. It
cania floating en the rising wind, a re re re
sponsive call, a signal as eager nnd con
fident ns his own, and Nel.m and No Ne
lan's rider whirled quickly around te bee
the seurce from whence it rose. Four
hundred yards away, just appearing ever
a little knell in the prairie, and moving
towards them from the direction of a
distant clump of grazing cattle, another
horse and rider came trotting into hail
ing distance; and Perry, his bright blub
eyes dilating, and Nelan, his dainty, sen
sitive cars pricked forward, turned
promptly te meet and greet the new ar
rivals. Fer fifty yards or se the stranger rode
confidently and at rapid trot. Perry
smilingly watched the eutturned tees,
the bobbing, "bent ever" seat, and an
gular elbows that seemed sostrnngeand
outefplacoon the bread Texan plain,
lie could almost see the "crop" in the
free hand, nnd was smiling te himself
at the idea of a "crop" te open wire
gates, when he became aware of the
fact tliat the stranger's mien had chang
ed; confidence was giving place te hes
itancy, end he was evidently checking
the rapid trot of his herse and throwing
his weight hack en the cantle, while his
feet, thrust through te the very heels in
the gleaming steel stirrups, were braced
in fient of the ewerful shoulders of the
bay. The horse wanted te come, the
rider plainly wanted te step. Anether
moment, and Perry could sce that the
stranger were eyeglasses nnd had just
succeeded in bridging them en his nose
nnd was glaring at him with his chin
high in air. They wcre within two hun
dred yards of each ether by this time,
and te Perry' astonishment, the next
thing the stranger did was te touch
sharply his herse with a barbed heel,
whirl him spitefully nbeut, nnd go bob
bing off acres the prairie nt lively can
ter, standing up in his stirrups, nnd be
striding hi? steed as though his object
wcre net se much a rlde nsgamn of leap
frog. It was evident that he had caught sight
of Perry w hen Nelan neighed, had i id-
I den at ence te meet hlra, expecting te
tlnil seme one connected with the ranch,
and had veered elf In disgust the mo
ment he was able te recognize the uni
form and herse equipments of the United
States cavalry.
CHAPTER IV.
U'EMT ,n..,.-.,.1 t,..
'Ttjfe low as Mr. IVrry con
fessedly was, there w.is
some thing in the
stranger's conduct that
galled him incxpr.'s-i
Mbly. 1-ieui his hand
some mount; his garb and his general
appearance, Perry hct this stranger down
as one of tlie Englishmen residing at the
ranch. It was net fear of arrest and
capture that sent him scowling away
acreis tlie prairie; it was deliberate in
tent te avoid, mid this was, te Perry's
thinking, tantamount te insult. One
moment he g.ied after the retreating
form of the lierteman, then clapped his
ferage cap firmly down upon his head,
shook free the rein and gave Nelan the
longed for word. Anether instant, nnd
with set teeth and blazing, angry eyes
he was thundering at headlong speed,
sweeping down upon the unconscious
stranger in pursuit. Before that sun
burned, curly haired, bulkily framed
young man had the faintest idea of what
was impending, Mr. Perry was reining
in his snorting steed alongside and cut
tingly accosting him:
"I beg your pardon, my geed sir, Im
may I ask what you mean by trotting
away when it must have been evident
that I wanted te speak with you?"
The stranger turned slightly and coolly
eyed the flushed and indignant cavalry
man. They were trotting side by si de
new, Nelan plunging excitedly, but the
English herse maintaining his even
stride; and btrotigercentrant et type and
style ene could scarcely hepe te find. In
rough tweed sheeting jacket and cap,
brown Bedford cords fitting snugly at
the knee but Happing like shapeless bags
from there aloft te the waist, in heavy
leather gaiters and equally heavy leather
gloves, the stocky figure of the English
man had nothing of grace or elegance,
but was sturdy, strong, and full of that
burly self reliance w hlcli is se charac
terestlc of the race. Above his bread,
steeping shoulders were a bull neck, red
dened by the sun, a crop of close curl
ing, light brown hair, a tanned nnd
honest face lighted up by fearless gray
eyes and shaded by a thick nnd curling
beard of lighter hue than the hair of his
massive head.
He rede with the careless ease and su
preme confidence of the skilled horse
man, but with that angularity of feet
and elbow, that roundness of back and
bunching of shoulders, that incessant
rise and fall with every beat of .his
rt-'JJ
-t 1
flu w
Qt crz. Mill- ? n H Pu xr dLrC
?&
..
hena's jwrful hauaeh,vtluttW effect
was that of neither teemrity aer reyeae.
His saddle, tee, waa tha kmf , flat NateA
Australian medel.pig akta, with hug
rounded leathern cushion circling In
front aaa ever the knees, adding te tha
cutabrqpsneM of his equipment and in
no wise te the comforts but his bit and
curb chalH wars of burnished steel,
, gbaaslag as though fresh from the hands
of some Incomparable English groom,
and the russet reins were aeft and plia
ble, telllng'ef excellent stable manage
ment and discipline. Perry couldn't
help admiring that bridle, even in his
temporary tit of indignation.
As for hum tall, slender, elegantly
made, clothed in the accurately fitting
undress "blouse" of the army and In rid
ing breeches that displayed te best ad
vantage the superb melding of his pow
erful thigh, sitting like centaur well
down la the saddle, his feet and lewet
legs, cased in natty riding beets, swing
ing close in behind the gleaming shoul
ders of his steed, erect as en parade, yet
swaying with' every motion of his horse,
graceful, gallant, and te the full as new
erful as his burly companion, the advan
tage in appearance was all en Perry's
side, and was heightened by Nelan's
spirited action and martial trappings.
Perry was an exquisite in his soldier
taste, and never, except en actual cam
paign, rode his troop horse without his
broidered saddle cloth and gleaming
bosses. All this, and mere, the English
man seemed quietly noting as, finally,
without the faintest trace of irritability,
with even a suspicion of humor twink
ling about the corners of his mouth, he
replied:
"A fellow may de as he likes when
he's en his own bailiwick, I suppose."
"All the same, wherever I've been,
from here te Assinlbela, men meet like
Christians, unless they happen te be read
agents or cattle thieves. What's mere, I
nm an nffli-ni r9 n rnrrtniAnt 4i(ef nrrtt-nrl
isn't n ranch along our trail where we
were net welcome and whose occupants
were net 'hall fellow well met' in our
camps. Yeu nre the first people te shun
us; nnd, as that fort yonder was built for
your protection in days when it was bad
ly needed, I want te knew what there is
about its garrison that Is se obnoxious te
Dunraven Ranch that's what you call
it, I believe?"
"That's what it is called."
"Well, here! I' vq no intention of in
truding where we're net "wanted. I sim
ply didn't svppese that en the bread
prairies of the west there was such a
place as a ranch where one of my cloth
was unwelcome. I am Mr. Perry, of the
tit cavalry, and I'm bound te say I'd
like te knew what you people have
against us. Are you the proprietor?"
"I'm net. I'm only au empleye."
"Who is the owner?"
"He's net here new."
"Who is here who can explain the
situation?"
"Oh, as te that, I fancy I cau de it as
well as anybody. It is simply because
we have te de pretty much as you fel fel fel
loweobey orders. The owner's orders
are net aimed at you any mero tluxn any
body clse. He simply wants te be let
alone. IIe bought this tract and settled
here because he wanted a place where
he could have things his own way see
people whom he sent for and nobody
else. Every man in his employ is ex
pected te stick te the ranch se long as
he is en the pay roll, and te carry out
his Instructions. If he can't, he may
go."
"And your instructions are te prevent
pcople getting into the ranch?"
"Oh, hardly that, ou knew. We don't
Interfere. There's never any ene te peme,
as a rule, and, when they de, tha feuce
seems te be euilleient."
"Amply, I should say; nnd yet were I
te tell you that 1 had business witli the
proprietor and needed te ride up te the
ranch, you would open the gate yonder,
I suppose?"
"Ne; 1 would tell you that the owner
was away, and that in his absence I
tramurted nil business for him."
"Well, tljink you for the information
given me at nil events. May 1 auk the
name of your misanthrepical beis'l Yeu
might tell him I called."
"Several officers called thrce years
age, but he begged te be excused."
"And what is the name?"
"Mr. Maitland is what he is called."
"All right. Possibly the time may
come when Mr. Maitland will be as
anxious te have the cavalry around him
as he is new te keep it uway. Hut If
you ever feel like coming up te the fort,
just ride In and ask for me."
"I feel like It u dozen times a week,
you knew; but a man mustn't uu.ir;
with his bread and butter. I met ene of
your fellows once en a hunt after strayed
mules, and he asked me in, but I couldn't
go. Serry, you knew, and nil that, but
the owner won't have It."
"Well, then there's nothing te de for
it but say geed day te you. I'm going
back. Possibly I'll sce seme of your
people up at Resslter when they ceme te
get a herse shed."
"A herse shed! Why, man alive, we
shoe all our horses here!"
"Well, that fellow who rode out of
your north gate and went up towards tlie
fort about au hour or se age had his
horse shed at a caalry forge, or I'm a
duffer."
A quick change came ever the En
glishman's face; a flush of uirprise and
auger shot up te his forehead; he
wheeled about and gazed eagerly, lowcr lewcr
ingly, back towards the far away build
ings. "Hew de you knew there was
What fellow did you see?"' ha sharply
asked.
"Oh, I don't knew who he was," an
swered Perry, coolly. "He nvelded me
just as pointedly no 'you did galloped
across the Monce aud out en the prairie
te dodge me; but he came nut of that
gate en the stream, locked it after him,
and went en up te the fort, and his horse
had cavalry shoes. Geed day te ou,
my Britannic friend. Come and tea us
when you get tired of prison life." And,
with a grin, Mr. Perry turned and rode
rapidly away, leaving the ether horse herso herse
man in a brown study.
Once fairly across the Monce he am
bled placidly along, thinking of the odd
situation of affairs at this great prairie
reservation, and almost regretting that
he had paid the ranch the honor of n
call. Reaching the point where the
wagon tracks crossed the stream te thu
gateway In the Iwundary fence, he
reined in Nelan and looked through a
vista In the cottonweeds. There was the
Englishman, dismounted, bloeping ever
the ground and evidently examining
the hoof prints nt the gate. Perry
chuckled at the eight, then whistling
for Bruce, who had strayed off through
the timber, he resumed his jaunty way
te the pest.
In t!ie events of the morning there
were several things te give him abun
dant causj for thought, if net for lively
curiejity, but he had net yet reached
the sum total of surprises in store for
him. He was still two miles out from
the fort, and riding slowly nlungtli
bottom, when he Lecaine aware of a
trooper coming tow ards him en the trail.
The sunbeams were glinting en the pol
ished ornaments of his ferage cap and
en the bright yrllew clurrras of his ,
snugly fitting bleuse. Tall mid slender
and erect was the ceminz horeeman. a '
mm of eeMMiiy free and earriafe,
aadaa he draw aearer tad hta hand
went up te 'the cap rieer In salute a
gesture from his young superior brought
aa Instant pressure ea the rein, and
hone and man became an animated
statue. It was a wonderfully sudden
yet easy check of a steed in. rapid mo
tion, and Mr. Perry, a capital rider him
self, could net withheld his admiration.
"Where did you learn that sudden
halt, sergeant?" he asked. "I never saw
anything se quick except the Mexican
training; but that strains u horse and
throws him en hta haunches."
"It is net uncommon abroad, sir," was
the quiet answer. "1 saw it first la the
English cavalry; and It Is easy te teach
tlie horse,"
"I must get you te show me the knack
someday. I've noticed it two or three
times, and would like te learn it. What
I stepped you for is this: You're been
stable sergeant ercr ajnee we get here,
have you net?"
"Yes, sir."
"Then if anybody besides members of
the trrtp had horses shed at our forge
you would be pretty apt te knew it?"
"I knew that no one has, sir." And a
flush was rising te the young sergeant's
face nnd a pained leek hovering about
his bright blue eyes. Yet his manaer
was Hclf restrained and full of respect.
"Don't think I m intimating anything
te the contrary, Bergt. Qwynnc. Ne
soldier in the regiment mere entirely
holds the confidence of his captain of
all the officers than you. 1 was net
thinking of that. But somebody down
there at that big ranch below us has had
his horse shed by a cavalry farrier it
may have been dene while the Eleventh
were here and, while I knew you would
net allow it at our forge, I thought 'it
possible that it might be done in your
absence."
"It's the first time I've been out of
sight of the stables slnce we came te the
pest, sir, nnd the captain gave me per
mission te ride down the valley this
morning. May I ask the lieutenant why
ie thinks seme ranchman is getting his
shoeing done here at the pest?"
"I've been down there this morning,
nnd met a man coming up. IIe avoided
me, mid rede ever te the south side, and
se excited my curiosity; and as they
keep that whole place inclesed In a wlre
fence, and he had evidently ceme out of
the north gate, 1 was struck by the
sight of the hoof prints; they were per
fectly fresli there ou the trail, and plain
ns day. There's no mistaking the shoe,
ou knew. By the way, he rode up te
the fort, and prebebly entered at your
side of the garrison; did you see him?"
"Ne, sir, and, except for breakfast
just after reveille I havebeenat stables
nil the morning. I was there when the
lieutenant get his horse."
" Yes, I remember. Then no one rede
In from the valley?"
"Ne civilian no ranchman, sir. The
only horsemen I've seen were some
Cheyenne scouts during the last two
hours, and Dr. Quin just before sick
call."
"Dr. Qulnl the pest surgeon! Are
you sure, sergeant?"
"Certainly. 6lr. Tlie doctor rode Inte
(he neU just nbeutnn hour ufter the lieu
tenant left coining up the valley tee.
He went right around te his own stable,
ever towards the Irjspltal."
A leek of amaze nnd stupefaction was
settling en Perry's fnce. -New for the
first tlme he recalled Mrs. Lawrence's
intimations with regard te the doctor,
nnd his connection with the signal lights.
New for the first time it occurred te him
that tha secret of these cavalry hoof
prints at the gate was that no ranchman,
but an officer of the garrison, had been
the means of leaving them there. New
for the ilrbt tlmelt (lashed upon him that
the Englishman's astonishment nnd con
cern en hearing of theso hoof tracks In
dicated that the story of a mystery at
Dunraven in which tlie doctor was con
nected amounted te something mera
than garrison rumor. New for 10 first
time an explanation occurred te him of
the singular conduct of the horseman
who had dodged him by crossing the
Menee. Never in his young life had he
known the hour when he was ashamed
or ufruid te leek nny man In the eye. It
stung him te think that here at Resslter,
wearing the uniform of an honorable
profession, enjoying the trust and con
fidence of all his fellows, was a man
who had some secret enterprise of which
he dared net speak and of whose discov
ery he steed in dread. There could be
little doubt that thu elusivu btranger was
Dr. Quin, and that there was grave rea
son for the rumors of which Mrs. Law
lencc had vaguely told him.
ter a moment hu sat, dazed and Irrese
lute, Nelan impatiently pawing the turf
the while; then, far across the prairie
and down the valley there came floating,
quick and spirited, though faint with
distance, the uetcj of the cavalry trum
pet sounding "light, front into line."
lie looked up, startled.
"They're out at battalion drill, sir,"
said the sergeant. "They marched out
just as I left the stabler."
"Just my Infernal luck agalr!" gasped
Perry, as he struck spur te Nelan ami
sent him tearing up the slope; "l might
have known I'd mis3 it!"
CHAPTER V.
HAT evening a group
of cavalry officers came
sauntering back from
stables, and as they reached the walk
in front of efilceri,' row a dark featured,
black bearded, soldierly looking captain
separated himself from the rest and en
tered tHe colonel's yard. The command
ing officer happened te be seated en his
veranda at the moment, and in close
confabulation u ith Dr, Quin. Beth gen
tlemen ceased their talk ns the captnln
entered, nud then rose from their scats
as he stepped upon the veranda fleer.
"Geed evening, Stryker," said the col
onel, cheerily. "Come In and have a
seat. The doctor and I were just won
dering if we could net get you te take a
hand at whist te-night."
"I 6hall be glad te join you, sir, after
parade. 1 have ceme in te ask permis
sion te bend a sergeant and a ceuple of
men, mounted, down te the Meueu. One
of my best men is missing."
"Indcedl Who is that? Send the men,
of course."
"Sergt. Gwynne, sir. The first time
I ever knew him te mUs a duty."
"Yeur-fctahhv- sergeant, tee? That Is
unusual. Hew long has he been gene?"
"Since battalion drill this morning. He
was en hand when tlie men were sad
dling, r.nd asked permission te take his
horse out for exercise and ride down the
valley u few miles. 1 said yes, never
supposing hg would be cone after neon
red eati; and we were astmuahed whea
he failed te appear at stables. Perry says
he met him two miles out."
"The two culprits!" said the colonel,
laughing. "Peer Perry h down In the
depths' again. He rode up te me with
such a woebegono leek en his fnce at
drill this morning that I could hardly
keep from laughing In front of the whele
line. Even the men were trying hard
net te grim they knew he had turned
up just initie nick of time te savodilm savedilm
elf an 'absent.1 What de you suppesa
can have happened te Gwynne?"
"I cannot Imagine, sir. and am In
clined te be worried. He would never
willingly overstay a pass; nnd I fear
seme accident has happened,"
"Is he a geed rider?" asked the doctor.
"None Letter In the regiment. IIe Is
a model horseman, In fact, nnd, though
he never alludes te nor admits It. there
Is a general feeling among the men that
he lias been In tha English cavalry ser
vice. Of course, there Is no doubt of his
nationality; he Is English te the back
bone, aud, I fancy, has seen better
days."
"What made them think he had been
In the cavalry sorvlce abroad?"
"Oh, his (icrfcct knowledge of trooper
duties and management of horses. It
took him no time te learn the drill, nnd
lie was a Bcrgcant before he had been
u ith me two years. Then, if you ever
noticed, colonel," said dipt. Stryker, ap
pealing te his chief, "whenever ( Iwy nne
stands attention he always has the fin
gers of both hands extended and mint
ing down along the thigh, close ngalnit
It se." Aud Stryker illustrated. "New,
you never see nu American soldier de
that; und i never saw It in any but Eng
lish ti allied soldiers. IIe has quit It
somewhat of late, because the men told
him it showed where he was drilled
we have ether English 'nou-cems.' veu
knew Out ter u long time 1 noticed that
111 him. Then he wus enlisted in New
Yerk city, seme four years nge, and nil
his things were of English make what
he had."
"What manner of looking fellow Is
her asked tlie doctor. "I think 1 would
have noted him bed I seen him."
"Yes, you Englishmen nre apt te leek
te one another," said the colonel in re
ply, "and Owynne Is a particularly flne
specimen. IIe has your eyes nnd hair,
doctor, but hasn't had tlme te grew
grizzled nnd bulky yet, ns you nnd I
have, One might say that you and the
sergeant were from the same shlre,"
"Tliat would help me very little, since
I was only thrce years eldwhr- the gev
emer emigrated," answered the doctor,
with a quiet smile, "We keep seme
traces of the old sod, I suppose, but
I've been a Ynnkce for forty years, and
have never once set eyes en Merrie Eng
land in all that time. Did the sergeant
say where he wanted te go?" And the
questloner looked up sharply.
"Nowhere in particular down the
valley was alb I remember, though,
that Mr. Parke said he seemedinuch ex
ercised ever thonameof that ranch down
the Menee I've forgotten what they call
It Have you heard it, colonel?"
"Seems te me I have, but I've forgot
ten. Yeu have, doctor, have you net?"
"Heard what, colenol?"
"The name of that ranch down the
Menee an English ranch, they tell me,
about seven miles away."
"Oh, yes! that onel They call it Dun
raven Ranch. Did the sergeant take any
of the hounds with him, captain? It oc
curs te me he might have been running
a coyote or a rabbit, and his herse have
stumbled and fallen with him. Thore Is
no end of prairie deg holes down that
way."
"Ne, the dogs nre all In. I wouldn't
be surprised If lie had geno te the ranch.
That's an English name, and they are all
Englishmen down there, I hear. Very
possibly that is the solution. They may
have tempted him te stay with English
hospitality; though It would astonish me
if he yielded. I'll tell the men te Inquire
there first, colonel, nnd will go and send
them new." And, bowing te his com
mander, Capt. Stryker turned and left
the perch.
, Tlie doctor rose, thrust his hands deep
In his pockets, paced slowly te tha south
ern end of the veranda, nnd gazed down
the distant, peaceful valley, an anxious
cloud settling en his brew, The colonel
resumed once mere the newspaper he
had dropped upon the fleer. After a mo
ment Dr. Quin came slowly back, steed
in front of the cntrance a few seconds
looking Irresolutely at the soldier
sprawled at full length in his reclining
chair, stepped towards him with a pre
paratory clearing of his threat as though
about te speak, and then, suddenly and
helplessly abandoning tlie idea, he
E lunged down the short flight of steps,
urrled out of the gate and disappeared
around the fence corner in the direction
of the hospital. Immersed in his paper,
the colonel never seemed te note that he
had gene; neither did he nete the fact
that two ladles were coming down the
walk.
The soft swish of trailing skirt being
Insufficient te attract his attention as
they arrived nearly oppesito the shaded
veranda, n silvery peal of laughter breke
the stillness of the early evening. Mrs.
Belknap'H laugh was delicious soft, me
lodious, rippling ns u canary song, and
just as spontaneous. Neither lady liad
said anything at the moment that was
incentiveef merriment; but if Mrs. Law Law
rence had given utterance te the quaint
est, oddest, most whimsical conceit Im
aginable, Mrs. Belknap's laugh could net
have been mere ready, nnd her great,
dark eyes shot a sidelong glance te note
the effect. Down went the paper, and
up, with considerable prepping from his
muscular arms, came the burly form of
the pest commander. Twe sweet, smil
ing faces beamed upon hlin through an
aperture In the leafy screen, nnd Mrs.
Belknap's silvery veice hailed him in
laughing salutatien:
"Did we spoil your siesta, colonel?
Hew can 1 make amends? Yeu see, you
were se hidden by the vines tliat no ene
would dream of your being there in nm
bush." "Oh, Indeed, I assure you I wasn't
asleep," answered the colonel, hastily,
"Won't you ceme In, ladies, and sit
here in tlie shade awhile?"
"We thought we would stroll around
until parade," said Mrs. lawrcnce, hesi
tatingly, "and then sit down and watch
it somewhere."
"Ne placq better than this," promptly
answered the colonel. "Yeu can sit be
hind the vines en that side and see, or,
what we would Infinitely prefer, sit here
at the entrance and be Been. Meantime,
I've been unpacking seme photograph
albums this afternoon, and you can
amuse yourselves with theso while I put
en my harness. Come!"
Tlie colonel's collection of photographs
was something the ladles had already
heard a great deal of. One of the most
genial and epular officers of the army,
he had gathered together several large
alliums full of pictures of prominent men
and attractive und distinguished women
net only these with whom he had ben
associated in his long years of service,
but men eminent in national nnd state
affairs, and women leaders in society in
many a gay metropolis.
Beth the ladies had hoped te sce this
famous collection thoevening before, but
the colonel had net then unpacked the
albums, and they were disappointed.
New, he ever, the prospect was indeed
alluring, and neither could resist. When
the first call sounded for parade a few
moments after, and the commanding
officer was getting himself into his full
dress uniform, the two pretty heads wers
close together, nnd two pairs of very
lovely eyes one dark and deep nnd dan
gerous, the ether a clear nnd honest gray
were dilating ever page after page of
photographed beauty. There was no
need te putxle ever the identity of the
originals; under each picture the thought
ful colonel had carefully written the
name and address, Absorbed In this
treat, they could barely afford tlme te
leek up and smile their thanks as ths
colonel passed, clanking forth at the
sounding of adjutant's call, nnd were tee
completely engrossed In their delightful
occupation te notice what took place at
parade. t
The long, slender line had formed
the Infantry companies en the right and
left flanks, their neat and tasteful dress
of blue and white contrasting favorably
with the gaudy yellow plumage of the
four -dismounted troops of the cavalry.
Company after company had taken the
staturesque pose of "parade rest" nnd its
captain faced te the front again, the ad
jutant was just about moving te his pest
en the prolongation of the front rank,
and the colonel settling beck into the
conventional attitude of the command
ing officer, when from outside the rect
angular Inclesure of the parade ground
from some where beyond the men's
barracks there came sudden outcry nnd
commotion. There were shouts, Indis
tinguishable at first, but excited and
startling. Some of the men In ranks
twitched nervously and partially turned
their heads, as though eager te leek be
hind them and sce what was wrong;
whereat stem voices could be heard In
subdued but potent censure: "Keep your
eyes te the front, there, Sullivan I" "Stand
fast, there, center of Third company!"
The guard, tee, paraded in front of its
quarters some distance behind the line,
was manifestly disturbed, nnd the voice
of the sergeant could be heard giving
hurried orders. Every man In the bat
talion seemed at the same instant te ar
rive nt ene of two conclusions prisoners
escaping, or fire ever at the stables and
j all eyes were fixed en the imperturbable
' form of the commanding officer, as
I though wajtlng the signal from him te
j break and go te tlie rescue But there
the colonel steed, placid, calm, nnd ap
parently utterly unconscious of the dis
tant yet nearlng clamor. The adjutant
hesitated a moment before proceeding
further, nnd glanced appeallngly nt his
chief i whereupon there came from the
blue and geld and yellow stntue out en
the parade, in half reproachful tones,
the quiet order, "Ge en!" and the adju
tant, recalled te his senses and with evi
dent expression of his sentiments te the
effect that If ethers could stand it he
could, brusquely turned his head to
wards the band and growled, "Sound
effl" The boom and crash of drum and
cymbal and the blare of brazen threats
drowned for n moment the sound of tha
turmoil without. The next thing the
battalion heard or saw was a riderless
herse tearing full tilt out en the parade
and sweeping in a big circle from the
right of the line down towards tlie point
'where the colonel steed.
Following him came a pair of Chey
eneo scouts, their ponies scampering in
pursuit, but veering off the green as their
riders realized tliat they were intruding
en the ceremony of the day. Relieved
of his pursuers, the fugitlve speedily set
tled down Inte a lunging trot, and with
streaming mane and toil, with head and
cars erect, with falling bridle rein and
flapping stirrups, he circled rapidly the
open space between the colonel and the
line of battle, then came trotting back
along the front, aa though searching in
the stolid rank of bearded faces for the
friends he knew. Officer after officer
he passed in roview until he came te
Stryker's troop, posted en the right of
the cavalry, and there, with a neigh of
recognition, he fearlessly trotted up te
the captain's outstretched hand. Anether
mlnute and two men fell out and madea
temporary gap In tlie rank; through this
a sergeant file closer extended his whlte
gleve, relieved the captain of hU charge
and led the panting steed uway.
The men ictoek their places; the cap
tain again resumed his position in front
of the center of his company, dropped
the point of his saber te the ground and
settled back into "parade rest;" the band
wcut en thundering down the llu",
countermarched and came back te Its
pest en the right, making the welkin
ring with the triumphant strains of
"Northern Reute," the trumpets pealed
the "retreat," the adjutant stalked his
thrce yards te the front, faced fiercely
te the left and shouted his resonant or
ders down the line, three hundred mar
tial forms sprang te attention, and the
burnished arms came te the "carry"
with simultaneous crash, ranks wcre
opened with old tlme precision, the
parade "presented" te the colonel with
all due formality, the manual was ex
ecuted just ns punctiliously ns though
nothing unusual had happened; first ser
geants reported, orders wcre published,
par.-uht formally dismissed; the line of
officers marched solidly te the front,
halted, and raade its simultaneous salute
te the colonel, who slen ly rained and
lowered Ills white gloved hand In recog
nition; and then, and net till then, was
any one allowed te speak of what was
uppermost In every mind that Sergt.
Gwynne's herse had cecfi In without
him, nnd that the animal's right flank
was streaming with bleed.
Ten minutes later Lieut. Perry, In rid
ing dress, came hurrying down te the
colonel's quarters, where two or three
officers were new gathered nt the gate.
The ladles had put aside the albums, and
with anxious faces were scanning the llt llt
teo group as though' striving te gauge
from their gestures and cxpio-nien the
extent of the calamity or tlie possible de
gree of danger. But Mm. Lawrence
looked fairly startled when her hus
band's veice was heard for the first time
above the general hum of consultatien:
"Cel. Bralnard, Mr. Perry is coming, 1
see, and I prcsume there is no time te be
lest. Yeu lune asked if nene of us who
wcre stationed here ever visited the
ranch, and the answer was no. May 1
suggest tliat Dr. Quin could pet haps tell
something of its inhabitants?"
"Where is the doctor?" usked the cel
enel, turning suddenly. "Orderly, go
and give my compliments te the pest
surgeon and say I wish te sce him here
a moment. All ready, Perry? Yeu liave
made quick work of it,"
"All reudy, sir. At least, 1 will be
the moment my horee gets here. There
go the men running te tbe stables new,1'
"Capt. Stryker will Bend a sergeant
and four men te report te you, and you
are te go direct te Dunraven Ranch.
The rest of the troop, with the Cliey
enncs, will scout the prairie te the east
and south. Twill seen be tee dark te.
trail, but thrce of the Indians are going
back en the horse's track as far as they
can. The adjutant Is writing a nete te
the proprietor of the ranch I don't knew
his name"
"Ills name Is Maitland, sir,"
"Is it? Have you beeu there?"
"I've been around ene end of it, out
side, but nowhere near the buildings.
It's all fenced in, sir, and the gates ke;it
locked."
"What an Incomprehensible proceed
ing for Texas! Walt a moment while I
speak te Mr. Farnluun; he's writing here
at my desk. Oentlsmee. ceute la ea the
perch and sit down, will you netfi i I '
But they excused themselves ' sad ,
hastened away te remove tlielr full dress,' , ,'
J- .'.'. . -..-. . ,
who. one eaue ner companion geed
evening, thanked the colonel with a
smiling glance for the pleasure the pho
tographs bad given her, and added a
word of earnest hepe that they might'
find the sergeant uninjured. Then she
joined her husband, and together they
walked quickly awey. Mrs. Belknap and
Mr. Perry wcre left fei the moment alone.
"Can you walk hemy with me?" she
asked, hi hr low, modulated tones, the
great, heavily lashed, swimming dark
eyes searching bis fnce. "I have net
seen you since they breke In upon our
talk last evening, and there Is something
I want te ask you." ,
"I'm sorry, Mrs. Belknap, but I'm en
duty, you see," wus the young fellow's
answer as he gave a tug te the strap of
hlscartridge belt, "Can't you ask me
here?"
"Hew con P and the eyes were full
of pathctle disappointment "when they
may ceme out any moment? Yeu did
net finish telling me about about 'the
tassel last nigh I believe you were glad
when they interrupted us. Were you
net?"
"Nonsense, Mrs. Belknap! I was hav
ing tee geed a time lets of fun."
"Yea," was the reproachful answer,
"that Is what It was te you mere fun,
And new you are going away again,
after premising te come in this evening."
"I have te go, Mrs. Belknap. Why, I
want te go. Haven't you heard what
has happened about Sergt. Uwynne?"
"Ob, yes, It Is your duty, of course
but hew unlucky!" And the pretty face
was drooping with Its weight of disap
pointment and sadness. She leaned
against the railing near his gauntlet cov
ered hand, the dark eyes pensively down
cast, the dark lashes sweeping her soft,
i
nufiinng cnecic, "Ami te-morrow you
are en guard," she presently continued.
"Yes, unless seme one has te go ea for
me In ense we are net back in the morn
ing in time."
"Then it's geed-by, I suppose," she
said, lifting her eyes ence mere te his.
"After te-morrow there will be little
cliance of seeing you. Mrs. Page will
be here by that tlme."
Mr, Perry toekod at bis fair com
panion with a glance that told of much
porturbatlen of spirit. Mrs. Page was
an eiu ana ciicrisiicd Mend of lira.
Belknap's se the latter bad always said1 1
from n Station in tha lntllAn tarrtbw
... v.. V..W e vvuHUd IV fmiUW 'J
Just why her coming should prevent -.p,
his seeing Mrs. Belknap or her itilns; ';.
him was mero than the tall subaltern . $
could understand. On the brink of an v
unpardonable solecism, en the very rag-
eeu cuge pi a uiunuenng inquiry, he ,5
was saved, In her estimation, by the J
nuuyuu ivium ui uiu urueriy ana me re- !'
appearance ei tne colonel. g
"I've been te the hospital, sir, and te
the doctor's quarters; lie's net there...,
They say that's him, sir, riding oft
yonder." And the orderly pointed te a
faint speck just visible in the waning
twilight, far away southeastward' be-'
yond the Monce. " -i.
Continued next Satttrday, ,,
CoiUecn.
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Fourth floors. 1
Mernlm?. Afternoon and Klclil Sl IniiS V.
Twiity-riiUi Uollpglnte Year begins Tllu-a "j
TlVfllvn lllinilrml anil tlviv.nlnnflMIlafeulaaian'&i
Inat year. Knrly MptillciUleiis neceHary. Nm4 ,'- '&
for enrollment blank. . ..,"iV, M
Tevlinlenl knewledge qtinllfrlnir Ter trasiasssiv 4
fiiKUKCinentn. Full lintnicllen for remiarell ' y
nuu venrrai uiimnmui vocuuena. Alse Maori- ,S
ltamlauU Typewriting. . 'At
A faculty of mere limn a score of praet lest &
inrn wnennvB prnciicca nnnuney icacn, a'j
JftSkftF Irimini llt n tuintillfiii tinHiuA (aaUt" i. J -J
bookkeeping ; lawyers teseblnc law an hnsCsX
nn- fernix: ncoeful lil(h nchoel ptlaetfiAi
M hlnic KiuiIIf.1i branches; law reporter?
- .iiiiji mi.,, t-iinim iiiiu ijiHi-wriiiiirf, vks., Mfcn.T
1 hla Inatlfiiftrkti ItuM luwti fnf IaimIW AtmJri
tti into In ilia ik-ccm of ths students who have' vV '
gr 1 unlet! Uivrefrem." . t
finSra ntMM .v.rv VMk ilnv rlnl ln linilnaia '
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cUy i;vii!n forth KnrollinentefBtudaaU." Jffi; I
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V nwinainMje nvivinci rsuus . j S 1
THOMAS MAY PETRm M A '
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THE
ROCHESTER LAMP!
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Hlxly Candle-Usbl ; Beats tneca all, V
Anetlicr Let of Cheap Glebe for Oaaae40Uw
THK "rKllKECriON"
METAL. MOULD! HQ and BUBBKR CUSHION" i&
Weather Strip.
ll..i(..liitm all Till i. ,lili !,.! ttnlt, -A
Ki-ciM nut the cold. Huim ruttllug of windows. '";'
Kxilmlc theditt. Keen out maw and rata. .-;'
Any ene cuii apply it-no waste or dirt saaatla ,- .-"a
applying IU Cau be nttwl any whem no Jtetas -nil
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hrlnk a rtihliin atrip the most nerfacLaat S.V.,$
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W V4J.M. a- syVAtWIIimi VV KVJaaM
34 SOUTH QUEEN ST.,
LAtfCA'HTKIl PA.
drtrrirtflCB.
1 LOSING OUT SALE.
Carriages, Buggies, Wagons,
.vr
C UI.L... fAL. llf.. M'A
tu. ncgci 9 wst.il wvuin,
CltltlbTI AN HTUEET.
(Between Orange aud Chestnut Street.)
rnn.l.Hfiit nf lnmnJl.ul flnrrla... nri Vu.w
f.M. f..ri,tf l. ilt. tun Uphill U'u.nn. UaiwmiAV
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Hum! Tretlltnr lliirev. and nevcrul llvht 1 A. li'&
form Wagen that will curry from iix) te a,ewif3&
peundx.
Alea few Fine Hlelglia. Call I'jirly for Br
gnlur. uuifSMM-
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TANUAUDCAUUIAUK WOKK.
EDW. EDGERLEY.
nlnntlnn niTTTTirn
vnnaiau puuuir.rt, -g
0, C, 43 A MAItKBT HTKKKT. (Bear of tht f 5
l'oaefflc), Lancaster; pa. jrd
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I have all the latest ntylen te "elect from. I" IS"
hurt) a very rtne assortment of aeoead-luuMl -'
work some of my own work. ,A-a
lfoitem nrlren. Call and examine. Ne treu- v' "
bit. te hew our work and eip.aln every detail. '
i. I. .a!.... ui.,1 llannlrlnd nennintlif ak4
neatly 4me. One -l or werkmeu wpeeUUjr &, -employed
for Mint iurtte, -j,
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IX Nt'lIVL All iwrwiiiinrn hprehv fnrtdilaUa.
te irespftu en our of the lauds of the Cornwall '
ml Hiedwell eatulta In Lebanon or Tannasfr. ;.
umntlea, whether Inclesed ur untne leatd, itaar.. ;
ler me purpeNfl ei snoeung or etniag, aaaaaa,,
luw win
be
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pawing en sum lumu or me nuanifammn9i
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