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THE LANCASTER DAILY INTELLIGENCER, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1889.
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Dunraven Ranch.
A
A Story of American Frontier Life.
t
By CAPT. CHARLES KING, U. S. A.,
F AUTHOR OF ''THH COLONEL'S
"THE DESERTER," ETC.
"Copyrighted, 1888, by J. D. Ltpptncett
Special Arrangement through
CHAPTER VIIL
T WAS very lata that night
nearly midnight when
the colonel, seated en his
veranda and smoking a
cigar, caught sight of a
W ill 3
&'S3BafpP
iPLfji' cavalry sergeant nurneuiy pausing inn
l , !. n ri.. 1.1.
r ;Jrentgatc. The main searching parties
.-1 wWl Imii blniiA Mimf. linmA I1t,ciirr.cerii!.
limit. Perrv had returned and made re-
WM' F01 a e people nt Dunraven denied
I litS taring ecen or heard anything of
'r jjfyQwjnne, that both proprietor nnd matia-
JJ- jw uwi ucmvu hu worn ..-. ...I iuiiuiu,
$;$&asdthathehad had much difllculty In
1 C weventing a fracas between his men nnd
Sit"?5 PU'SP of rough fellows empleyed at the
tflSC -.I. !.! Xf. Hr..llnn.l l.n,l fnlln..
ir-'i hacklnaswoen. and that he had left
uL-Uni te the care of Dr. Quin, who nr
f Seif lived seen aftcT the occurrence.
ctm The colonel had been greatly Interested
1 t and somewhat excited ever the details of
: f'i JPmy's adventure as that young gentle
1 'aaan finally gave them, for nt first he
WM apparently avcrse te saying much
,rHVUb lb Iuviu uv iiiliu, iiuivun;,, nil
si '.a -Ms conversation with Jlaitland and Ewcn
. C was drawn out, and the particulars of
Iraktoheatiloreceptlon. The colonel ngrecd
i'tt, 'mm him that there was grave reason te
' t1? 4Manw ar,n,A tf llin fntipli fwnnli fit
kaewlnar far mero of Serut. Uwynne's
rfe;disappearanee than they would lell; and
.i.anmuj, seeing x-crry s iiiuisiohiiieii iu
.: talk further, and noting his preoccupa preeccupa
J' tlenand apparent depression of spirits.
h's""k concluded that between fntigue nnd
jZsftttneA nexvea the young fellow would be
-vs. giaa te go 10 eca, se no sam, luntuy:
- "wen, 1 weut seep you, 1'crry, you 10
' tired out I'll sit up and see the doctor
rS-wben he gets back and have n talk with
ff?k him, then decide what Bteps we will take
Ifer'fj In the morning. I'll send a party down
s?'the Talley at daybreak, anyway. Jfay 1
$t offer you seme whisky or a Iwttle of
p "Thank you, colonel, I beliove net te-,-VBight.
A bath and a nap will set me nil
bright, and I'll be ready te start out (lrst
iiUntt in the mernlnc. Geed ulcht. sir."
riTsy fltfc fVl Tlrntnnr.1 milil ni r-rt 1f clenn
JTha garrison had "turned in," all except
;:if the guard and Capt. Stry kcr. That officer
Sutf.lMW returned an hour after dark, and,
:jCtting a fresh horse, had started out
,$ again, going-down the south side of
;!& Menee te search the timber with
.yflaaterns. the Chovenne scouts having
v Himi lull Ittn riwvtinrt'u lwi, cti timl rrmm
I ii-STlm itinfc u'fiv ITn liml lwwn tntcenil w
fti-str. Prnr. chn rnlh)iw.il tin the tr.ill til
fcVw - --rf n , --,-
2, catch the nlaliran befere it readied the
. pest, and th colonel, iav that he had
ibMmlthe lieutenant's story, was impa-
KW" In a few minutes of midnight, hewexer,
K neither Strvker nor the doctor had conie:
g""dira lights were burning in both their
D-ra'IUUKiaiUIUU, IIIUlltllK IIUUIH.. l-,i:ij-
jwi where else the garrison seemed shrouded
'..'in darkness. Catching sight of the yellow
Btt, chevrons as they flitted through the Heed
ff'ta licrlit that oeurod from his eneii diHir-
'& way, the colonel instantly divined that
-jr. l.t .. I .Arti 1 ...
itgs&t this must be n 6ergeantef Stry ker's troop
U5, going in search of his captain, and
'nmmnltv linflf! Iilm
wSb1 "What Is It. serceant? Anv news?"
B. &co, 011, uusiii'ii-ii iiiu duiuic-i , 11.111-
.1 -1 1 ..r. . . .
M ,,V,.- l- ..n.....l ,l.AAl.ltA. !.!
Z3iiag siiuru "Deriri. uwvnnes cenm
kj: 3tv back". I was ceinc te the cantaiu's te
5t"T-irt'
Vv-i 'TTnur dM 1m ret linnk? Isn't tin In.
Jredr
1 f-'tl "He savs lies liad a fall. sir. nnd has
if&pjHim badly shaken up, but he walked in."
ZP
"Why, thala slngularl Uul lie see
s.
.vi
v Bone of the searching parties? see none
'of their lights?
fj," "I can't make out, sir. He's a little
tS queer aeesn i want, te laiK, sir. no
i-asked if his herse get in all tight, and
b', went and examined the scratches, and
rv&j aeemed troubled about them; but he
ifesc aeesn t say anything.
fjw "Has lie geno te the hospital.'
e- T'a nlr? lin'U klr.nn In liiu iictinl ltitnlr
Mk at the stables te-night. He Is only
1.JX bruised and core, he savs. Ilia face is
l"S; cnt and scratched and bound up in his
' handkerchief."
in,!- ..-..
Fra "very wen, Bam me colonel, alter a
Brit moment's thought. "The captain will
gsjSr i, leek into the matter when he gets back.
"-'"V? Vaii flllrn .mi ltrxrsn en1 rldn il.in.n l.n
r aeuth side of the valley nnd And the
&fi$, Cheyenne 6Ceuts. Capt. Stryker Is with
L', ;S.- them.
Tell him the sergeant is home,
c ue."
"Very well, sir."
And the trooper
r ;luted, faced about, and disappeared
' 4?;in the darkness; while the colonel nrese,
: jfy and, puffing thoughtfully nt his clear.
Tkegan pacing slowly up and down the
nfairTTl Ile wisllPtt Fttrvknr worn linmn
8 wished Capt. Lawrcnce were officer
-. r w me aay, ana, 60, nauie te ceme out
-:: f en quarters agam: no nau nearit just
L tffL BMirMlfl.ll ntwM.f tfllf rwl.1 P'rtrvllDl. mnMi in
i, ' make him feel disturbed and ill at case.
'kti There had evidently been hostility be-
tu'wwwM u preueceuser unu me ptoprie-
Ai fit nilTIMVan en.l .... n.nlu.M
E'jifcare had been bad bleed between the
, v men or the Eleventh cavalry and the em em
PjIey of the ranch: else why bheuld
j there have been se unprovoked nn as
:faault uiwin tlin llf.iiln.nnt .l.i- .,i..i.n
f :V Then there were ether things that gave
ir Muiu uuHjuiei. ecverai emcers nau gath-
'LIatfavl ttrvin liA tk(nn .lnvln. al.n nn1.
iiaTftnlngj they wcre mainly of his own
8 f rWKimenr, out uapi. uciicnap nnu two of
fa .tba infantry subalterns were there; La w-
i& aWnce did net ceme. Of course the talk
bjwii about the incident of the eveninsr.
fe, M&aBd, later, the rumors about Dunraven.
KT; J1I ku ... nn .!. i
. !, icw u iua v.uli J UiUli.
;.ay naa neara, as yet, nothing at all,
, mm were net a little taken aback by the
vMant embarrassment and ominous si-
i of the three infantrvmen. when
colonel turned suddenly en Belknap
A. the question
.By the way. cantaiu. I had netlmn
is leaelt Lawrence, nml It rnnitir .11,1 ...
r w we unw alter be liad geno, but
at did be mean by savins tliat Dr.
I eeuld tell us something about the
lattmuraren?"
turned red and looked un-
rty at aw two comrades, as
.ffMf e th fer.ald, .Thp
-T5as;7
ll
DAUGHTER," "FROM TBS RANKS,"
Company, Philadelphia, and Published by
the American Presi Association.
younger omcers, newever, would say
neming at an, nnu U10 colonel promptly
mw that he had stumbled en some plcce
en garrison gossip.
"Never mind," be mild, with a kindly
laugh. "I don't want te drag any stork
out by the roots, The doctor can doubt
less explain it nil In geed Reason."
"Well, Cel. Oreinnrd," answered Bel
knap, bulklly, "te tell tlie tnith, I really
don't knew anything about it, nud I
don't knew nny 0110 who does, though I
have heard seme woman talk about the
pest. The relation between Dr. Q11I11
and seme of the officers of the Eleventh
wcre rather strained, nnd he U a some
what reserved nnd secictive man. The
stories were net afloat here last fall, and
we had te henr mero or less of them un
til the Eleventh went away this spring
We knew only that Dr. Quin linn been
te Dunraven nnd the test of us haven't.
Possibly seme of the Eleventh uere
piqued because they had no such luck,
or perhaps their Indies did net llke it be
caueo Quin wouldn't tell them anything
about what he saw. At nil events, be
refused te talk en the subject at all, and
allowed pcople te draw their own con
clusions." "He probably told his pest com
mander," suggested Lieut. I'liinhum,
who, as acting adjutant of theKtand
an nsplrant for the adjutancy of the
regiment, thought It a geed opportunity
of putting in n word as indicative of
what he considered the hmiudeujluty of
an officer under like circumstances.
"Well, no, 1 fancy net," replied Bcl
knap. "About the only thing we really
de knew Is that, In n somewhat angry
inten low last fall, Cob Stratteu ferbade
Dr. Quln's leaving the pest or going te
Ditmavcii without his express permis
sion. 1 happened te be in the olllce nt
the time."
"Was it before or after that he was
said te go O1010 he often?" asked Fnrn
hum. "Well, both," answered Rclk'hnp, 10
luctantly. "But understand me, -Mr,
Fnriiham, 1 knew nothing whatever of
the matter."
"1 bheuld net suppose that Cel. Stint Stint
ten would care teiestiict his pest bur
geon from going thither if they needed
his professional hrrvlcc.3," n:iid Cel. Ihai
uard, pleasantly.
"That was the point at issue, appar
ently ," answered Belknap. "Col.St1.1t "Cel.St1.1t
tim said that it was net en professional
grounds that he went, and theiebyMvmed
te widen the breach between Iheni. Dr.
Quin would net speak te the colonel after
that, except when duly icipiiied it."
The conversation clitngcd here, and
littlomeio win said; but Cel. Urnimud
could net help thinking of a matter that
he carefully kept te himself. It was net
his custom te requhe his officers te ask
permission te leave the garrison ler.i line
or hunt vv hen they wcre te be absent
fiem no duty, and only by day. Ileie it
was midnight, as he thought it ever, and
the doctor had net returned, neither had
he mentioned his desire te lido away,
although hu had been with the colonel
well nigh an hour befere parade. Tiue,
he had sent the doctor word te go and
join Lieut. Perry nt the gate of Dun
raven, and that would account for his
detention; but he knew that the surgeon
was several miles away from his pest and
his patients at the moment that message
was sent,
Meantime, 1'erry, tee, was Inning a
communion with himself, and liuding it
all vexation of btiirit. All the vwiv
home the memory of that sweet English
face was uppeimest in his thoughts. He
had been startled at the sight of a young
and fair woman at Diiuriieu, he had
felt a sense of inexplicable lejeiciug
when she said te him, "1 am Miss Mint-
land;" it would have jarred hiu: til knew
(hat she was wife; he was hapny. kneel
ing by the side of the beautiful girl hu
had never seen befere tliat evening, and
delighted that he could be of sei ice te
4r. All this mi'i retieiiiect worth in-
dulgiug; but tlieunieMithu black shadow
en his vision. Hew came Dr Quin
btridlng in there us though "native and
10 the manner born?" hew eauie he te
call her "Uladys?" Perry had been
pondering eer tills matter for full half
an hour en the homeward tide befere he
letheught him of Mrs. l.iwieitcu'u re
marks about the higual lights. One
tiling led te another in his lecollectieu of
her talk. The doctor ausweied tlic sig
nals, no one else; the doctor and no one
elae was tecei veil at Duniaen, the doc
tor had declined te answer any tpiestiulis
about the people at the ranch, had been
silent and inystei ieus, yet frequent in
Ills visits. And then, mero than all
what was that Mrs. Lawrence baid or in
timated that Mrs. Quin, "such a lovely
woman, tee," had takeuherchildreiiaiid
left him eaily that spring, and all en ac
count of somebody or something con
nected with Dunraven Ranch.' (!eml
heavens! It could net be "(lludys,"
Aud yet
Instead of taking a bath and going te
bed, Mr. Perry "poked his head into
Parke's bachelor chamber as he reached
the liltle cottage they slutted in common.
Ne Gladys disturbed the juuiei'Hdi cutis,
apparently, for he was breathing regu
larly, sleeping the bleep of the just; and
se, finding no one te talk te and being iu
no mood te go te bed nt an hour be com
paratively early when he had se much te
think about, Perry tilled a pipe and
perched himself iu n big chair by the
window seat, intending te think "it nil
ever again. He wns beginning te hate
that doctor; he would liavechafedat the
idea of any bachelors being befere him
inan acquaintance with (iladv s Maitland,
but a married in. in knew ing her se well
as te muke his vv ife jealous and himself
indifIeifiittetli.it fact knowing her se
well as te drive "such n lovely woman,
tee," into taking her children nnd quit
ting the marital i oef that was tee much
of a bad thing, nud Perry was soie dis
comfited. He get up, iuipaticnt nnd rest
less, passed out te the little piazza in
front of his quaitera, nnd began pacing
up and down, tliu glow from his corncob
pipe making a fiery trail iu the darkness.
He would have been glad te go back te
the colonel nnd keep watch with him;
but tlieru was ene thing connected vvitli
his vLslt te Dumaven that he could net
bear te speak of, especially as theso
words of Mrs. Lawience recurred again
and again te his memory. He had net
said ene word lie did net want te tell
of Gladys Maltlaud.
And se it happened that Perry, tee,
was awake and astir when the footsteps
of the cavalry sergeant were heard en
their way te Capt. Stryker's quarters.
Listening, he noted that the soldier had
halted at the colonel's, held n brief con
versation with that officer, and then
turned Uick across the parade. Instant
ly divining that news had ceme of Scrgt.
flwynne, Pcny beized his forego cap uud
nun led In pursuit. He Overtook the
trooper just beyond the guard house and
went with him eagerly te the stables. A
moment mere, and he was bending ever
a soldier's bedside innllttte room adjoin
ing the fornge shed nud by the light of n
dim stable lantern looking down into the
bruised and battered features of the non
commissioned officer, whom he had pro
nounced of nil ethers nt Itessitcr the
most respected nnd highly thought of by
the cavalry garrison.
"Sergeant, I'm veiy sorry te see you
no badly mauled," said Perry. "Hew en
earth did It hapcn?"
Uwyune turned his head painfully until
the one unbaudaged eyoceuld leek about
nnd fce that none of the stable guard
were within hearing, then back again nnd
up Inte the sympathetic face of his young
suix-rler.
"Lieutenant, I must tell you nnd the
captain; nnd yet it Is n matter I pro
foundly wish te keep as nccret ns pos
sible the story of my day's adventure, 1
mean."
"Yeu need net tell me nt all If you de
net wish te," said Perry; "though I
think It is due te yourself that the cap
tain should l.'new hew it wns you were
geno nil day nnd that your herse and you
IkHIi came back in such condition." '
"I understand, sir, fully," answered
Gwynne, respectfully. "I shall tell the
captain the whole story, If he se desire.
Meantime, I can only ask that no ene
else he told. If the men in the troop hud
nu inkling of the truu story there would
he endless tumble; nnd sol have tried te
account for it by saying my herse nnd I
had an ugly fall whlle running n coyelo
tliieiigh the timber. We did see a co
yote, down near the ranch en the Menee,
nnd I did have an ugly fall; i was set
upon br tht co of theso rnnchmen nnd
badly handled."
"Yes, damn them!" said Perry, ex
citedly mid wrathfiilly. "I've had an
cxpeiience with them myself te-night,
while we wcre searching for you."
"Se much the mero reason, sir, why
my mishap should net be told among the
men. The two n Hairs combined would
be mero than they would stand. There
nre enough Irishmen here in our troop
nlone te go down nnd wipe that ranch
out of existence! and 1 fear treuble as It
stands. "
"Whether there will be treuble or net
will depend very much en the futtire
conduct of the proprietor and mnnagcr
down there. Of couise we cannot tol
erate for nn Instaut the idea of their
maintaining a gang of ruffians there who
are allowed te assail It officers or men
who happen te rlde around that neigh
borhood. Yeu wcre net Inside their
limits, wcre you?"
"Yes, sir," said the sergeant, pain
fully, "I was; I had tied my horee out eut eut
side nnd ventured in te get a nearer
leek nt the buildings."
"What tlme did it happen?"
"Tliis morning, sir; net mero than nn
hour nnd a half after you speke te me in
the vnlley."
"Indecdl Then you must have lain
there all day I Why, Gwynne, this will
hover de. I'll geandgct the surgeon
and have him leek you nil ever. Yeu
must have been brutally mauled, nnd
must be uttcily exliniiBtcd."
"Don't go, sir," said the sergeant,
eagerly stretching forth a hand. "It
It isn't ns you think, sir. I have been
kindly cared 'for. They're net nil ruf
fians down there, nnd the men who as
saulted me will he fully punished. I've
been iliiite ns well nursed nnd fed nnd
brauc. til nud bandaged as though I'd
been carried right te hospital. Indeed,
I don't need anything but rest. I'll be
all light In u day."
"But 1 think Dr. Quin ought te ree
you and satisfy us you nre net injured."
"De satisfied, sir. The doctor has seen
me."
"Why, but hew? where? He wns heie
all day, nud only went away nt sunset.
He joined me nt Dunraven about 0
o'clock, and hadn't leturned when 1
came in. Did he find jeu aud bring
you back?"
Gwynne hesitated paiufully ngaiu:
"The doctor saw me tilts owning
down near where I was hurt; but I get
back here without Ills help, sir. Lieu
tenant," said the soldier, suddenly,
"there nre ene or two things connected
with this day's work that I cannot tell.
Come what may, I must net speak of
them, even te the captain."
Perry was silent n moment. Then he
kindly answered:
"I de net think any ene here will
press you te. tell what, you consider it
might be ungrateful or dishonorable in
you te reveal. I will de w hat I can te
sc that out wishes are respected. And
new, if you nre sure I can de nothing
for you, geed night, sergeant." And the
young officer held out his hand.
"Geed night, sir," answered Gvvynne.
He hesitated ene moment. It was the
first ttme siuce he entered the service,
nearly flve years before, that nn officer
eiTercd him Ills hand. It wns a new and
strnnge sensation. It might net be "geed
discipllne" te take advantage of it, but
there were ether reasons. Gwynne
looked up in the frank blue eyes of his
lieutenant nud read something there that
told a new story. Out came n hand as
slender nnd bhapely ns that of the young
officer, and the two were silently nnd
firmly clasped.
"Hew can I question him?" 6aid Perry
te himself as he walked slowly home
ward. "Is there net something I am
holding back? something I cannot speak
of? By Jupiterl can his be the same reason?"
CHAPTER IX.
T JUST what hour the
pest surgeon returned
te Fert Hessltcr that
night no ene seemed te
knew. He was present
at sick call, and Imperturbable us ever,
en the following morning, and the few
officers who wcre nt headquarters after
guard mounting were nble te affirm that
the colonel had been courteous as usual
in his greeting te the medical officer, and
that nothing whatevcr had been said
about his being away se late the previ
ous evening. Capt. Stryker came home
seen after midnight, had a biief talk
with his colonel, and went ever te the
stables te inquire into Gwynne's condi
tion befere he went te bed. Parke came
Inte Peiry's loom after morning stables,
and told him, as he wns yawning and
stretching In bed, that the captain liad
had quite a long talk with Gwynne that
morning, nnd that "something was up"
he didn't knew what. Later In the
day Perry was sent for by Cel. Bralnard
nnd found the commanding officer in
consultation with Cnpt. Stryker and two
Other troop commanders.
l At their requeet he repeated t,he itcry
qBjljjE"'tZ"r" '"
or his ad venture at LMnraren eegtnning
Hth his instructions te the men he left
at the gate, and ending with old Malt
land's 'voeningj and about nn hour after
he had finished he saw the adjutant with
n small escort 1 ide away down the valley,
and rightly conjectured that the colonel
liad sent a letter te Dunraven Inquiring
Inte the iuse of the assaults en two
members of Ills command. Battalion
drill kept liltn occupied all the morning;
a garrison court convened at neon and
sat until skirmish drill began at 8 p. m.;
aud se it happened that net until near
parade did he find a moment's tlme te
himself. lie longed te see Mrs. Law Law
rence nnd question her as te the nature
of the "Dunraven stories" she had men
tioned; for what had been a matter of
Indifference te him then had suddenly
become of vivid Interest There wcre
ladles sitting en the Lawrences' gallery,
he could plainly see, as the cavalry offi
cers came tramping In from afternoon
stables, but he could net liope te ask or
henr anything about a matter se near
his heart in the presence of se many
sympathetic and interested listeners. lie
kept nway towards his own gate, there
fore, until he saw that there, leaning en
the gate pest, and apparently awaiting
him, steed Dr. Quin.
Perry would gladly have avoided the
doctor, the antagonism he was beginning
te feci for him was of n character that
would hardly brook concealment. Cor
dial and joyous In manner ns he was te
almost evcry man, woman nnd child he
met, it was nil the mero uoticeable that
te the very few whom he held In dislik'e
or distrust his bearing was cold and re
pellent in the last degree Something
told him the doctor was there te speak
te htm about their chance meeting at
Dunn-wen. He did net want te speak te
him nt nil, just new. Yet hew could he
hepe te have these matters explained
without a meeting and n talk? Whlle
the officers strolled ever nnd stepped,
most of them, In front of the group of
ladies nt Lawrence's, Perry stalked
straight ncress the parade' and the boun
dary read, with his blue eyes fixed en
the doctor's face.
The latter was studying him ns he
came, nnd doubtless read that expression
of coldness nnd distrust; possibly he re
sented It. At nil events, something
prompted him te speak in n tene less
cordial than he had ever employed to
wards Perry "a youngster whom I
thoroughly npprove of," as he said Iw Iw Iw
fere he had known him a week. Still
leaning en the gate pest, and resting his
head en his hand, the doctor began:
"Mr. Perry, I have been te see you
twlce today, but could net find you, nnd
I wanted te speak with you en a matter
of seme importance."
"Yeu could have found me en drill or
the court, if nnythlug immediate was
needed. I have been newhere else, ex
cept te stables," bald Perry, shortly.
"It was a personal matter a homo home
what embarrassing ene and I thought
best te see you nlone."
"Well, here I nm, Dr. Quin; drlve
ahead and let us have it."
"I wanted ie nsk you if, whlle you
were nt the ranch last night, you saw
anything of n large blgnct ring, with a
crest and motto engraved en the stene."
"I did net, unless you mean the ene
Mr. Maltland were."
"The very onel Yeu noticed that, did
you?"
"I noticed he had something of the
kind en his left hand when he came
down."
"And it was newhere te be found nfler
you went away. Yeu mny remember
you wcrechatlngnnd slapping that hand,
nnd I thought you might have accident
ally removed it at that time."
"The letlectien is net a pleasant one,
Dr. Quin " said Perry, with an nngry
light in the blue eyes.
"Parden me, Mr. Perry; I put it awk
wanlly, but I mean no redaction what what
ev cr. Miss Maitland mentioned your ef
forts te restore the old gentleman te con
sciousness, and together we bearched the
sofa nnd the lloer after we had put him
safely te bed and discovered the less of
the ring, it is ene te which he attaches
peculiar value, nnd its less has preyed
upon him. While I knew very well you
could net have the ring, I was nsked te
ascertain if ou rcmembeied seeing it,
aud se establish the truth of Mr. Malt
land's belief that it was en his finger
when he went te that room."
"it was; but I de net recollect its be
ing en his hand nfter he was carried te
the sofa. It would 6iircly have attracted
my attention while chafing it."
"The pallor, hall and piazza have been
swept and searched, I am told by this
note," and the doctor indicated a little
misbive he held in his hand, whereat
Perry's face did net brighten, "and with
no success. I was asked te inquire of
you, and if it has annoyed you, as I in
fer by your manner, pray let that be
my apology. Then I nm te say you saw
it when Mr. Mnitlaud entered the room,
but net again?"
"Precisely; unless you choeso te add
te your correspondent that the next
time I nm associated with missing prop
erty nt Dunraven I would prefer te be
questioned direct, and net through a
third party."
A quiet smile shene for nn instant en
the doctor's grave face;
"I fear that I have net accomplished
my mission very diplomatically, Mr.
Perry, and am sorry te have vexed you.
The colonel tells me, by the way, that I
ought te say te you that the icasen I
was be long in reaching your party last
night was that I was detained attending
te another case ene of our own men.
Geed owning, sir." And, raising his
forage cap, the doctor walked slowly
and with dignity nway, leaving Perry
tee surprised te speak.
"The colonel told him te tell me!" was
Terry's wondering soliloquy at last.
"Then I suppese he must have told the
chief seme story te account for his being
away." it was pretty evident from the
young fellow's manner as he entered the
house that the story was net ene which
struck him as being entitled te confi
dence or consideration.
On the (able in his little sitting room
lay a dainty note, it was net the first
he had received under that superscrip
tion, and he had net been slew te open
nnd read them. If anything, the cloud
upon his forehead seemed te deepen nt
sight of it. Uu picked it up, looked im
patiently at the address, hesitated a mo
ment, tossed it back en his desk nnd went
into the inner room. He would net rend
It new; it was almost parade time; he
had te bathe and chnnge his dress, for
nfter parade he was te dine nt the quarters
of an Infantry friend, nud Capt. nnd
Mrs. Lawrcnce vv cre te be of the party.
Already it was noted that wheu nny of the
few infantry peeph nt the pest gave a
little tea or dinner at w hich only eight
or ten were gathered together, the Bel
knaps were net inv ited en the same own
ing with Mr. Perry, nnd vice versa. When
Paikc came iu, whistling nnd singing
and banging doers aud making all man
ner of uncouth nolse in the exuberance
of his spirits, he l)elteil into Perry's do
main, ns was Ids went, and liegin a rat
tling comment en the events of the day.
"By the way," he broke iu, suddenly,
"we can't both go te-morrow; and 1 sup
pose veu 'A'nnt te."
"Ge wheier
"Why, out with the hounds; te-morrow's
the day, you knew."
Perry gave a whistle of perplexity.
The colonel had premised, the ladles that
there should be a run this Yery week.
All the fleet hounds of the cavalry bat
talion wcre te be out, and nil the officers
who could be spared from the day's du
ties; a detachment was te go ever into
the vnlley of a stream seme ten miles
away, pitch tents In the shade, and there
set luncheon for the entire party) horses
wcre te be provided for all the ladies
who cared te go mounted, buggies and
"buckboards" were te convey tlie ethers,
nnd it was te be a gala occasion. Ante Ante
Ieims, coyote or jack rabbit any four
footed gamothe prairie afforded was te
be "coursed" in due state and ceremony;
the ladles "in nt the death" were te be
crowned and subsequently presented
with trophies of the chase mera sightly
than the mask or brush au nature). The
affair had been gayly talked ever that
very evening of the colonel's dinner, but
the events of the previous day and the
perplexities of the ene just closing had
completely driven it all out of his head.
And yet he was engaged te rlde with
Mrs. Belknap, the amaren of Fert Rossi Ressi
terl And for the first time in his llfe
Ned Perry would have been glad of nn
excuse te get away from a gallop with
an accomplished equestrienne.
"Yeu don't mean te say you had for
gotten It?" asked Parke, in nmaze.
"Don't blew en me, there's a geed
fellow; but, after all my 'breaks' of yes
terdaygetting an absent from drill
and into a row at the ranch I declare
it had slipped my memory. Ne, you go,
Parke; I don't descrve te be let off any
thing, after yesterday. Yeu've l)ccn
sticking te duty like a brick ever since
you joined, and Stryker ought te give
you the preference."
"But you're engaged te ride with Mrs.
Belknap," said Parke.
"Who told you se?"
"I heard her say se. Dana asked if
he might have the pleasure, just a while
age, and sh'e smilingly replied that it
would have been delightful, but that
you had asked her four days age, when
it wns first planned."
"Se I had; but I've been getting Inte
scrapes ever since, nnd I oughtn't te go.
By Jevol I'll wrlte her a nete new nnd
say I can't get elT. It's true enough. I
wouldn't let such a fellow go If I com
manded the troop. I'd make him stay
in nnd attend roll call a week."
"Well, Mrs. Belknap expects you,"
said Parke, dubiously. "Net but what
Dana would be glad te take your place.
Belknap can't go; he's tee bulky te ride,
nnd she'd lcave him miles astern first
run we had, sure."
Suddenly Perry bethought him of the
nete, nud made a dive into the sitting
room, towel in hand and shirt slcevc3
rolled te the elbows. It read:
Me Ami Yeu no the Sprnguea' te dine IhLa
evening, and there will be carclj, anil you n 111 net
Iw Able te get ntvnjr until very lata Will you net
ceme In a little i lille befere parade without rail
There Is something I greatly want te see you about.
Slnccri'ly, T. H. 1L
Come early as iosslble after stables.
"Thunder nnd turf 1" exclaimed Perry;
"and there gees first call new! Here,
Parke, yon're dressed; run ever aud tell
Mrs. Belknap I just this instant read her
nete nnd I can't come; I'll get a late as
It is."
"Hew ctn I, man?" shouted Parke, as
he fled. "I've get te get into war paint
tee. Lucky thing for me," he added, In
lower tone. "I don't want te be the ene
te tell the prettiest woman at Rossiter
that her nete that she sent here at neon
wasn't opened until first call for parade."
Perry's dressing was completed nt rac
in,; speed, but even then he wns buck
lit g his saber lclt ns the assembly sound
ed, nnd he had te go straight across te
vhcre his troop was forming a glitter
ing rank of yellow plumes and se could
only give a hurried sidelong glance to
ward Belknap's quarters. There was her
Iwnuie ladyship pacing up and down the
veranda; and .he knew well he would
have te ncceunt for his sins. All through
parade his thoughts wcre divided be
tween tlie fair face he had seen at Dun
raven the night befere and the dark ene
with the long, curving lashes sweeping
theso soft, peachy checks and half veil
ing theso wonderful, liquid, speaking,
side glancing eyes. He saw Mrs. Belk
nap stroll forth a moment as though te
join tlie group of ladies en the walk,
then return te her slew, graceful languid
promenade up and down her piazza. He
knew that he must hasten te her the in
stant tlie rank of officers dispersed and
make his peace if possible, but as they
marched te the front nnd saluted the
commanding officer he signaled that he
had something te say te thein all, nnd,
moving nway te the edge of the parade
ground, se that the troops might net be
detained en the line, he gathered his offi
cers about him, a silent group under the
little Bhnde trees that bounded the road
way, and leek a letter from the breast
of his uniform coat.
"Gentlemen," said he, "this will be
of impertance te seme of j ou, and of
interest te all. It explains something
none of us understood, and ceutains
matter that I deem it best you all should
haar. It is a letter from the manager
of Dunraven Ranch. Mr. Adjutant, you
rend it."
Aud, clearing his threat, Mr. Farn
ham began:
"DcniUves, IUscu, Friday.
"Cel. Crnlnard, th CflTalry, Fert Itesslter:
"Dtiii Bin Mr. Maltland Is confined te his bed,
and tee HI te iiersenatly reply te your letter of
this morning, which vtes duly recetrcd at the
band cf your adjutant. He directs me te vrrite
as fellow s: that, hlle be regrets the boisterous
conduct of uome of his emplej es lest eveulug and
tlulr assault en Mr. 1'erry, he considers the. In
v lew of the lesults a broken head en tbe part of
enu of our peeple and no apparent damage te
Mr. Perry the matter should net pressed. As te
the ether assault alluded te, he has no Lnetv Icdge
of It m hateter, and can Und no man who has.
"The distinct understanding between Mr, Malt
land and the former commanding enlcer at Fert
Ilosslterwas that uone of the garrison should
ever pass within our lines, and we agreed en the
ether hand that Mone of our peeple should ever
trespauen the reserratleu. Mr. Maltland heldj
that It was the duty of Cel. Urnlnard's predeces
sor te acquaint him with tbe terms of this agree
ment, and the residents at Dunraven had no
means of knowing that the Invaders of last even
ing w ere net tbe very men whom the proper au
thorities had pledged themselres te restrain from
such aggression.
"Mr. Maltland begs that Cel Bralnard w 111 In fu
ture ratify nnd conform v 1th the agreement for
mally entered Inte by his predecessor.
"Ilespect fully, I. F.vrts, Manager."
There was a moment of puzzled silence.
Tlie colonel looked quizzically around
upon the clrcle of brenred nnd soldierly
faces under tlie black helmets. Capt.
Stryker's lips were twitching with amuse
ment behind their black fringe of beard.
Ne ene speke nt first; but presently a
deep voiced troop commander gave vent
te his emotiens:
"What a bombastic old crank! Who
is he?'
"An englishman the owner of the
biggest lanch in tills part of Texas," an
svvered the colonel. "Capt. Belknap,
Capt. Lawrence, have you nny knowl
edge of the agreement of which he
speaks?"
"Nothing beyond the vague talk we
heard. Dr. Quin would be mero apt te
knew what Cel. Stratton agteed te than
we would," nusvvcrcd Belknap.
"I will nsk thu doctor this evening.
Meantime knowing no reason why such
a policy of uou-lntcrceurso should be ob eb
serv cd, I shall net recognie It. What Is
mere, while you will caution your men
te respect Dunraven bounds as they
would ether private property, let them
show no hostility te tlie ranch peeple
who may have occasion te visit us. The
man who brought this nete tells me he
wns threatened nnd abused by seme cav
nlrymcn near the btables. Mr. Maltland
professes te have no knowledge of an
other assault, but we have ovidence that
Sergt. Gwynne was beaten by three fel
lows en the Dunraven grounds yesterday.
That matter is yet te be settled. New
ene thing morel Troop and company
commanders will closely watch their
men the next few nights; keep a sharp
lookout en the quarters until midnight,
te see that no men slip awnyj after mid
night the guard must attend te it. There
Is an clement in the rank's that would be
only tee glad te go down te Dunraven
some night nnd have satisfaction en their
own account for yesterday's affairs.
This must net be permitted. See te it,
gentlemen. That is all for the present.
Sir. Perry, will you come with me a mo
ment?" Perry went. Mrs. Belknap saw him
go and believed herself slighted.
CHAPTER X
HE hounds wcre out, nnd
all Fei t Resslter "society"
was with them. The day
was faultless neither tee
warm nor tee cleudyi a
brisk westerly breeze sent
the cloud shadows sailing steadily across
the bread prairie sea and keeping the
veils and skirts of the Amazons of the
party a-flutter. Three there were of
these, the rest of the sisterhood pre
ferring te fellow the hunt by buggy or
buckboard, though frankly expressing
their envy of the fortunate riders.
Mounted en her own spirited little bay,
admirably fitted ns te habit, and sitting
6quarcly and well, Mrs. Belknap would
hnve been the center of observation of
all the cavalry officers even had she net
been, n she Incontestably was, the
beauty of the garrison. The colonel had
offered Mrs. Lawrence ene of his own
horses, nnd therefore was accorded the
right of being her escort. Mrs. Sprague
was similarly indebted for her "mount"
te Capt. Stryker; and a very bright and
beaming little body she was as she rede
ever the bpringy turf nt the side of the
dark haired troop leader.
"Hard lines en Ferry, isn't It?" said
Mr. Graham, as he trotted up beside Mis.
Belknap nnd took his place for the mo
ment with her bevy of cavaliers. "First
tlme he ever missed a hunt, I reckon."
"He needn't have missed this one,"
said Parke. "It was my week, and 1
told him te go; and Capt. Stryker said se,
tee; but"
Here Mr. Parke brokeoff suddenly nnd
looked in mild wonderment in Dana's
face, for that young gentleman had lnnn
nged, unseen by Mrs. Belknap, te swing
free his right feet nnd give the speaker's
left a vehement kick. Toe late, however.
Mrs. Belknap had heard it.
"Are you cavalrymen all se little te be
trusted?" she asked, with a brilliant smile
upon her flushing face. Exercise and
excitement had lent unusual sparkle te
her eyes and color te her cheeks "she is
positively beautiful today," ns Mrs. Law Law
rcneo confessed te the colonel nt the mo me mo
ment. "I had a nete from Mr. Perry this
morning saying he was grievously dls dls
nppeinted, but that seme troop duty had
been assigned te him which could net be
transferred and he must stny nnd fiuibh
it."
"What he said is true, Mrs. Belknap,"
promptly asseverated Mr. Dana. "The
papers liave all te be in readiness for
muster en Monday, nnd tlie saddle kits
put in shape for inspection."
"Only in Capt. Stryker's tioep?" softly
inquired tlie lady, vvitli eyelids rising in
credulously. "Ne, of course net. One officer is
back nt the pest fiem each tioep, It
happened te fall en Peiry iu ills."
"I fancy I bheuld piefer serving in
seme elder captain's troop if I were Mr.
Perry. It seems that while your ether
captains stay home and leek after their
companies, Capt. Stryker lias a sub
altern attend te his while he comes a
hunting." "Ou the ether hand, we fellows have
n dozen things te de in our troops that
Capt. Stryker dees himself in his. It's
ns bread as it's long, Mrs. Belknap," said
Jaua. He did net fancy her criticising
the methods of his cavalry associates,
and was possibly a little piqued at the
decided annoyance she showed at Perry's
failure te attend. Meantime, Stryker,
nil unconscious of her censure, was chat
ting laughingly with Mrs. Sprague and
exchanging shots vv 1th the colonel and
Mrs. Lawrcnce. The four were getting
en admirably together, nnd seemed tee
much absorbed in their own fun te nete
the fact that Mis. Belknap aud her knot
of four or five satellites had been grad
ually edging nway toward the right, and
that the rest of the hunt was becoming
widely scattered.
"It is time we stirred up a jack rabbit
at least," said the colonel. "Suppese we
veer ever toward the neithwest a little.
Whatever we de, we want no chase dew n
there toward Dunraven; theso wire fences
vieuld spoil It nil."
"I wonder if theso people never hunt?"
said Mr. Fnrnham, who had joined tlie
quartet: he always kept i ! e te his
colonel, ns liefitted nn i.-j- ,uit for the
adjutancy. "Englishmen aie genetally
giune for nil sorts of sport."
"I can see horsemen out there en the
prairie te the cast of the ranch," said
Stryker, whose eyes were keen, "and I
could have sw ern a moment nge thatl
saw n horsewoman."
"Nensense, Cipt. Stryker!" exclaimed
Mrs. Lawrence, yet with a quick glance
at Mrs. Sprague. "What could you
have taken for a 'lady en horseback?"
De you suppese there could be ladles at
Dunraven nnd we net knew it?"
"n.ardly possible," answered the cap
tain, "and therefore I doubted the cvi cvi
dence of my senses. Yet something very
like n lndy followed by a groom rode
down the slepe into the vnlley about ten
minute3nge. She is out of sight in the
timber new. If Perry were only with
us I'd send him oil there te see."
"Yes, we miss Perry en our hunts,"
said the colonel te his lady friends.
"He is ene of our test riders nnd most
enthusiastic sportsmen. He vv ill be out,
will he net, Stryker?"
"Yes, tir. Tnere is i eaily no neces
sity for ids staying in, nud I se told him;
but he felt that he ought te, at least
until certain work was (hushed. Then
he said he could rid a eastward nnd join
us. Hurrah! there they go!"
Far out te the front, straight te tlie
east, "a gray streak with a white tip te
it" went bhoeting into space n9 though
launched fiem some inv isible bow drawn
by giant power. A big jack rabbit, all
legs and ears, had listened quivering and
trembling te the bounds of the approach
ing hunt, until an enterprising terrier,
foremost skirmisher of the line, fairly
tumbled ever him as lie crouched behind
a little bunch of weeds: then with one
mighty leap and the accompaniment of
a wild yelp from his discoverer he sprang
forth into a race for his precious life.
"Hey! hey!" yells the sergeant as he
etehts the euartr. "Hurrah!" shout the
nearetCfiuIMMH, and, wtt ee aiffirjl
taneeus impulse, skirmishing curs,
stealthy, springing hounds, eager tteeds,
and jubilant riders men and women
away gees the entire field sweeping in
pursuit. At first all la en mad rush
until It Is certain that the rubbit U a
veteran who understands well the snazlm
that "a stern chase U a long chase" all
the world ever.
Clese behind the master of the hounds,
all eyes fixed en that bounding tuft of
gray and white a few score yards ahead,
bending ever their horses' necks and
keeping just enough pressure en the bit
te prevent overriding the huntsman, ride
Parke and Graham, two "light weights,"
who have coursed many a mile of prairie.
Just behind them, a little te their right,
rides Mrs. Belknap, her Tell Guttering
straight out behind, her glorious eyes
flashing, her dark skin flushed with tri
umph nnd the exhilaration of the dash
ing pace, her little hands wound about in
the reins she holds se firmly. Splendidly
she sits her fleet racer, and Dena has te
urge and spur his clumsier troop horse
te keep in close attendance. These four
are well in advance of all the ethers.
Back of them, gallantly urging en her
sturdy sorrel, comes Mrs. Sprague, with
Stryker riding warily alongslde and
watching her "going" befere he will sat
isfy himself that it is 6afe te trust her te
her own guiding. Level as the prairie
Is here, he knows that a mile or se ahead
there are "breaks" leading down into
the valley of one of the innumerable
tributaries of the Washita. Then the
story may be different.
He leeks up in surprise at the thunder
of hoofs clese alongside, and Mrs. Law
rence, with excitement in her eyes, over
takes, then passes them en the way te
the front. "See!" he points te his part
ner, "see that dark shadow across tbe
prairie out there. We cannot ride at this
pace when we pass that hollow; the
breaks set in still farther." He glances
ever his shoulder and signals te the near
est officer te fellow Mrs. Lawrcnce and
leek out for her, and the gallant docs his
best, but all are at top speed; the colonel
nnd the heavy weights Infantry and
cavalry are beginning te leso ground,
and btill that gray "puff ball" far te the
front seems inch by inch te be slipping
away from his pursuers. Will he keep
his determined ceurse, up hill and down,
straight nway te the cast, or will he leso
heart, tack, veer, deuble and twist? If
he swerve he is a lest rnbbttt
Far te the rear, yelping, panting, dis
tracted by this time, the terriers and
mongrels, the original leaders, have fall
en. The field, tee, is strung out nearly
a mile deep at the cud of the first six
minutes' run, for some of the laggards
have given up und are disposed te wait
for the coming of tlie buggies nnd buck buck
beards. Here at tlie front all is lense
excitement. All eyes nre en the rabbit,
for new or never will the crisis come.
The horses are breathing heavily, but
with no thought of slackening speed.
"Watch him new as he siglits that
arroyo!" shouts Graham te Paikc, for
far out te the right front n ravine bursts
off te the southeast, nud ene of its shal
low contributors stretches obliquely
nciess the rabbit's frenzied vision.
"Veer that way: he'll take It sure!"
shouts the huntsman; nnd, sure enough,
no sooner does he reach it than the gray
victim dails down tlie winding shelter,
as though hopeful that his sudden twist
would thievv his pursuers off the sight;
scent the greyhound has none. The
inove is disastrous; "Hit" shout the lead
ing riders, waving ths pursuit te the
right front, and, obedient te signal, the
foremost hounds sweep In long curve
into tlie coulee, striking it many n yard
farther down than where the harried
chase first dived into its treacheieus
shadows.
And new theso hounds who were out
en the right Hank nre up iu line with tlie
very leaders, nud bounding along the
level nt the side of tlie ravine, yet keei
ing wary ejoupen the cliase. Se, tee,
the horsemen. Making a deep curve in
the ravine five hundred yards nhead. und
confident that Bunny will blindly rush
along his winding track, they strike out
nciess theprailie, gaining twenty herse
lengths by tlie move, nnd new, with two
or three of the eldest hounds, Paikc,
Dana nud Mrs. Belknap me darting ou
abreast of the cliase "Keep out there
te the left, bonie of you I" shouts Dana.
"He'll spring up the ether side quick ns
he sees us. Drive him back." And,
obedient te the signal of his waving
hand, two of the leading troeperw breast
the biepes te tlie east, calling half a dozen
hounds with them. Dai ting mound a
bend, Bunny's agonized ees catch bight
of tlie hounds nud horses en the right
bank, nnd like a Hash he whirls, scamp
ers up the oppesito blepe, and sheets out
en the prairie again just in time te meet
the hounds and troopers who have an
ticipated the move.
New he is wild and demoralized.
Onee mero he dives into tlie ravine and
sends the dust (lying into the very faces
of his pursuers, for new the leading
hounds nie se clese that the foremost
jaws are snapping the air at his every
bound. A quick turn te the right nnd
up the slepe throws these leaders far
tee far beyond; they sweep around in
long curve; but, though he has thrown
them off, the hunted, senseless, helpless
wretch has forgotten the trailers in tlie
rear; they spi ing across tlie angle he has
made, nnd aie clese as the original pur
suers, and much the fresher. Wildly,
madly new he twists and turns, first up
ene bank, then the ether. Far te the
rear the coming riders see the signs of
ills breaking down, mark the scurrying
te nnd fro of horse and hound. "Come
en!" they shout. "He's geno new, and
we can be in at the death!" Mrs. Law Law
rcneo en ene side of the ravine is ns far
te the front ns Mrs. Belknap en the
ether. One of them must leso the brush;
he cannot die en both sides at ouce.
The dark beauty lias had mero than one
rasping disappointment In the last two
days; it would be intolerable new that,
nfter all, Mrs. Lawrence, aud net she,
bheuld preve the victor.
Bunny makes ene frantle rush up the
6lope te the right, and, with half a dozen"
hounds at his very heels, spins in front
of her eyes, catches sight of two fresli
antagonists fronting him, whirls sud
denly about te the right, and almost
dives under her herse's heaving ban el as
he ouce mero plunges Inte tlie ravine,
down the rugged slepe, up the gentla
nscent te the ether side. There half a
dozen long, lean muzzles gleam clese be
hind him; he falters, wavers; a sharp
noseis thrust underneath him as he runs,
a quick toss 6cnds him kicking, strug
gling into tlie air, aud in another instant,
with piteous but ineffectual squeak and
pleading, he is thu enter of a tumb
ling, snapping, fang gnashing group of
hounds, and his little life is tern out al
most lfore Graham can leap from his
saddle, heat them back with the visor of
Ills cap, then, seizing tlie Mill ifuivering
body by the legs that would have saved
could that empty head only have direct
ed, holds peer Bunny nleft iu front of
Mrs. Lawrence's snorting steed and pro
claims her "Queen of the Chase,"
And this, tee, lias Mrs. Belknap te see
and btrive te smile; whlle down in her
heart she knows that it could net se have
happened had IVi ry come
Continued utxt Saturday.
MILLUR'H IlOItAX BOAI WILL WASH
Clethes ana etry article under the kun.
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