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Dunraven Ranch.
A Story of American Frontier Life.
.
ta.. n kvT ruATr rre irnari tt c a
tV. . -
AUTHOR OF "THH COLONEL'S
"THE DESERTER," ETC
Copyrighted, 1 888, by J. B. LIppincet
Special Arrangement threng:
CHAPTER XI.
IDINO eastward just
befere neon, somewhat
comforted In con
science because of hit
Belf denial of the morn-
XT' JisWiZJHi'.n
m mmt
Vi& ing, reu rerry scanned t:ie distant prairie
f$t In search of the hunt. It wan nearly lun-
Spsfe, tnrtn limn nnit lin nfiuw.lnr1 in flint lit
ifpsrty making its way te the little Ftream
Sf whither the baskets, boxes nnd Iminneu
a, had been dispatched by wagon Mime
??t hours befere; but when he sighted l he
!' quartermaster driving homeward In his
W hntrtrv lin Ipnrnpfl fmni thut liulkv vil-
W&3 mm. 1,n tl.l.rt nflMtw ttiM.U linil lu,..t
L,T-r" "" .... .... ...... .m.,...
pf run, and that the whole party had dually
gaj aeciucu te give ungs anu norses n cool
EST drink down in thu Mouce vnlley hcfeie.
$ starting northward across the prnlrin.
"They must be getting down into the
jfe valley two or three miles east of the
inch just about new, anil will go due
north from theie, unless they stir up
i mere game along the Menee. If I were
you, said tiie quartermaster, "i ti riiie
fT ever te the lunch btand, Yeu won't g-t i
mere inuen ueiore me crewu.
Perry thanked him fortheinfortimtiou,
but, be far from uceepting hi tub Ice.
this young eflieer turned his horse's head
;, in the direction or Dunraven. nnd was
speedily ruing Dinner with un alacrity
&tthat he himself could hardly explain.
Ll f 1. 1- l.... f ...II. ...tl. t.n .l I ..r...
ill IIIR UJItl IUIK llll UIU VMHHIl I til 11 I
SJf parade en the previous evening Perry
had told him what lie could of yie char
acteristics of Messrs. Maltlnnd and Ewen.1
Ei' The odd letter which had been sent by
v them hail given the commanding efllcer
cause for much thought, and he was de-
' sireus, evidently, of gntlfffring from
I" Perry s observations tin complete an Idea
as was possible of their lire ami Hiiriouud Hiirieuud
- in trs. And still IVrrv hail found iL'im-
pSS. possible te volunteer anv description of
S;f-MlsMaItland; he could net boarteRieak
K of her until until he knew niore of the
jvj? doctor s purpose in his visits te the ranch.
&& Be bad been detained by his commander
s-jjust long enough te raake it necessary
3vf for him te go direct te the Spraguca
Ai"wuneut leaving uus uciuiui unu euuur iii
Fiai aa lb vvua, uuv jiira. iuiuiiiij iuuk nu
ife note of that circumstance; what slie saw
ir was that he had avoided even passing
t.f ti. t...t ir riit --l. ...
t'Sl within hail of her piazza lieth befere nnd
KuFafter parade.
Epftvp AUW lllUUgll COIlbi;iUUS Ul HU lUlUIIUUU
p? of avoidance, Perry rede fertli te the
jgMneeting of this day with seme little mis-
Uba must strive te make his pcace with
RjK" una tugnieu iauy; anu yet, in view ei
fcf?i?atM t,k liwt caa,, nrl linnil I ti flin of
"(Ef tu uu nvu. tA.u ULtttu m uiu bev
SS forty-eight hours, hew utterly dwarfed
that affair his laughing flirtation
&4 with Mrs, Belknap become! Had any
ene told lam his attentions te her nnd
EfeL her marked preference for Ms society
lU? were matters thatpeople were beginning
te talk of seme with sly enjoyment,
ethers with genuine regret he would
have been grateful for the Information,
Instead of resentful, as, with most men,
would be the case uiuety-nine times out
of a hundred. But he knew nothing of
this, nnd had tee little experience te sus
pect the comments in circulation. Slie
was most interestiiiK un te the day be-
. iore yesterday; he loved te ridoer dance
with her; he enjoyed n chat with her
mere than he could tell. A most sym-
njt.lintln n M 1 1 ntlnn.lniL lit tnnn. ...nn iHn
iWl t?Al1ntn nd liet irtnfi ,na Lmk nwl
hi. sweet and full of subtlv carcssinc tones.
She had made him talk te her by the
ieur of his home, his hopes and ambi
tions, his profession and his prospects,
and had held him in a silken bondage.
that be had no desire te escape.
And yet, as he rede out en the breezy
plain this brilliant day, he found all
thought of her distasteful, and his eyes,
far from searching for the flutter of her
trim habit In the distant riding party,
would go a-reaming ever the intervening
shades and shallows down in the Menee
valley and seek the bare, brown walls of
Dunraven far across the stream. It was
odd indeed that he should have sought
this, the longest way round, ea his lido
in quest of Ids companions from the
fort.
Once again he looked at the Isolated
clump of buildings from his pest of ob
servation en the bluff; ence again he
saw across the stream and through the
trees the barbed barrier that had caused
both him and his men such laceration of
flesh and temper; ence again he baw the
:4.', snuiiew raiiey winuing away te me
v Eeuwcast, uecKcu wun i3 scruuuy
Irlnge werir of cottonweed nnd willow;
ttllt lllll 4 I tYf n f lllAA llHn nt iln riA
5$ " " hmJi uuv iiiuraunaj, lia Uli-
custemed soiitude was ureuen ty groups
li liucia uiiuuailiil uiuK bjCiiB UI
dogs, all moving northward ence mere
ri?Mu ind nlrenilv lirenftttnrr tlm clnnna Xla
fc'fesr' - - ,T, '. ," "" "" '-
bueuiu navu luruuu uwav uuhiu aru anu
ridden across country te join them, but
)lewn here In the valley, only a bhert
distance away, absorbed in watching
tjie hunting party, sat Mr. Ewen en a
pawing nnd excited bay. Whatever
coelnet3 his rider might feel at this dis
covery. It was net shared by Nelan; he
! "J-I-Xl .. t.S. -.l I.-I1...1 I-.- -!
;.,t- jHitikcu uu ins L-aiM uiiu nuneu ins iui-
jtji ww quauruiKU wun cordial and unaf-
wcwu pleasure, a ncigu mat tuei.ngltsii
bred horfee was se utterly uninsular as te
whirl about and answer with corre
sponding warmth. Ewen caught nt his
heavy Derby and jerked it oil his bullet
head with an air of tningled embarrass
ment and civility, replacing it with
similarly spasmodic haste. Perry coolly,
,but with a certain easy grace, raibed his
forage cap In respense te the salutation,
and then, 6eelng the manager still look
ing ut him as though he wanted te say
something and did net knew hew te be
gin, gave Nelan his head nnd rede down
te bhert hailing distance.
"Ve meet en neutral ground out here,
H
k
jV'Mr. Ewen. 1 suppose your exclusive
'f employer ever yonder can hardly nre-
r5! Wblt your answering civil Inquiries after
4UMneauiir And, though he meant te
Iw distant, Pcrnr found himself smiling
rt the oddity of the situation.
V "I0 J011 k,,ew' x ws Just thinking
$, about you,' answered Ewen, "and won wen
"swing whether you were with that jarty
jIewm yonder? The ejd gentleman is
" .A.W, W. WF. .K
DAUGHTER" "FROM THE RANKS,"
Company, Philadelphia, nnd Published by
the American, Press Association.
IkHlt, tnancs. no naa two pretty u.a
nights, but is cemlug nreund slowly."
I "And Miss Mnitland hew is she?"
"llathcr secdy. She has had a geed
deal of care and vexatien of late, I fancy,
nnd this is no place for a young girl,
anyhow."
"Well, you have seme appreciation of
the true character of Dunraven as n resi
dence, nfter nil!'' nnswerry Perry. "New,
If you can give me any joed reason why
she should live In this utterly out-of-the-way
place, you will lift n weight from
my mind,"
"Oh, they don't llve here, you knew,"
epoke Ewen, hurriedly. "She comes
here only when her father ijeei. It is
licr own doing. Slie gees with him
everywhere, and will net leave him.
She's all he has, don't you knew?"
"I don't knew anything about It,
Yeu Dunraven people seem nversn te
any expression of interest or courtesy
from your fcllewmen, but I'm frce te
say I should likote knew what en earth
there Is In American cavalrymen te
make them such, objects of aversion te
your master; nnd 1 would be glad te
knew hew it Is such ft girl ns that Is
dragged into such n hele ns yonder."
Ewen bat In sllcnce a moment, btudy
Ing the young fellow's face.
"Yeu desorvea better welcome there,"
he presently answered, "and 1 don't
knew that I can de better than te tell
outhe truth what I knew of it. And
let me tell you that if thu old man knew
of my speaking of it te any one, I'd leso
the mebt lucrative but least attructive
place 1 ever had, De you bce'r"
"Then peihap-iyeu had batter net tell
me. 1 de net care te pry Inte secrets."
"Oh, this Is no secret. It w.w that that
droe him here; everybody knew It in
England. Yeu were mighty shabbily
treated nt the ranch, and you requited it
by preventing what would linte been a
bloody row, and by lending i a helping
hand. Even the old man leceguizcs
that: and I think heM lm irlwl te tv n
te you, nud bee you, If you were net Just
what you nre a cavalry eflieer."
"Why, what en earth can we have
done? If any of our cloth have wronged
Mr. Maitlaud In nny way, it U our right
te knew it nnd tnke it tip."
"It wasn't your cloth, old fellow."
said Ewen, thawing visibly, "but it wai
the cavalry nil the same that biokehls
heart and his ptlde, and made his life
the wreck It Is, and dreve him from his
home, shunning the sight of his fellow
men, all these jeam exiling her, tee, in
the prlme of her young life. Mr. Perry,
there nre only three or four of us at
Dunraven who knew the slery, but we
have only sympathy nnd pity no blame
for him, though he is the hardest
master I ever served."
"Hew did it happen?" asked Perry.
"All through his eon. There lind been
mero of them, but there wrw only the
one Archle when the Lancers were
ordered te Seuth Africa. IIe was a
youngster, only 17, they tell we, and he
had just been gazetted te his cernctcy,
The old man was all wrapped up in him,
for of the thrce boys the eldest had died
only the month befere the regiment was
ordered en foreign service nnd the sec
ond had been killed in India. Beth
tUese two who were geno had made
(themselves famous among their com
rades by their fearleasneas nnd high
character, nnd the old man, of ceurse,
could net nsk Archie te quit the sorvice
just when orders for dangerous duty
came. The boy went te the Cape with
his corps, nud get into the thick of the
Zulu war just at the time of the massa-
:re of the Twenty-fourth nt Isandlwhana
nnd the light nt Itorke's Drift. 1 was
nt home then, and nil England was
quivering with grief ever such needless
bacrifice as was made of that regiment,
nnd nil ready te fall down and worship
such fellows ns Chard and Bremhcad,
who made the superb light almost nt the
same time.
"They Bay old Mnitland wanted te go
himself, ns volunteer or something, with
Lord Chelmsfeul, hut it couldn't be
done. His father had fought at Alma
uud Inkerman, and his giandfathcr had
led the Guards nt Waterloo. T1k whole
trlbe were soldiers, you knew;, and new
Archie was with the Lancers in Zululand,
and the Lancers were going te wipe out
the disasters of the first lights of the
campaign, and Aichie was te upheld the
grand old fighting naine nnd ceme home
covered with glory. He was the heir
new, nnd Miss Gladys was but a little
girl. I have heard it all from Mrs.
Cowan; she was their housekeeper in
these days, and a sort of companion, tee,
te Mrs. Maitland, who was very delicate.
The old man was very tiery and proud
nnd full of Herce denunciation of every
thing that had geno wrong In the cam
paign; nnd he eifended seme people by
the way he condemned 6ome elllcer who
was a friend of theirs, nnd there were
ethers who thought he talked tee much;
but he fairly boiled ever when the news
came of hew the prince imperial had
been nbandened by his escort, and thatn
British efllcer and a dozen men had run
two miles at top speed from n beggarly
little squad of niggers befere they dared
leek round te bce what had become of
their prince, whom they had left te fight
the gang nlone. That was old Maitland's
text for a mouth. If any seu of hU had
ever been of that party he would disown,
disgrace, deny him, forbid him lib sight,
cut him elf forevcr. And right in the
midst of it all a judgment, seme jeople
said there came the awful news that
Cornet Maitland of the Lancers was te be
court martialed for misbehavior in face
of the enemy,
"Of ceurse the old mau only raged at
first; said it couldn't be true; 'twas nil
Fome foul invention or ridiculous blun
der; but he ran up te Londen nud baw
comebedy at the Hone Guards that's
our war efllce, you knew and came
back looking n century elder and simply
crushed te earth. Mrs. Cowan says they
showed him the official roert of a gen
eral efllcer who was called upon te ex
plain why he had net sent certain troops
te the relief of an advanced and threat
ened jKjst, nud he replied that he had
sent the order by Cornet Maitland, of the
Lancers; had given him an escort of a
dozen men and strict injunctions te push
through by night, at all hazards, though
the way was beset with Zulus, and that
he neither went through nor returned,
but waB found hiding at a kraal two days
after, only twenty miles away, The
escort returned, nnd nfter much cross cress
examination had told the story, separate
ly and collectively, that the young eillcer
liad become utterly unnerved towards
midnight by the reports from scouting
parties and ethers; had declared te them
that It was timply madness te attempt
te push through; they would be maisa-l
cred te a man; and, 'though they an an an
nounced that they were statich and ready,
he refuted, and ordered them te biveuaa
whero'they wera for tha night, and In
the morning he hail disappeared. They
declared they supposed he had geno back
te camp, and after waiting n day they
returned, reporting him lest.
"When feuntl at the kraal he was de
lirious with fevcr, or pretended te be,
said the general, and he was brought In
under arrest and the trial was te pro
ceed. 1 don't knew hew it turned out.
He was net court martialed, but permit
ted te return te England. It wni said he
told n very different story; that he had
begged the brigade major who detailed
'the escort te let him have half n dozen
of his own Lancers Instead of the pack
of irregulars they gave him; he did net
trust them, nnd feared they would aban
don him as they had the prince; but the
staff efllcer said the order couldn't le
changed these men knew the country
nnd all thutnortef thing, you knew; and
there u'JHemi fellow in the Lancers who
stuck te it that hu lx-lleved Mnitland had
tried his best te get through nlone. But
'twas all useless; somebody had te be
held responsible, and the failure was all
heaped en him. I
".Meantime, there had lepn fury nt
home; old Maitland had written casting
Idm off, repudiating currlm; him for
oil 1 knew and the next thing there
came n messenger fiem the captain of
Ids ship nt Southampton. They brought
Ills wnlch, his ring, lib sword nnd pert-manti-aun,
and n letter which was writ
ten en receipt of that his father sent
him a long letter, that the old man
never read te any living soul, but breeds
ever te this day. The young fellow bade
them all geed-by; hu would net llve te
disgrace them further, if that was what
was thought of him at home, and leaped
overboard from the steamer the night
nfter she weighed anchor no ene nbeard
could tell just when, but he was writing
in lib state room na she cleared the har
bor, nnd the steward saw him undress
ing nt 0 o'clock. In the morning every
thing about lib belongings was found in
perfect order lib letter te the captain
of the (ihtp, the ertmauteaus, watch,
ring, clothing, etc., just as he described
in that letter and hu was no mero seen.
It was the conviction of nil that he must
have leaped overboard in the darkness
when fur nut nt sea.
"Then Mre. Maitland bowed her head
and never lifted it again. Then, all
nlone, nnd fiercely rejecting nnything
llku sympathy, old Mnitland took te
truvel came here te America, wandered
around the world, shunning men as he
would these prnlrie wolves; and when
he had te go te England he would cee no
ene but the attorneys and solicitors with
whom he had business. Here nt Dun
raven he is mero content than anywhere,
because he is farther from the world.
Here Gladys Is queen: 'twas she who
named It, two years age, for her mother
was n connection of the carl's. But
Maitland even here hates te have lib
name mentioned; and that Is why I say
he refers nil business te me and keeps
himself out of everything. De you sce
what a weight he carries?"
Mr. Ewen had grown red with the In
tensity nnd rapidity of lib talk, lie re
moved his hat and mopped lib face nud
brew with n lug silk handkerchief, and
then glanced ngaln nt Perry, who had
listened with absorbed interest and who
was new bilently thinking it ever, look
ing curiously at Ewen the while.
"Have I bored you half te death?"
nsked the Englishman, bomewhat rue
fully. "I nevcr told that btery before,
but It has been smoldering for years."
"Bored? Ne! I never was mero inter
ested in my life, I was thinking what n
different sort of fellow you were frem1
the man I met out yonder the ether dny.
Did they never de anything te clear the
matter up? In our country It never
would have been allowed te rest there."
"It was tae far geno; and when
the boy killed himself the thing was
used by all the government papers
you'd call them 'administration organs'
as a confession of judgment. When
the Lancers came home there was bonte
talk, but it was seen hushed. Maitlaud
had Mint up the old place by that time
nnd geno no ene knew where, but I lend
it in ene of the Londen papeis Tiuth, 1
think a story that two of the irregulars
had quarreled with their fellewa and
nfter the war was ever told n talu th-.t
made ti sensation in Cape Colony, They
baid that the young elllcer was a ma
ligned man; that up te midnight lie lutd
pushed en, but every scout nnd patrol
they met warned them that thousands
of Zulus were ahead, nnd that it was
madness te try, The icn began whis
pering among themselves, nnd begged
the bergcant te nttempt te dissuade the
Lancer efllcer; and he did, and they all
began te talk, but he rcfiibcd te listen.
"At last they halted at a little stream
and flatly refused te go a step further.
He ordered, "begged nnd implored. He
premised heavy reward te any ene of
their number who would ceme and show
him the way. Then they heard the nhiht
cries or signals of seme war parties across
the fields, and the sergeant and most of
the men put spurs te their horses; the
ethers followed, nnd they rede back five
miles until they were within our patrolled
lines; then they bivouacked, supposing,
of course, the Lancer had followed them.
But lie hadn't: he never joined them all
next day, nnd likely as net lie had done
his best te get through that btrange
country by night nlone, and had tried te
carry lib dispatches te tiie detachment.
They knew they must tell a straight
btery or be beverely punished. They
were twelve against ene when it came te
evidence, as the sergeant einted out,
nnd se they agreed en the ene that sent
him te Coventry.
"Some of tiie Lancer officers get held
of this and swere they beheved it true;
but ineautime the government had had
the devil's own time In tiding lib lord
ship the general ever the numerous
blunders he had made In the campaign,
and the Lancers were summarily or
dered off uUen here. There was no ene
left te taUe up oer Archie's cause at
home, and the thing died out."
"By the Ixrd Harry, .Mr. Ewen, It
wouldn't dle out herel We Yankees
would resurrect such n thing if it were
old ns a mummy,"
"Sometimes "l think old Maitland
would be glad of the chance te de It,
even broken as he Is; sometimes, Mrs.
Cowan says, lie walks the fleer nil night
and holds Archie's last letter in his
hands. She thinks he charges himself
with having driven the boy te suicide,"
"Dees Miss Mnitland never revisit the
old home?" nsked Perry, nfter n mo
ment's thought.
"She gees with her father every
where. He is never here mero than twice
n year, and seldom for mero than bix
weeks at a time. Were It net for her, he
would settle down here, I believe. IIe
went te Cape Colony nnd tried te find
the men who gave out that btery, but
ene of them was dead and the ether had
utterly disappeared. There were still
six burvivers of that escort, the sergeant
J among them, and he was u man of seme
iwsitlen and property They btuck te
1 the original story, and K.iid the two men
I h he had btarted thu bc.'ia.itien w ere mere
I blackmailing vagrants. Maitlaud ad-
! vertised evcrywheruforthembMng man,
I but te no purwse. I think he and Miss
Gladybhave finally abandoned all hope
of eviT righting Aruliie'n name. She was
only n child when it nil happened, but
she uerthiH-d him. and never for an
instant hai believed the story of lib hay
I ing funked, She'j out here riding some-
where thb morning, by tlje way,"
"Whel him a<tatKlr exclaimed
Perry, with n sudden start and a flash of
eager light in Ids blue eye.
I '.wen smiled quietly as he answered.
"Yes. Bhe needed excrcise nnd wanted
te ceme down te the gate nnd meet Dr.
Quln. Slie went en up the valley, nnd
I wonder she U net back."
The bright light faded quickly as It
came; the glad blue eyes clouded heavi
ly. Ewen looked nt the young soldier,
surprlse In his florid face; surprlse that
quickly deepened into concern, for Perry
turned (suddenly away, as 'though look
ing for his comrades of the hunt.
"1 think thcy're coming no-v," tald
the manager, peering1 up the valley un
der the shading xvlllews. "Yes. Won't
you step a bit?"
"Net new," was the hurried reply,
"Thank you for that story; It has given
me a let te think about. I'll sce you
again." The last words were almost
shouted back, for, urged by sudden dig
of the spur, Nelan indignantly lashed
lib heels, then rushed In wrathful gallop
towards the eastern bluffs. It was no
willful pang lib rider had inflicted en his
pet nnd comrade; It was onlyihe Invol
untary transmission of the shock te lib
own young heart a cruel, jealous stab,
that came with theso thoughtless words,
"She wanted te ceme down te the gnte
nnd meet Dr. Quln. and went en up the
valley." He would net even leek back
nud bce her riding by that man's bide.
CHAPTEn XII.
.;&
O USE the expression of
Mr. Dana, "Ned Perrv
seemed off his feed" for
"5 a dny or two. The hunt
'i? had been pronounced a
big success, despite the fact of Perry's
defection he had net even joined them
nt luncheon and it was agreed that it
should be repeated the first bright day
after muster. That ceremony came off
en Monday t 1th due pempnnd formality
and much rigidity of inspection en the
part of the pest commander. It was
watched with interest by the ladies, nnd
Mrs. Belknap even proposed that when
the barracks and kitchens were being
visited they should go along. Dana had
been her doveteo ever since the day of
the hunt, and announced his willingness
te carry her suggestion te the colonel,
but Belknap declined. She wanted n few
words with Perry, nnd did net knew
hew te effect her purpose. When he
stepped nnd speke te her nfter parade en
Saturday evening and would have made
peace, she thought te cemplete her ap
parent conquest by n show of womanly
displeasure at his conduct, nnd nn ns ns
eurnnce that, thanks te Mr. Dana, the
day had been delightful nnd his fallure
te accompany her had been of nj conse
quence nt nil. The utterly tinexpected
way in which he took it va3 simply a
"stunner" te the little lady.
Se far from being piqued nnd jealous
and huffy, as she expected, Mr. Perry
justified the oft expressed opinion of her
sbterhoed te the effect that "men were
simply past nil comprehension" by
brightening up instantly nnd expressing
such relief at her information that for a
moment she wa3 tee dazed te speak. By
that time lie had pleasantly said geed
night nud vanished; nor had he been
near her since, except te bow and leek
pleased when she walked by with Dana.
She never thought of him n3 nn actor
befere, but this, said Mrs. Belknap te
herself, leeks like censummate acting.
Had she known of or even buspected the
cxistencoef a woman who had interposed
nud cast her Inte the shade thu explana
tion would have occurred te her at ence;
but that there was a goddess in thobhape
of Gladys Maitland within A day's ride
of Itessitcr she never dreamed for an in
stant. Believing that no ether woman
could have unseated her, Mrs. Belknap
hhnply could net account for such titter,
such unutterable, complacency en the
part of her lately favored admirer in Ids
virtual dismissal. All Sunday nnd Mon
day she looked for signs of sulking or
surrender, but looked in vain.
Peiry seemed unusually grave and
silent, was Parke's report of the situa
tion; hut whatever comfort she might
ha ve derived from that knowledge was ut
terly destroyed by the way he brightened
up and looked pleased whenever they
chanced te meet. Monday evening he
stepped te speak with her en the walk,
holding out lib hand and fairly beaming
upon her; she icily received these demon
strations, but failed te chill them or him,
Then she essayed te make him suffer the
pangs of the jilted by clinging te Dana's
arm and smiling up in Dana's face, and
then she suddenly started: "Oh, Mr.
Dana! Hew could I have been se thought theught
lessand this b your wounded bide!"
Dana protested that her blight weight
was seething balm, net additional pain,
nnd Perry promptly asseverated that if
he were Dana he would beg her net te
quit his arm, and her eyes looked scorn
nt him ns she said, "Hew can you knew
nnything about it, Mr. Peiry? Yeu've
never been In action or get a scratch,
while Mr. Dana" and new the daik
eyes speke volumes ns they looked up
Inte these of her escort "Mr. Dana is
ene of the heroes of the fighting days of
the regiment." Even that fulled te crush
him. while it had the effect of making
Dana feel maw kbh and absurd. Perry
frankly responded that he only won
dered the women ever could find time te
show any civility whatever te fellows
like him, when there were ht many who
"hail records." She uus completely at n
less te fathom him, nud when tattoo
came en Monday night, and they were
all discussing the project of n run with
the hounds fe: the coming morrow a
May day celebration en new principles
Mrs. Belknap resolved upon h change of
tidies.
Dana un officer of the guard and ever
nt the guard house, but neaily all the
ether officers were chatting aeut the
veranda and the gate of the colonel'
quarters. Thither had Capt. Belknap
escorted lib pretty wife, and she wm,
ns usual, the center of nn interested
group. Perry came btrelling along nfter
leportingthe rebiilt of tattoo roll call te
the adjutant, and Capt. Stryker call.'d
te him and asked some question about
the men en btable guard. The orders of
the colonel with regard te watching the
movements of the men nfter the night
roll call were being closely observed, and
when the trumpets bounded "taps'n lew
moments later, beveral of the troop com
manders walked away together, and thb
left nbinallir paity It was just at this
juncture lh.it Mrs. Belknap's sweet noIce
was heard addressing the commanding
efllcer;
"Oh, cnlencll Ever since Thursday I
have been telling Capt. Belknap nlxmi
these lovely albums of yours; and he is
se anxious te see them Ceuid i.e have
a leek at them te-ulghi?"
"Why, cettalnly," exclaimed thu colo
nel, all heartiness and pleature. "Come
!?
vfj$f
JifKf
right (n, Belknap, come In any of you
nil of you where It's geed and light."
And he hospitably held open the screen
deer. Perry had secii the albums a deeen
times, but he was for going In with the
ethers, when he felt a little hand press
ure en his arm, and Mrs. Belknap's
great dark eyes were gazing up into his
with iifeurnful, incredulous Appeal.
"Don't you knew 1 want te bee you?"
she tnurmnred se that enlv he could
i hnnr. "Wnlll"
And, much bewildered, Mr. Perry
waited.
Slie steed where she could leek
through the screen deer in the parlor be
yond, watching furtively until the party
were grouped under the hanging lamps
nnd absorbed In looking ever ene an
other's shoulders at the famous albums;
then, beckoning te him te fellow, she
flitted, like seme ccrle sprite, en tiptoe
te the southern cud of the veranda,
where clustering vines hid her from
view from the walk along the parade.
Perry began te feel queer, ns he after
wards expressed it, but he stalked along
nfter her, declining te med u la te the
thunder of hb heavy heels upon the re
sounding gallery. 8he put her finger te
her lips, nud, after n nervous glance
nreund, looked at him warningly, be
seechingly. "What en earth's the matter?" was all
the perplexed and callow youth could
find te say, and In a tone 60 utterly do de
void of romance, sentiment, tenderness
anything she wanted te hear that in
nil her experience and she had had net
a little pretty, bewitching little Mrs.
Belknap could recall nothing se humil
iating. "llew can you be se unkind te me?"
nt last she whispered, In the tragic
tremolo she well knew te be effective; it
had dene execution ever and again. But
big, handsome Ned Perry looked only
like ene in a maze; then he bent ever
her in genuine concern:
"Why, Sirs. Belknap! What has hap
pened? What has geno wrong? What
de you mean by unkindness?"
She faced him, indignantly new: "Is
It pessible you profess net te knew?"
"By all that's holy, Mrs. Belknap, I
haven't an idea of what you mean te
charge me with. Tell me, and I'll make
every amend I knew hew."
IIe was bending ever her In genuine
distress nud trouble; lie had no thought
but te assure her of hb Innocence of any
conscious wrong. She was leaning upon
the balcony rail, and he rested ene strong
hand upon the pest at the shaded corner,
above her head, as he bowed hb own te
catch her reply.
Fer a moment shs turned her face
nway, her besom heaving, her little
hands clasping ncrveiibly, the picture of
wronged nnd sorrowing womanhood.
His blunt, ragged honesty was somo semo some
thingshu had neter yet had te deal with.
Thb indeed was "game worth the
candle," but boniethlngef a higher order
than the threadbare flirtations she had
found se palatable heretofore. She had
expected him te be revealed by this time
as the ud mi re r who had only been play
ing a part in his apparent acceptance of
the bituatien of tiie last two days; she
expected te be accused of coquetting
with D.ina, of neglect, coldness. Insult
towards himself; and this she would
have welcomed; it would have shown
him still a victim in her toils, a meuse
she might toy and play with indefinitely
befere bestowing the final coup de grace.
But Instead of it, or anything like it,
here btoed the tall, handsome young fel
low, utterly ignoring the possibility of
her having wronged him, and only beg
ging te be told hew he had affronted her,
that he might make immediate amends.
It wns simply e.aspeiating Slie turned
suddenly upon him, hiding her face in
her bands, almost cebbing:
"And I thought we were such such
fricndsl"
Even that suggestive tentative did net
lay him prostrate Fancy thu utter in
adequacy of his respense:
"Why, be did 11" Thb was tee much.
Down came the hands, nnd were laid in
frantic nptica! upon his breast. He did
net bar the way; bhe could have slipped
from the corner without difficulty, but
the ether method was mero dramatic.
"Let me go, Mr. Perry," hIie pleaded.
"I I might have known; I might lme
known." The accents were stilli u, Lejrt
rending.
"Don't go yet, Mrs. Belknap; don't go
without telling me what what I've
done." And peer Ned imploringly seized
the little hands in both liisaud held them
tight. "Please tell me," he pleaded.
"Ne, no! Yeu would net understand;
you de uet see what 1 have te bear. Let
me go, I beg, please; I cannot stay."
And her great dark eyes, swimming in
tears, were raised te hb face, w Idle with
faint very faint struggles she btreve
te pull her hands away, relenting in her
purpose te go the moment she felt that
he was relaxing the held in which they
were clasjied, but suddenly wrenching
them trem lib breast nnd darting from
lib hide, leaving Perry In much bewil
derment te face about and confront the
doctor.
A 1'ttle opening had been left In the
railing nt the south end of the veranda
the samuthieugh which the pest surgeon
had passed the night Mrs. Lawrence had
shown te Perry the answering signal
light; it was the doctor's "8hert cut" be
tween the colonel's quarters and lib own
blde deer, and beft, unbetraying turf lay
there between. Absertied in her melo
drama, Mrs. Belknap had failed te note
the coming of the intruder; absorbed in
his own btupefactien and his fair part
ner's apparent depth of wee, Ned Perry
heard nothing but her soft winds and
Befter siglis, until a deep voice at his
bheulder a voice whose accent hetiayed
no apology gave utterance te thb un
compromising sentiment:
"Mrs. Belknap, this is the thirtieth
net the first of April."
"And what has that te de with your
sudden npjicarauce, Dr. Quln?" an
swered the lady, with smiling lips but
(lashing ejes. She rallied from thehheek
of sudden lelley like the veteran she
was. and took the brunt of the fight en
hr own white, gleaming shoulders,
needing no aid from the young fellow
who steed there, flushed, annoyed, yet
tee perturbed te say a word even had
there been a chance te get in one edge
wise Blunt as he was, he could net but
realize the awkwardness of the bituatien.
And te Im se misjudged by such n man us
Dr. Quin! "All this was flashing through
hb mind as the doctor answered'
"Nothing with my appearance, Mrs
Belknap; it was yours I remarked iien
Yeu seemed te think it All Feels' day."
"Far from it, doctor, when I thought
you miles nway."
"Well, well.'Mrs. Belknap." said Quln
shrugging his bread shoulders and laugh
ing nt her undaunted pluck, "I've known
you fifteen years, and never have found
you at n less for n sharp retort."
"In nil the years jeu have known me.
doctor, as child, ns maid, as woman,
you are the only man in the army who
ever put me en the defensive. 1 see
clearly that you would taunt me becnuse
of thb interview with Mr. Perry. Henl
seit qui mal y pense. Dr. Quinl Yeu are
the last man in this garrison caialry
nnd nil who can afford te threw
stones."
"Whew-w-wl" whistled the doctor
"What n little spitfire you always were
te be Mirel Mr. Perry," baid he, turning
suddenly en the young elliccr, "let me
at ence uuolesizo for a rerv nUbuulhr
observation. When I spot of fcarfni
known Mrs. Belknap fifteen years
Instantly thought I bhuI te autte br
out very much elder than rim Is; and
hence these recriminations. She alwayi
objected te me because I used te tease
her when she was in her first long
dresses the prettiest girl at Fert Leav
enworth and she's never gotten ever ft,
But her father and 2 were geed friends,
nnd I should like te be an honest one te
bis daughter. Geed night te you both."
"One moment, Dr. Quln," said Perry,
springing forward. "Yeu have seen fit
te make comment and insinuations that
have annoyed Mrs. Belknap at a time
when she was under my cscerfs-
"Oh, Mr, Perry, net net" exclaimed
Mrs. Belknap, laying her hand en his
arm. "Net a word of that kind, I Im
plore! Hush I here comes my husband."
"Ah, Belknap," said the doctor
blandly, as the big captain came hur
riedly forth with searching glance along
the dark gallery, "here you find me, as
usual, trying te be devoted te Mrs. B.
whenever I can get you out of the way.
Why the jcuce can't you stay?'
"Oh, It's you, Is It, doctor?" answered
the captain In tones of evident relief.
"It is far tee chilly for thb young
woman te be sitting here without a
wrap, Is it net? Come Inside, Delly,
Come, doctor. Halloel what's that?"
A cavalry trumpeter came springing
through the gate and up en the veranda.
"Is Capt. Stryker here?" he panted.
"Ne. What's the matter?" demanded
Terry.
"Treuble at the stables, sir. Sergt.
Gwynne's assaulted egaln."
Perry sprang from the veranda and
went tearing across the dark level of the
parade as fast as active legs could carry
liim, leaving the doctor far behind. As
he passed tliocempany quarters he noted
thatseveral men were leaping from their
bread galleries, some just pulling en a
blouse, ethers in their shirt sleeves, but
all hastening towards the stables, where
dim lights could lie seen flitting about
like will-e'-the-wlsps. One of these
troopers came bounding te lib side and
would have passed him in the race, lie
recognized the athletic form even in the
darkness and hailed him:
"That you, Sergt. Leary? What's gene
wrong?"
"It's thhn blackguards from below
sir. Who else could it lie?"
"These people nt the ranch?"
"The very ones, sir. Ne ene else would
harm Sergt. Owynne. Sure we ought
te have wound 'cm up the ene night we
had a chance, sir."
Breathless, almost, they reached the
stables. The horses were all snorting and
plunging about in their stalls, showing
every indication of excitement and
alarm. Frem the stables of the adjoin
ing companies ether men hud come with
lanterns, nnd a group of er!iaps half a
dozen troopers was gatheied about the
form of a cavalry sergeant who was seat
ed, limp and exhausted, at the western
doorway. One wildier was bathing hb
face with n bponge; the llr.it sergeant of
the troop was bending ever and trying
te feel the pulse.
"Stand back, you men!" he said, au
thoritatively, ns he caught bight of the
lieutenant's shoulder straps. "Leave n
lantern here. New, Owynne, here's
Lieut. Perry Can you tell him who it
was?"
Owynne feebly streve te rise, but Perry
checked him.
"Sit dewnl The de::ter is coming;
don't nttempt te move." panted the young
efllcer. "Tell me what you knew about
it, Seigt. Hesmer."
"Nothing but this. sir. I was in the
office when Trumpeter Petersen ran in
nndsald they were killing Sergt. Owynne,
1 eent him for the captain and grabbed
my revolver and ran here ns hard ns 1
could. IIe was lying just outside the
deer when I get heie, and net another
soul iu sight. Sergt. IJess, of F troop,
and Sergt. Fngan. of B, came witli their
lanterns from tiie stables next deer; but
they had net even heard the treuble."
"Where was the stable guard?"
"Inside, sir, and be's there new. He
heard the bcuIIIc, he cays, and ran te
give the alarm and te protect the ser
geant, but the men scattered when he
came, and he saw nene of them."
"Tell him te ceme here. Let seme of
these men go in and quiet the horses.
The captain will be here in n minute,
nnd he will want te sce that stableman.
Who is It?"
Kelly, sir."
By this time Dr. Quln came lumber
ing heavily up the slepe te the stable
deer. His manner wns very quiet and
very grave as he bent ever the injured
man and carefully studied lib face by
the light of the sergeant's lamp. The
doctor speke gently:
"Yeu knew me, sergeant? Dr. Quln.
Can you tell me what struck you? Are
you hurt elsewhere than in the head?"
Gwynne made no reply for a moment,
then faintly answered:
"Stunned, mainly, nnd ene or two
kicks after I was knocked down."
Then came a deeper voice, quiet but
authoritative, and the group that had
begun te close in again about the doctor
and his patient fell back as Capt. Stryker
strode into their midst.
"Sergt. Hesmer, send all these men of
the troop back te their quarters at ence,
and permit no mero te come out. Is he
much hurt, doctor?"
"Somewhat stunned, he says. I've
made no examination yet."
The captain looked about him. Ex
cept one sergeant lielding a lantern, the
ether troopers, obedient te his order,
were slowly fading back into the dark
ness en their way te the barracks. Only
the doctor, Mr. Perry, and the sergeant
remained by the side of the injured
man. Then came the questien:
"Who did this, Gwynne?"
Ne answer. A deeper shade of pain
and treuble seemed te pass ever the
sergeant's face. He made an effort te
speak, hesitated, and nt last replied:
"I cannot say, sir."
"Yeu knew, de you net?"
Again pained sileuce nnd embarrass
ment. At last the sergeant leaned slow
ly forward and speke:
"Captain, the men were masked, the
voices dbgulsed. I could net see the
dress In the darkness. I was struck en
the head almost the instant I get eutside
the deer, and it would be impossible for
me te Identify one of them."
"De you thiuk It was the same gang
you had the treuble with at Dunraven?"
"I could net say, sir."
"De you suspect any of our own men?"
"I would net say that, sir."
"Where Is the stable guard?" asked
Stryker. "Send him here."
And presently Trooper Kelly n wiry
little Irishman, with a twinkling eye and
nn, expression of mingled devilment and
imperturbability In bb face came forth
from the stable deer and steed attention.
"Where were you when thb assault
took place, Kelly?"
"At the far end of the stables, sir,"
replied Kelly, with prompt and confi
dent tone.
"Then of ceurse you saw and knew
uething of it."
"Net a wer-rad, sir."
"Why did you let a gang from that
English ranch ceme here and beat your
sergeant befere your very eyes?"
Kelly reddened at the verv idea.
"I'd ha' died first, slrl Sure they'd
nlver dared" And then Kellystepped
sliert Hb Celtie pride had been touch-
edteihe inulck, and had U notprevJS
tee much for area Irbh wit?
"IIew did they get the sergeant out of
the stable at this hour of the night?"
"Sure they called him out, sir."
"And the sergeant happened te be
down there by the deer at the time?"
"Ne, sir; he was In hU room beyant
up there by the forage."
"That's a long distance from this deer,
Kelly; and If he could hear it la 'fate
room you could hear it farther away."
"I wasn't farther away thin, air; I was
down here when they axed for him." '
"Theu why didn't you open the deer
and see who was making such a racket,
shouting for Sergt. Gwynne after taper
"Sure Ihey didn't shout at all at all,
sir; they axed for him quiet and re
spectable like, an' I wint and told him."
"Ah, yes, 1 see. And then, having
told him, you went away te the far end
of the stable."
"Yb, sir, just se, sir; an the moment
I heard the scrimmidge, sir, I ran as
hard as 1 could."
"Of ceurse you considered It was none
of your business what people might want
with the stable sergeant at night"
"Ne, sir. If he wanted me he had a
right te tell me te come."
"We differ en that point, Kelly. Re
lieeo him, Sergt. Hesmer."
On the following morning Cel Braln
ard was surprised te note in Capt. Stry
ker's column of remarks explanatory of
the alterations from the status of the
previous dnys
"Sergt. Owynqe from daily duty as
stable sergeant te sick in hospital; Sergt
Leary from duty te arrest, und Private
Kelly from duty te confinement"
CHAPTEB XIIL
OrWITHSTANDINO the
fact that there was an at at at
mosphere of suppressed
excitement ever the gor ger gor
rben this May ilay morn
ing, Mrs. Belknap's hunt
came off according te plan, nnd the three
heroines of the previous run rede forth
with but slight change of escort Capt,
Stryker felt constrained te remain In
garrison; he liad a quiet Investigation te
make, and was observed te be In close
conversation with Dr. Quin as the gay
party assembled in front of Cel. Bral
nard's quarters. Mr. Perry appeared in
his captain's stead, and very politely re
quested the honor of being escort te Mrs.
Lawrence, who accepted, y et looked a
tritle embarrassed as she did se. Indeed,
net until Bhe liad stolen nn appealing
glance at her husband and heard "his
cordial "By all means, dear; Perry can
guide you far better than I, nnd perhaps
you'll win another mask," did she thank
fully say "Yes." Dana rede with Mrs.
Belknap, as befere, and it was the colo
nel hini3elf who suggested te Stryker
that Mr. Perry should accompany Mm.
Lawrence thb day, nnd that he, the
colonel, should ride with Mrs. Sprague.
Perry had eagerly lent himself te the
propesition: he figured that new he could
have nn uninterrupted chat with Mrs.
Lawrence and hear what she had te tell
about Dunraven. Just befere starting
he sought Capt Lawrence, laughingly
told him the terms of their agreement,
nnd begged that he would relax lib
marital injunction and permit her te give
him such details as she happened te be
In possession of. "Indeed, Capt. Law
rence," he said, "I ask from no Idle curi
osity. I have been te the ranch, as you
new knew, nnd have geed reason for
asking," Te lib surprise the captain
replied substantially that, while he had
regretted Mrs. Lawrence's impulslve rov rev rov
clatiens, lie had thought it all ever and
decided that the best way out was that
Perry should be told the whole story and
be nble te bee hew very little there was
te it. He had decided, therofero, te tell
him himself; "and this evening, Perry,
If you will dine with us Informally, we'll
talk it ever afterwards. Meantime, I
prefer Mrs. Lawrence's name should net
be mentioned in connection with nny
story there may be afleat: se oblige me
by saying nothing te heron the subject."
This was ene matter for reflection and
something of a surprise; but there was
still another and even greater ene. That
very morning, just before guard mount,
and while he was dressing, Perry shout
ed, "Come in," respensive te a knock nt
hb sitting room deer, and in came Capt
Stryker. The object of lib early call
was explained In very few words.
"Perry," said he, "I have been ever te
see Sergt Gwynne thb morning, and the
doctor walked back from the hospital
with me and told me of your threatened
disagreement of last night. If it had net
been for that sudden call te the stables I
fancy there might have been n quarrel.
New, I think you knew I'm ene of the
last men te let nn efllcer of my regiment
especially my troop be placed In a
f.ilse position, and you can afford te
leave thb matter in my hands, can you
net?"
"Certainly, Capt. Stryker."
"Then I want you te eay nejhing te
Quln en the subject, and te treat him,
as far as pessible, as though nothing had
happened. His relations with the lady's
father and family were, nnd ere, cuch
that she ought te treat him with respect
and deference, and te accept his advice
even though it be given iu a style that
Carlyle, his favorite author, b mainly
responsible for."
"There was absolutely nothing In in
that . Well, captain," stammered peer
Ned, "I don't knew hew te say what I
want te say." He wanted te say there
was nothing In that Interview which
could possibly be criticised, but it sud
denly occurred te him that en the con
trary there was a geed deal. Then he
desired te assure the captain that, se far
as he was concerned, there wasn't a sus
picion of wrong doing; but heavens
and earth! that was equivalent te Bay
ing the lady was delngall that was open
te remark, and nothing would ever In
duce him te "give away a woman," as
he would have expressed it. Perry stam
mered and reddened all the mere, and
at last gave it up in despair, Stryker
sitting there the while with a quiet griu
en lib bronzed face aud mechanically
slashing hb beet legs witli a riding
switch.
"I think I understand the situation,
Perry, and there's no great harm done.
Only, let the matter drop se far as the
doctor b concerned, I mean; I de net
presume te ebtrude advice upon you as
te anything else."
And, tueugu no nad meditated a dif
ferent ceurse, aud had fully intended
hunting up Dana and sending him with
a note te tall upon the doctor for an
"explanation," he was glad te have a
man of Stryker's standing cry halt All
the same he was sero incensed against
Dr. Quln mainly because of the jeal
ous puln he suffered at the knowledge of
lib being se welcomed by Gladys Malt
laflji.wiieuJ)Q,a.wJH te.lialt the ranch:
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