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THE LANOASTEIl DAILY INTELLiaEKCEB, SATURDAY,' NOVEMBER 2, 1889.
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Dunraven Ranch.
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?A Story of American Frontier Life.
ff , By CAPT. CHARLES KING, U. S. A.,
k author or thb colonel's daughter," "prom tee ranks,"
' -t . THB DESERTER," ETC.
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H; Copyrighted, tW8, by J. B. Llppineett
' Special Arrangement inreugn
CHAPTER VL
WILIOHT still hovered
ever the bread expanse
of prairie when Lieut.
Perry and his litlle party,
after a brisk canter down
the valley, reached the
barbed inclosure 'of Dunraren, and the
young commander led unhesitatingly te
the gateway en the northern line. A
sergeant of hla troop and two privnle
soldiers were his escort at the mement: n
third man, by direction of Cel. Brainnrd,
had been sent at the gallop In pursuit of
tbe distant speck which the orderly had
pronounced te te Dr. Quin, and the in
structions which this messenger bere
were te the effect that the pest surgeon
should riJe by the most direct reute and
join Lieut. Perry nt the north gate of the
ranch.
la the few minutes which elapsed lo le lo
tween tbe announcement at the doctor's
departure en his solitary and unexpected
ride and the arrival of the little mounted
escort, Perry had tlme te tell the colonel
something of the situation down the
Monce And te make a rough sketch of
the inclosure and the distant buildings.
The direction taken by the doctor, up te
the moment when the black tqieck dis
appeared from view in the waning light,
would be very apt te lead him, if lie rede
far enough, te seme point en the wire
fincn whtrh sn.inneil tint in.stern limit.
t laA
W "Mm
it '
&&:? nminM.iAhl lta.fr ,1.h, ..nli.l ...... 1,1 I......
f V AUUMU VII, UU. tlJ.lk fUUll, UU1U LfUUb
least llve or six miles south of the valley.
Possibly there was no gateway north of
that certainly no trail was visible en
tbe prairie; but the niore Sir. Perry
thought of the matter na he rede away
the mero was he satisfied that some
where for down that western linn thorn
ifljraa an entrance where Dr. Quin. ut
eon, nau hid -open sesame.
Perry's orders were, in case nothing
was seen or heard of Scrgt. Uwynne
while en the wny thither, te enter the In In In
closueo and make inquiries nt the ranch
itself. Meantime, the Chcycnne scouts
bad been hastily summoned from their
ledges along the Monce Just abeve the
fw&i pest and eeut scurrying forth upon the
!,. prairie te trail the horse's feet prints and
;. work back as tarns possible before
fe. darkness interposed. Cant. Stryker. tee.
and a dozen of his best men, had mount
ed and ridden forth In long, scattered
& Una across the eastern plain; and these
parties were all tive miles out trout the
pest before nightfall fairly hid them from
view.
One thing the sergeant had te tell Mr.
Perry which cenilrmcd him in the belief
that the sooner they get te Dunraven the
quicker they would be at the ecene of
their cemrade's mishap, whntever that
might preve te be. He had hud no tlme
himself te visit the stables and examine)
the wounds en the horse's Hank, but as
they rode away from Ressltcr he turned
in the saddle nnd called the non-commissioned
elllccr te his side.
"What sort of wound is It, sergeant,
that made the herse bleed se bullet or
knifeT
"It doesn't leek like cither, sir. There
are several of them, jagged scratches in
the shoulder and along the Hank, like
thorns or nails"
"Or barbed wire?" suggested the lieu
tenant suddenly,
"Yes, sir, like as net; though we hadn't
thought, of that, net knewiiig-vf-ntiy
fences hereabouts."
"You'll 6ee fence enough presently.
That's where we'll And Sergt. Uwynne,
tee. Let your horses out a little. 1
want te get there before dark, if possi
ble." s
It was dark In the 1 Inilirr. however, ru
llPthey rede through and rclnU upat the
gateway, it would be half an hour nt
tbe very least, thought lyiry, before the
doctor could join theuiif he came at nil.
It was by no means obtain that the mes
senger had overtaken him, nnd, cumi if
he had, was it ntouable that the doctor
would beingrcat haste te come? Ills
mysterious movements of the morning,
Ida undoubted connection with the night
signals from the ranch, the fact that he
had given his commanding eflleer no
inkling whatever of these outside inter
ests of his, all tended te male Perry dis
trustful of their pest 6urgeen. lie would
net speak of it ten soul, or hint sit the
possibility e such n thing, until he had
evidence that was indisputable, but the
young officer wns sorely perplexed by
these indications of some tecrct arid-n ,.
. -!2Wtu.UctttOTprise-6n the "Hfrt of their
new comrade, and he doubted his sym
pathy In the mission en which they had
been hurried fertli.
Dismounting te examine the gate while
still pondering this matter ever in his
mind, Perry found it locked ns securely
as he had left it in the morning. The
sergeant aud his men dismounted, tee,
at a low spoken word from their officer,
and steed nt the heads of their panting
bones, looking in silent surprise- at the
strong and impervious banler that
crossed their track.
"The gate Is locked nnd the fence Im
passable, sergeant," said Mr. Perry.
"We cannot get our horses through or
ever unless we hack down u est or two.
Yeu cau't cut sucli wlre as this with any
tool we've get. I'll leave Nelan here
with you and go en te the ranch ou feet;
It lies about half a mile te the beutlu If
tbe doctor comes, he can fellow me. If
I de net come or send back hi half un
hour from this you three come after me.
a 111 niAil vmi
'J- With that, slowly and carefully, nnd
) . v jha niliiuufc n iiiuuvicm luuieuiuiiu.l Ull
- s the stimrinir barbs. Mr. Perry w rieeled
V through between the middle wires nud
f iaally steed within the inclosure, read
. ',J Justing Ids waist belt nnd holster. Then
V BiA .flU Ilia IhAIIAl -f . ItaAt.t - f A I . tlt..
' $ aaae. carefully trlisl tfm leimnier mill
.cylinder, saw that each chamber was
1, and turned ouce mera te the ser-
.ftVwtfpibteU all rightr'
All right, fcir; fresh leaded when we
tf Isu. I'nnm llii, t...--ll l..n
v -y twiiiaitu" ""i"v; iA,-,jitcaarj
a h. wfrseain; uui iiws is a ijucer place,
from what I've heard nud the little I've
Ke.) your eyes and cars enen.
Oft, ftryksr ant) soma of the men mar
Company, Philadelphia, and Published by
me iuacncan rics jissueiauuu.
cuinu down into the valley if they find
no trace of Uwynne up en the prairie.
Watch for the doctor, tee."
Then, through the deepening twilight
he strode, following the trail that ted
southward up the slope. Flve minutes'
brisk walk nleng the springy turf
brought him te the crest and in view of
the lights nt the rnnr-h buildings, still
seme six or seven hundred yards uwny.
All through the eastern sky the stars were
(looping forth, and even through the
gleam of the twilight in the west two
brilliant planets shone like molten geld.
All was sllence nnd (icncuen overy hand,
and, but for these guiding, glimmering
lights at the south, nil would have told
of desolation. Dehlml him In the vnliey
waited his faithful men. Par kyend the
Monce, out en the northern prairie, he
knew that comrade were scouring the
face of the earth In search of their miss
ing brother. Up Ihu stream, somewhere
behind Miem, the Cheyeimes were pa
tiently trailing the hoof Uncles ns leag
as light should l.-ixt; he knew that search
must 1)0 nt an end by this time, nud that
seme of their number, nt least, would be
riding down te join his men. Whoever
found theserge.iut was teflrethrce shots
in air: the signal could be heard n long
wny in that intense stillness, nud that
signal was te recall the searching par
lies. Kvery step brought him deepvr
Inte the darkness of the night yet
nearer and nearer theso twinkling lights
ahead.
Already he could dUtlugtiNh iluvu) in
the main building, the heiue.itead, fieiu
these mero distant still, in the store
rooms and efilce. Far ever among the
stables and corrals he heard the deep
baying of hounds, nnd he wondered If it
was te be his luck te encounter any en
terprising watch dogs. An Cnglish bull
terrier would -be n lively entertainer,
thought he, with instinctive motion to
wards the llap of Ids hoi ter; nnd it
would Ik) n wonder (,' n raneh that sur
rounded itself with fifty miles of barbed
wire fencing were net further environed
by n pack of watch dogs of the most ap
proved nnd belligerent breed. Once
having passed the dlataut barrier of that
gate en the Menee, however, his way
was unimpeded, nud, te nil appearance,
utterly unmarked; Jie had arrived with
in fifty yanls of the foremeit building,
tliu homestead, before he was brought te
a halt. Then he stepped short, sur
prised, half credulous, and ull attention,
listening te Ihu "concord of sweet
sounds" that -caine floating from the
open casement somewhere uleng tlieeast
front of the big, gloomy house.
"One part of the story erilled, by
Jove! It's u (ilane nnd well played,
tee."
Full a mlnuta he steed there listening.
Perry wns n dancer, whes. nimble feet
moved blithely te any measured, rhyth
mical strains, nnd a soldier whose soul
was stirred bymmtlal music, but with
Chepin and Mendelssohn, It.ieli and
Itubenstcin he had but slight :c.piaiut :c.piaiut
nuce. That any etic should be playing
a (ilane here ou the holders of the l.lane
lUtncnde was hi Itself sulHcieut cause
for wonderment; that the invisible per
former was playing nnd playing with
exquisite taste nud feeling ene of the
loveliest of the "l.ltilcr elme Worte,"
the ".Spring Seng," was n fact that con con
eoyed no added astonishment te his soul;
he never knew It until one sweet night
long nfter.
However, matters mere pressing than
mtlsle demanded Mr. Perry's attention
just here. He had reached Duuraveti,
after nil. Neither deg nor man had
challenged. Once within theso bathed
nnd frowning lmrrlers, all the encircling
objects speke of security and rest. Far
away towards the corrals he hcaid the
sound of voices in jelly conversation; a
rich, melodious laugh rang out en the
cool" evening nlr; he heard some ene
shouting genial geed night te somebody
else, nnd then the slam of a distant deer.
Presently n light Hpped out from a
window l whht-he helieird In be u
storehouse, and ull wns still again. Even
the (ilane had ceased. New was his
time, thought Perry; nnd se, Ixildly
mounting the steps, he steed u(kiii a
dark (xirtice and strode te the black
Ghndew in the wail before him where he
knew the main doorway must Imj. It
was his intention te knock or ring. Up
stairs dim lights were shining through
the open windows, but en this front of
the ground fleer nil wns darkness. His
gauutleted hand felt nil the face of the
deer in search of a kunber knocker, but
nothing of the kind win there; neither
was there such a thing en cither deer
K)at. Just ns he deeided te hammer
with his clinched fist the piano U-gan
again.
He waited for n pause, but nene came,
Tills time the niuaiu was vehement nud
spirited, and no banging of his enpaken
doorway would be uudible ngainst such
rivalry. Uncertain what te de' he con
cluded te reconneitcr the cti(ern front.
A few stejia brought hiiy te the corner,
and theie lav the eranfl'a before him.
pLalna! nt -ibrfnrfygr erid In n flood of
ngni mat BireauiPC ireiu ene epeneu
tenctlan window, and jjirengh this cur
tained aperture poured tliejjrand tones
of the melody. "That fellow eaujauk
mere mttaie out of a piano than any man
I ever heard." muttered ..Mr. Perry te
himself, as he stiede down the wooden
gallery, "Wonder if it's that boss cow
pum-her 1 met this morning." Anether
moment and he steed nt the open win
dow, tooted te the sKt, and with his
frank blue eyes fairly starting from their
sockets in amazement nt the sight that
met them, oil unprepared.
Acrassnspaciousieom, hung with ilcli
cut tains, e.irHted with costly rugs of
Oriental make, furnished with many u
cozy chair nud couch, and tables coveted
with dainty hi!c-a-brac,iiiid sheheswiib
tempting books, lighted by several luie
nnd beautiful nstrnl lamps, some ith
colored shades of crimson and geld uud
delicate tint of blue, there steed close te
the opposite wall n large piuue of the
class known as the "grand," rare enough
among the railway towns west of the
Mississippi slutes, but utterly tmloekcd
for here, n week's long march from the
nearest of the Texan railways. That in
Itself were sulllclent cause for much sur
prise, notwithstanding the measure of
preparation he had had in Mrs Law
rence's remarks.
The sight that well nigh took Ids
breath away was something far mere
than the interior of a luxurious nud
beautifully upeinted room. Nothing
that hud been said or hinted prcpaicd
him in the faintest degree for the appa
rition facing him, seated at the piano, of
a jierfermer utterly unllke the "cow
puncher" whom helm J met In the morn
ing. The "fellow" new bendingever the
key beard was a young, exquibitely fair
and graceful woman. Uveu as he steed
there in the full clare of the parlor
lights, she lifted up a pair of soft,
shaded, lustrous eyes and saw Irini.
The music stepped with sudden shock.
Tnnnhauscr was undone. The firm,
white, shapely hands fell nerveless in
her lap; n pallor ns of falntncss shot
ever the wild eyed face, only te lc In
stantly succeeded by a flush that surged
up te her very brews. Startled she
might have been for an Instant; scared
net n bit of Itl One Instant only of
hesitation, then she rese and swept gal
lantly forward te meet him.
Instinctively Perry's hand went up te
the visor of his ferage cap nnd bared the
bright, curling crop of hair. Sicechless
Willi amaze, he could only bow before
her nud wait her question; but it was n
moment before she could speak. Urnve
ns she was, the sudden apparition of
stranger staring in upon her solitude
from nn open casement wns n shock that
served te pnralyze the vocal cords! He
could sce that she was making gallant
effort te control the tremor thnt had
seized upon her and te inquire the pur pur
pesa of his coining, He could see, tee,
thnt the sight of the uniform had reas
sured her, nnd that there wns neither in
dignation nor displeasure in her beauti
ful eyes. Reserve, of course, he expected.
"Did you wish te see any one?" was
finally the form her question took; and
Perry had tlme te comment te himself,
"KnglHh, by Jevol" before he nnswered.
"I did; but let me first ask your par
don for this intrusion. I had no idea
there was a woman nt Dunravcn. My
knocking nt the front brought no answer,
and hearing the piano, I followed the
veranda. Itclieve me, I am as surprised
as you could possibly have been."
Perry's voice was something greatly In
his fnver. it was modulated and gcutle
when in conversation, and with even a
caressing toue about it when he spoke te
women. Evidently the Bound was net
unwelcome te this ene. She steed erect,
her lingers Interlacing ossheclaspcd her
hands In front of her and looked him
well ever with her brave eyes. The color
ebbed nnd flowed through the creamy
whltencB3 of her face, but the roses were
winning every moment the red roses of
the. house of Lancaster.
"And you wished te see whom?"
she presently nsked, with courtesy In
every word.
"Why, 1 hardly knew," answered
Perry, with a smlle that showed his
white teeth gleaming through the curl
ing blonde, mustache. "A sergeant of
my troop has been missing since morn
ing. Ills herse came back te the fort
just us we were ou parade nt sunset,
bleeding nnd without his rider. We
have searching parties out nil ever the
prairie, nnd I was ordered te ceme here
te the ranch te make inquiries."
She hesitated a moment thinking.
"My father is nt home, but 1 fear he Is
net well enough te bee you. Mr. tSwen
is with him, and he might knew. Will
you would you step in ene moment, and
1 will go nnd ask?"
"Thnuk you very much. I wish you
would net treuble yourself. 1 presume
I can go ever te theso stable building, or
wherever it is the men sleep; they would
be most apt te knew if our sergeant has
been seen,"
"Oh, net it is no trouble; besides, they
nre all asleep ever there by this tlme, 1
fancy. They have te be out se very early,
don't you knew."
Hut Perry had stepped Inside, even ns
he offered te go elsewhere a fact that
the gh 1 had net been slew te notice, for
n quizzical little shadow of n smile hov
ered for an instant nt the corners of her
pretty mouth. "Praysitdown'shesaid,
us she vanished into an nd joining room,
leaving Ned Perry standing gazing after
her, s(ell bound.
He lUtcncd te the swibh of her trailing
skiits through the dimly lighted loom
beyond, through un invisible hallway,
nnd then te ihu quick pit-a-pat of her
feet up bome uncarpeted stairway. He
heard her me lug quickly, lightly, along
the corridor of the upper story until the
footfalls wcre lest ut the rear of the
heuce, then u distant tap tqien n door
way, and a soft eice, barely audible,
calling, "I'np.i." He heard her speak
again, ils though in response te inquiry
from within: he heard her raise her
eice, ns though te repeat nn answer te
a previous question, uud this time her
words were dibtiuct. "An officer from
the fort," bhe announced; nnd then fol
lowed sensation.
lie heard n deer quickly opened; he
heard men's voices in low, eager, excited
talk; he heard her sweet tones ence
mero, U3 though in expostulation, saying
something nbeut the sergeant, lest or
wounded, and- they were merely inquir
ing for him; he henid a btern, harbh in
junction of "Silencel that will dot" seme
quick, hurrying footsteps, a man's spur
ted beets descending seme staircase at
the back of the house, n colloquy aloft
in fainter tones, nnd then closing doers
nud silence.
He waited five ten minutes, and still
no ene came; but the murmur of eices
in subdued but earnest controversy wns
ngaiu audible ou the second fleer, nnd
at List n deer was opened nnd he heard
the snme stern tones that had command
ed her silence before, and this time they
suld:
"That Is entlicly my nffalr! I will
bee the gentleman myself, and let him
knew my opinion of this impudent and
nnd burglarious intrusion."
"Wliewl" whistled Mr. Perry te him
self nt sound of these menacing weids.
"This is bearding the lien In his den
with n vengeance! New trot out your
'Douglas in his hall,' and let's see what
it nil means. I've 6een the girl, nnyhew,
nnd he can't take that back, even (f he
turns me out."
He heard n heavy step, accented by
the sharp, energetic prodding of n cane;
It caunj slowly along the hall, slowly
awl majestically down the stairs, 6lewly
into the lower front room, and presently
there loomed forth from the darkness
into the bread glare of the nstrnls nt the
hanging (M)itleres the llgure of n tall,
gray haired, spectacled, slimly built and
f I agile, looking Englishman, erect as
plide and high spirit could held
t man against the ravages of
nge and tlieuniatiam; sharp, stem
and imperious of mood, ns every glance
uud every feature plainly told; elieinent
uud passionate, unless twitching lips nnd
fi owning brews nnd iingry, snapping
eyes belied him. u man who had suffered
much, unless the deep lines uud shadows
under eyes nnd mouth meant nothing
but advancing years; u iimn who entered
full of wrath nnd lesentment at this in
vasion of his piivacy this forcing of his
guarded lines; nnd jet a gentleman,
unless Ned Perry's instincts were all of
little worth.
The ynuug iieldicr hail been standing
by n center table, coolly scanning the
pictures en the walls, nud determining
te present a rather exaggerated picture
of nonchalance us reward for the hostile
language of the proprietor of Dunraven.
He expected te hear an outburst of in
eetivn when that gentleman iiMchcd the
room; but no sooner had he passed the
portiere than lie halted slum, nud Mr.
Perry, turning suddenly, was amazed ut
the (ale, startled, yet yearning leek in
his quivering face.
The moment the young man confront
ed him there came ns sudden a change.
It was with evident effort that he con
trolled .-himself, uud then, after brief
searching study of Perry's face, accosted
hhu, coldly and with sarcastic emphasis:
"Te what circumstance de I ewe the
honor or this tntruslenr
"I regret you se consider It, Mr. Malt
land, as 1 belle re you te be" The old
grr.tlemnn hewml with 'stately dlgnitv
"Una or our men, a sergeant, rede down
this way quite early this morning and
failed te I c turn, ills herse came back
bleeding at sunset, and we feared seme
nccldent or treuble. Searching parties
are out all ever the prairies, nnd the
colenol ordered me te Inquire here."
"Docs your colonel take "Us for ban
ditti here, and ascrlbe your desertions
and accidents te our machinations?"
"Far from it, sir, bul rather tut a bos bes bos
pltable refuge te which the Injured man
had been conveyed," answered Perry,
with a quiet smile, determined te thaw
the hauteur of Dunraven's lord if cour
tesy of manner could effect it.
"He is utterly mistaken, then," an
swered the Englishman, "and I resent
I resent, sir, this forcing of my gates
after the explicit understanding we had
lest year. As a soldier I presume you
had te obey your orders; but I beg you
te tell your colonel that his order was nn
affront te me personally, in view of what
has passed between us."
"Nothing has passed between you,
Mr. Maltland," answered Perry, a little
tartly new. "We have reached Fert
Itessltcr only within the last fortnight,
and knew nothing whatever of your
understandings with previous command
era. Permit me te ask you ene question
nnd I will retire. Have you heard any
thing of our sergeant?"
"Nothing, sir. I would hardly be apt te
hear, for ray people here nre enjoined te
keep strictly te our limits, and all we
ask of our neighbors is that they keep te
theirs. I presume you have destroyed
my fences, sir, in order te effect an en
trance." "Upen my word, Mr. Maltland, you
make me rather regret that I did net;
but I had the decency te respect what I
had happened te hear of your wishes,
and se left my herse and my men oufc eufc oufc
side nnd footed It a geed half mile in the
dark",
"Aht that sounds very like itl" replied
Mr. Maltland, with writhing lips, for at
this moment there came the dull thun
der of rapidly advancing hoof beats, and
before either man could speak ngnin
three troopers with a led herse all four
steeds panting from their half mile race
reined up in front of the eastern por
tico in the full glare of the lights, and
the sergeant's voice was heard eagerly
hailing his licutennnt.
"My luck ngaiu!" groaned Perry. "I
told them te ceme in half an hour if they
didn't hear from me, and of course they
came,"
CHAPTER VII.
rrwr fir t3P!v Vv
OR a moment there was
silence in the brightly illu
minated room. AVith flush
ed face nud swollen veins
nnd twitching, clutching
hands, old Maltland steed there glaring
nt the young eflleer. Before Perry could
sjicak again, however, nnd mere fully
explain the untoward circumstance,
there came n rush of hurrying footsteps
without, nnd the sound of excited voices.
The next mlnute they heard nn eager,
nngry challenge, nnd Perry recognized
the veice of the overseer or manager
whom he had met in the morning.
"What de you fellows want here?"
wns his brusque nnd loud iuquiry-ns he
sprang from the- piazza nnd steed con
fronting the Bcrgcnnt, who wns quietly
sented in the saddle, nud the question
was promptly echoed by three or four
burly men who, Irf- shiit sleeves nnd
various stylesef undress, came tumbling
in the wake of their leader and steed
new a menacing group looking up nt the
bilent troopers.
If there be ene thing en earth that
will stir nn Irishman's soul te its inmost
depths and kindle te instant flame the
latent heat of his pugnacity, it is just
such an Inquiry in the readily recog receg
nlzed accent of the hated "Sassennch."
Perry recognized the danger in a flash,
and, springing through the open case
ment, interposed between the hostile
parties.
"Net a word, Sergt. Lcary. Here, Mr.
Manager, these men simply ebeyed or
ders, and I am rcspousible for any mis
take Ne harm wa3 intended"
"Uarml" broke in ene of the ranch
men, with n demonstratively loud laugh.
"Harm Ik blewed! What harm could
you de, I'd like te knew? If the mas
ter'll only say the word, we'd break your
heads In a minute."
"Quiet, new, Dickl" Interposed the
overseer; hut the ether hands growled
approval, nnd Perry's eyes flashed with
anger nt the insult. What reply he
might have made was checked by the
sight of Sergt. Iiary throwing himself
from the saddle and tossing his reins te
ene of the men. He knew well enough
what that meant, and spring iusuimiy
in front of him.
"Ittck te your horse, sirl Hack, in
stantly 1" for the sergeant's face was tierce
with rage. "Mount, I say!" added the
lieutenant, as the sergeantstill hesitated,
and even the sense of discipline could net
keep the mounted troopers from n mut
tered word of encouragement. Slowly,
wrathfully, reluctantly, the soldier
obeyed, ence turning furiously back us
jeering taunts were hurled nt him from
among the ranchers, unrcbuked by their
manager. "New meve off with your
men te the gate. Leave my horse, uud
wait for me there. Oel" added the young
eflleer, sternly; and, with bitter mortifi
cation nt heart and a curse stifled en his
quivering lips, the Irishman turned his
horse's head away nnd slowly walked him
hi the indicated direction.
"New, Mr. Manager." said Perry,
tumius fiercely upon the yeuuser Eng
lishman, "1 hate done my lest tore
strain my men; de you leek out for
yours, you have allowed them te insult
ine uud mine, nnd you may thank yeui
etars that discipline prevailed with my
lieople, though you have nothing of the
kind here."
"Your men have cut down our fences,
by your order, I presume," said the man
ager, coolly, "and it's lucky for them
they get out of the wny when they did.
We have a right te protect our property
and eject intruders, and"
"I came here te Inquire for a missing
man alight even an Englishman can
not deny us en these prairies. We had
excellent reason te believe him Injured,
and thought, net knowing you for the
iuhixpitable gang you nre, that he might
have bt.n carried In here for treatment;
there was no ether place. Your pro
prietor tells me he Is net here. After
what I've seen of your people, I have
reason te be still mere anxious nUmt
Mm. Scant mercy n single trooper
A-euld have had at thir ImivU. New I
ask you, De you knew or have you heard
Mc
et a cavalry soldier being seen around
here during the day?"
Perry was standing holding his herse
by the curb as he spoke, facing the par
lor windows and confronting the angry
group of ranchmen. Within, though
nearer the window than he had left 1dm,
was the bent form of the owner of Dun
ravcn, leaning en hiscane and apparent
ly impatiently striving te make himself
heard as he came forward. Before the
manager could answer, he was compel
led te turn about and rebuke his men,
two of whom wcre especially truculent
and menacing. Finally he spoke;
"I have heard nothing, but I tell you
frankly that if any of your men have
been prowling around here it's mere than
probable seme ene has get hurt. lias
there been any treuble today, men?" he
asked.
"By Oed, there wilt be If this ranch
Isn't cleared in five minutes," was the
only answer.
"Don't make nn ass of yeurself , Hoke,"
growled the manager. "They are going
quick enough."
"I am going," said Perry, swinging
lightly into saddle; "and mind yeu1 this,
sir: I go with well warranted suspicion
that seme of these bullies of yours have
been responsible for the non-appearance
of my stable sergeant If he is net found
this night you may confidently leek for
another visit. I say that te you also,
Mr, Maltland, nnd you ewe it te our for
bearance that there has been no blood blood bleed
shod here te-night."
Olds Maitland's tremulous tones wcre
heard but a second in reply when he was
interrupted by n coarse voice from the
crowd of ranchmen, by this time in
creased te nearly a dozen men. Some
of them wcre gathering about Perry as
he sat in the saddle, and an applauding
echo followed the loud interruptien:
"Give the swell a lift, Tummy; 'twill
teach him better manners."
Almest Instantly Perry felt his right
feet grusped and a powerful form was
bending ut the stirrup. He had heard
of the trick before. Many a time has
the Londen cad unhorsed the English
trooper, taken unawares, by hurling him
with sudden lift from lielew. But Perry
was quick and active as a cat. Scat and
saddle, tee, were in his favor. He sim
ply threw his weight en the left feet and
his brldle hand upon the pommel, let the
right leg swing eyer the herse's back un
til released from the brawny hand, then
back it came ns he settled again in the
saddle, his powerful thighs gripping like
a vise; at the same instant, and before
his assailant could duck te earth and slip
out of the wny, he had whipped out the
heavy Celt's revolver and brought its
butt with stunning crash down en the
ranchman's defenseless head.
There wns instant rush and commotion.
In vain old Mnitlapd feebly piped his
pretests from the veranda; in vain the
overseer seized and held back ene or two
of the men and furiously called off the
rest Aided by the darkness which
veiled them, the ethers made n simulta
neous rush upon the young ehlcer and
Bought te drag him from his plunging
herse. Terry held his pistol high in air,
threatened with the butt the nearest as
sailant, yet loath te use further force.
He was still in the bread glare of the
parlor lights a conspicuous mark; eager
hands had grasped his bridle rein nt the
very bit, and he could net break nwny;
nnd then missiles began te fly about his
de voted head, nnd unless he opened flre
he was helpless. While two men firmly
held Nelan by the curb, half a dozen
ethers were hurling from the ambush of
darkness n scattering volley of wooden
billets and chunks of coal. He could
easily have shot down the men who held
him.
It was sero temptation, for already he
had been struck nud stung by unseen
projectiles; but just ns the manager
sprang forward and with vigorous cuffs
induced the men te loose their held en
his rein, there came three horsemen
charging full tilt back into the crowd,
scattering the assailants right and left;
nud, this time unrcbuked, Sergt Leary
leaped from the saddle nnd, with n rage
of flcrce delight, pitched headlong into
battle with the biggest ranchman in his
way. And this was net all; for behind
them at a. rapid trot came ether troopers,
and in a moment the open space was
thronged with eager, wondering com
rades full half of Stryker's company
in whose overwhelming presence all
thought of promiscuous combat seemed
te leave, the ranchmen. They slipped
away hi the darkness, leaving te their
employers the embarrassment of ac
counting for their attack.
Learv-was still fuming with wrath nnd
raging for further battle and shouting
into the darkness flcrce invective at the
vanished head of his opponent. He
turned en the overseer himself, nnd but
for Perry's stern nnd sudden prohibition
would have had a round with him, but
was forced te content himself with the
information conveyed te all within hear
ing that he'd "fight any tin min" the
ranch contained if they'd only ceme out
where the lieutenant couldn't step him.
The troopers wcre making eager inquiry
as te the cause, of all the trouble, and,
fearing further difficulty, Perry prompt prempt
lr ordered the entire party te "fall in."
Silence and discipliue were restored in a
moment, and ns the platoon formed rank
he inquired of a. sergeant hew they came
te lx there. The reply was that it had
grown se dark en the prairie that further
search seemed useless, Capt Strykcr nnd
most of the men had been drawn off by
siirnikfrein the Cheycnnes up the val
ley towards the pest, nud these men who
had b?en beyond Dunraven en the north
ern prairie were coming back nleng the
Menee trail when they saw the lights
nnd heard voices ever at the lower shore.
There they found Leary, who was excit
ed alxmt something, nnd before they hae.
time te ask he suddenly shouted, "They're
killin' the lieutenant. Come en, boys!"
nnd galloped off with his own party; se
they followed. Perry quietly ordered
them te leave a corporal and four men
with him, nnd told the senior sergeant
te inarch the ethers back te the pest; he
would fellow in flve minutes. Theii lie
turned te the manager.
"Yeu will have te put up with my
keeping seme of my men with me, in
view of nil the circumstances," he said,
coldly. "But after this exhibition of
lawlessness en the part of your peeple I
de net propose te take any chances. I
want te say te yen that It Is my belief
that seme of theso ruffians you employ
can tell what has become of our missing
man, and that you will de well te inves
tigate te-night. As te you, Mr. Malt
land," he said, turning te the old gentle
man, who had sunk into n low easy
chair, "much us I regret having dis
turbed your privacy nnd that of the
ladles of your household, you will ad
mit new that justlce te my men and te
the s. rvice demands that I should report
my suspicious nnd my reception here te
the commanding officer nt Fert Rossi Ressi
ter." There was no reply,
"I wish you geed night, sir," said
Perry; but his eyes wandered In te the
lighttsl parlor in beared of a ery differ
ent face nnd form and still there wns
no answer.
The manager came back upon the pi
azza and stepped rapidly towards them.
Perry quickly dismounted nnd bent
down ever the crouching llgure.
"Why, here!" he suddenly exclaimed,
"your employer is faint, or something's
cone wrong."
"Hushr was the low spoken, hurried
answer of the Englishman. "Just bear
a hand, will you, and help me te lift
him te yonder sefar '
Easily, between them, they bore the
slight, attenuated form of the old man
into the lighted parlor. A deathly pallor
had settled en his face. Ills eyes were
closed, and he seemed fallen into a deep
swoon. Perry would have act a cushion
under his head as they laid him down en
a bread, easy couch, but the manager
jerked it away, lowering the gray hairs
te the very level of the back, se that the
mouth gaped wide and looked like death
Itself.
"Just steady his head in that position
one minute, like a geed fellow. I'll be
back in a twinkling," said the manager,
as he darted from the room and leaped
hurriedly up the hall stairway.
Perry heard him rap at a distant deer,
apparently at the southwest angle of the
big house. Then his voice was calling:
"Mrs. Cowan! Mrs. Cowan I would you
have the goodness te ceme down quick?
the master's ill."
Then, before any answer could Ke
given, another deer opened aloft and
trailing skirts and light feet falls came
flashing down the stairway. Almest be
fore he could turn te greet her, she wn
in the room again, and with quick, im
pulsive mevement had thrown herself
en her knees by Ids side.
"Oh, papal dear father! I was afraid
of this! Let me take his head en my
arm, se," she hurriedly murmured; "and
would you step in the ether room and
fetch me a little brandy? Tis there en
the sideboard."
Perry sprang te de her bidding, found
a heavy decanter en the great oaken
buffet, half filled a gloss, and brought it
with some water back te the lounge.
She stretched forth her hand, and,
thanking him with a grateful leek from
her sweet, anxious eyes, took the liquor
and carried it carefully te her father's
nshen lips.
"Can I net help you in some way? Is
there no one I can call?' asked tbe young
soldier, as he bent ever her.
"Mr. Ewcn has gene for her our old
nurse, I mean. She does net seem te be
in her room, and I fear she lias gene ever
te her son's a young fellow at the store
house. Mr. Ewen has followed by this
time."
She dipped her slender white fingers
in the water and sprinkled the forehead
nnd eyelids of the prostrate man. A
focble mean, followed by a deep drawn
sigh, was the only response. Mere brandy
poured into the gaping mouth seemed
only te strangle and distress him. Ne
sign of returning consciousness rewarded
her effort.
"If Mrs. Cewnn would only ceme!
She hoe never failed us before; and we
se lean upon her at such a time."
"Pray tell me which way te go. Sure
ly I can find her," urged Perry.
"Mr. Ewcn must be searching for her
new, or he would have returned by this
tlme; nnd I dread being alone. I have
never been nlone with my father when
he has had such n seizure."
Perry threw himself en his knees be be
slde her, marveling nt the odd f ate that
had be suddenly altered all the condi
tions of his unlooked for visit. He seized
ene of the long, tremulous handj that
lay se nerveless en the couch, and began
rapid and vigorous dialing nnd slapping.
Somewhere he had read or heard of wo
men being restored from fainting sjxdls by
just si'' h means. Why should it net pro pre
vail with the old man? He vaguely be
thought him of burnt feathers, and look
ed nbeut for the discarded pillow, won
dering if it might net be a brilliant idea
te cut it open nnd extract a handful and
set it ablaze, under theso bread and emi
nently aristocratic nostrils. Happily, he
was spared excuse for further experi
ment He felt that life was returning
te the hand he was se energetically
grooming, and that fccble but emphatic
pretest against such heroic treatment
was manifest.
"I think he's coming te," he said.
"He's trying te pull away. Shall I
keep en?"
"Yes, de! Anything rather than have
him lie. in this death like swoon."
Obediently he clung te his prize, rub
bing and chafing hard, despite Increasing
tug nnd effort Then came anetker fee
bio, petulant mean, and the hollow eyes
opened just as rapid footfalls were heard
en the veranda without and Mr. Ewcn
rushed breathless and ruddy faced into
the room.
' "Where en earth can that woman have
gene?" he panted. "I cannot find her
anywhere. Is he better, Miss Gladys?"
"Reviving, I think, thanks te Mr.
thanks 'te you," she Raid, turning her
eyes full upon the kneeling figure at her
side and Bending Perry's heart up into
his threat with delight at the gratitude
and kindness in her glance. She was
striving witli ene hand te unfasten the
scarf nnd cellar nt the old man's neck,
but making little progress.
"Let me help you," eagerly said Perry.
"That, nt least, is mero in my line."
And somehow their fingers touched ns
he twisted ut the stubborn knot. She
drew her hand away then, but it was
gently, net abruptly done, and he found
time te nete that, tee, and bless her for it.
"I hate te seem ungracious, you knew,
nfter all that's happmed," said Mr.
Ewen, "but I fear 'twill vex him awful
ly if he should find you in here when he
comes te. He has had these attacks for
seme time past, and I think lie's coming
through nil right See!"
Old Maltland was certainly beginning
te open his eyes again nnd leek vacantly
around him.
"Better leave him te Miss Gladys,"
said the oversoor, touching the young
fellow en the shoulder. Perry looked
into her face te read her wishes before
he would obey. A flush was rising te
her cheek, a cloud settling nbeut her
young eyes, but she turned, after a
quick glance at her father.
"I cannot thank you enough new,"
she said, hesitatingly. "Perhaps Mr.
Ewen is right Yeu you deserve te be
told the story of his trouble, you have
been &e kind. Some day you shall un
derstand seen and net think unkindly
of us."
"Indeed I de net new," he protested.
"And whom nre we te thank? your
name, I mean?" she timidly asked.
"I am Mr. Perry, of the th cavalry.
We have only ceme te Fert Ressitcr this
month."
"And I am Miss Maltland. Some day
I can thank you." And she held forth
her long, slim hand. He took It very
reverently and bowed ever It, courtier
like, longing te say something that might
lit the occasion; but before his scattered
senses could ceme te him there was
another quick step at the veranda, and a
volce that sounded strangely familiar
startled his ears:
"Gladys! What has happened?" And
there, striding te the sofa with the steps
of ene assured of welceme and thorough
ly nt home in theso strange precincts,'
came Dr. Quin.
Cunfiniirif Jifjrt Saturday,
The HuiNMt Grocer.
"I noticed Mrs. lirewn's little ulrl pick a
nlce apple out of tlie barrel wlille the wns
hers with her mother," said Mrs. Trouble
miser te the grocer. "I deu't tee hew soma
people con bring tlnlr children up se. Yeu
mutt loee a great deAl by this petty pilfer
ing." "Net at all, ma'am," replied the grocer,
"I saw her take the apple, aud charged hvr
toether for a quart "Harper's Manx.
NEW VOWK PALL FAgHrON8.il
A BawrkUria Yarietr f BrigM Mi
Wsna Tlats, ,,,
ISpecUI Oemtpeadeaes. 1
New Yerk, Oct Thn tnrlanrhely
days have get here. There ara two way
of finding that out Ont k te leek at
the almanac and the ether is te leek 1st
the street, particularly Fourteenth teaeV'
where every woman who Uvea in Mew
Yerk passes at least ence a week, The
Indian summer falls upon them, ead
straightway they turn te gorgeous colon
in their clothing, their bonnets, and, lei
it be added, their dainty tip tilted little
noses,
TOE rilETriEST OP TltE SEASON.
Down this wide nnd busy street trip
the beauty and youth, as well as the age
and adipese tissue, of fetulnine New
Yerk, and beside the slim, graceful
young daughters of the millionaire
woddle the fat old mothers. Carriage!
go by with fearfully and wonderfully
made coachmen bitting stiff as dead
men en the boxes, nnd all sorts el
looking women inside; but perhnpsU it
ene of the compensations of this world
that few have handseme carriages until
they get tee old or have tee many chini
te make walking comfortable. The "car
rlage ladles" wear long wraps, and have
their dresses mero lavishly trimmed than
would be admissible for walking. Well,
peer things, let them have that comfort.
Everybody can't be as handseme as you
and I.
The terrible huntresses have made thelt
appearance two or three times lately In
dark maroon, brown nnd gray short
dresses, w ith buttoned leggings, carrying
guns nnd walking nleng trying te leek tu
though they thought they could makt
folks bclicve that they would sheet oil
their guns for pay. But few de this fool
ish thing, and net many show themselves,
or at least yet, in their riding habits ii
the herse cars or crowded streets. It hai
become qulte a rnge for young ladies tc
ride safety bicycles in the park, and il
they don't get the requisite amount el
nttentien there, why, we'll sce them it
Fourteenth street seen.
Gum is net "out" yet, nnd it i3 nel
likely te be seen. Dentists nre nil be bo be
ceming millionaires, nnd it is a geed job
They always had hard pulling te get
nleng heretofore.
Tliis is the time when the short jacke,
nnd small shoulder cape are in season,
and mulls and long sealskin coats ar.
net ripe yet The Russian fur cellai
which laps ever is much worn. It can
be fastened en any garment with safety
pins and worn with nnything. Hand Hand Hand
eoeo black faille wraps can be trimmet
like the illustration and have a trim
ming of narrow but rich passementerie
en the long sleeves nnd in the front, nnd
this Russian cellar be worn with it e
cold days.
The prettiest suit I have seen this week
was a russet red walking dress worn by
Miss Dpttie Edisen, the inventor's daugh
ter. It had the skirt in plain nnd stripei
wool suiting. Made ns represented it
the picture, nnd worn with the bcavei
cloth tight fitting jacket of the sautt
color, braided with black soutache braid
The sleeves were hussar shape. Her hai
was of velvet, with plumes tb match, nnc
Persian ribbon mingled with velvei
trimmed it She were lead colored Sued
gloves. She is of fair complexion am
has inherited nil her mother's beauty
which is saying much.
nAvisnixa CREATIONS.
I give three hats, or rather ene hat ant
two bonnets. Tbe hat is a "ravishin
confection" of white beaver with plume
nnd white ribbon. The teque is e.
plush, dark blue with gray-blue ribbon
The ether is an embroidered chip benne:
with velvet flowers In shaded brown ant
geld nnd orange, with brown velve
strings. Let imagination paint thcL
glory I Olive HAnrEB.
The Veuiic Coyeto Killer.
David Slonree, nn 18-year-old boy win
lives nt Folsom, is the boss coyeto kille
of the county, no brings in big batchei
of scalps every year, nnd today delivcrec
twenty-ene te County Clerk Hamilton
receiving n ccrtitlcate te that effect
The young hunter will rcccive a bounty
of $105 en the scalps. Menreo has s
rifle and, it is said, brings down a coyet
at every shot Sacramento Letter.
llrueklyu's Crowds.
The llroeklyn club this season has earned
the title of champion lu eliit et nttOLd.inej
nt its home game9. At the slxty-niae cham
pionship games played In Brooklyn there
were 853,000 present, or fully 60.UO mere
than have before attended any one club's
games In n Feasen. Hud the St Leuis club
played its full quota of ten games it U proli preli
able that these figures would have been hi
creaM.il by 25,000. That club has the top rec
ord of the season in three particulars. It
drew the largest attendance of any tertes
with 05,80.5 In eight games; tbe largest crowd
in any ene game with 0,1)11, nnd the largest
Sunday crowd with 10,071.
A Septuitccnarlmi Traveler.
Sir Frederick Yeung, who Is ever 70
years of nge, has returned te Londen af
ter a remarkable journey. During his
sojourn in Seuth Africa he ha3 visited
the Kaffirs in their kraals, passed a fort
night in the bush without entering a
house, interviewed Mr. Paul Kruger,
completely traversed the Transvaal, and
traveled altogether just 10,000 miles.
ITe has net had a day's illness since he
left England. His journey will stand as
one of the most remarkable ever made
by a man of his age. New Yerk World,
.,.-j
I tjn De ' SHlllll IL'EBb
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