Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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T raE SUMTER WATCHMAN, E?tabli*hed April, IS50. k3e Just and Fear not-Let all the Ends tnou Aims't at. be thy Country's, thy God's and Truth's " THE TRUE SOUTHRON, EgtaWished Jw?, 1C?$ Consolidated Ans:. 2, ISSI.] SUMTER, S. C., WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 1889. Sew Series-Yoi, IX, So. 16 Pablishod orory Wednesday, 3Y N. GK OSTEEN, SUMTER, S. C. TKRMS: Two Dollars per annum -in advance. ADVERTISEMENTS. i?e Square, first insertion.$1 00 ?very subsequent insertion. 50 Contracts for three months, or longer jw ill ie made at reduced rates. AU communications which subserve private interests will be charged for as advertisements. Obituaries and tributes of respect will be .harked for POWDE Absolutely Pure. This powder never varies. A marvel of purity, strength and wholesomeness. More economical than the ordinary kinds, and can? not be sold in competition with the multitude of low test, short weight, alum or phosphHte powders. Sold only in earn. ROYAL BAK? ING POWDER CO.. 106 Wall-?., N Y. CATARRH COLDlpS^, IN HEAD. he Cure Ely's Cream Balm Cleanses the Kasai Passages. A7 - lays Inflammatkm. Heals the Sores. Bestores the Senses of Taste, Smell and Hearing. A particle is applied int? each nostril and ls ajrrwuble. Prie**.'?Of. at ]>ruc?:i"t" or by . ELY BEOTHEE>,56 Warren St-,New York. THE SDMNDS NATIONAL BANE, OP SUMTER. j STATE, CITY AND COUNTY DEPOS?- 1 TORY, SUMTER, 6. C. Paid up Capital.$75.000 00 Surplus Fund. 7,500 00 Transacts a General Rankine Business. Careful attention given to collection?. SAVINGS DEPARTMENT. Deposits of $1 and onwards received. In? terest allowed rt{ the r?te of 4 p?-r cent, per annum. Payable quarterly, on firsi dajs of j Januarv, April, July and October. R. M. WALLACE, Vice President. ! W. ALSTON PRXXGLE JR., Aug. 1 Cashier. TAI B M ll SHH I!, SUMTER, S C. CITY AND COUNTY DEPOSITORY. ! i i Transacts a general Ba iking ousiness. Also h?g A Savings Bank Department, Deposits of Si 00 and upwards received. Interest calculated nt the rute of 4 per cent, j per aenuin, payable quarterly. W. F. B. HAYNS WORTH, A. WHITE, JR . President. Cashier. Aug 21._ PATRONIZE HOME TALENT. Life-Size Portraits in Crayon. I MADE FROM PHOTOGRAPHS, SUMTER, S. C. -BY MRS. E. J. DUNNE Also prepared to teach a c.ass in Drawing and Music Jan- 30. Dr. T. W. BOOKHART, DENTAL SURGEON". Office over Bultinao & Bro.'sjShoe Store ENTRANCE ON MAIN 8TRKET. SUMTER, S. C. Office Hours-9 to 1:30 ; 2:30 to 5. April 17-0 i ~G.W. DIC% D. I).sr ! Office over Bonn's .Ww Smre, SNTRANCR ON MAIN STREKT, SUMTER, S. C. Office Hours.-9 to 1:30 ; 2:30 to 5. Sept 8 B. G. GIBSON. COTTON BUYER. HIGHEST CASH PRICES PAID Office at IV. H. Yates' well known Grocery vStore. Main S- ?.. t. .Sep? ll PAVILION HOTEL, CHARLESTON, S. C. First Class in all its Appointments. Supplied with ail Modern improvements Excellent Cuisine, I^trge A irv Rooms. Otis Passenger Elevator. Elec? tric Bells and Lights. Heat? ed Rotunda. RATES $2 00, $2 50 AND $2.00 Rooms Reserved by Mail or Telegraph Sept 16 WRIGHT'S HOTEL. COLUMBIA, S. C. -O THIS NEW AND ELEGANT HOCSfc with all modern improvements, ts nov \ open for the reception of guests. S. L- WRIGHT & SON, Proprietors. IE ! A Story of American Frontier Life. ! By Capt. CHARLES KING, ?. S. A., j Author of "The Colonel's Daughter? "From the uanW "The Deserter? Etc. j Cony ri;.-!) r H 1KRS by J Ii Lippincott Company j Philadelphia, and published by special airange i me:it through t ii*- American Press Association I CONTINUED. 1 CHAPTER VIL hands, old Maitland stood there glaring at the young officer. Before Perry could speak again, however, and more fully explain the untoward circumstance, there caine a rush of hurrying footsteps without, and the sound of excited voices. The next minute they heard an eager, angry challenge, and Perry recognized the voice of the overseer or manager whom he had mot ia the morning. "VVbat do you fellows want here?" was his brusque amd loud inquiry as he sprang from the piazza and stood con? fronting the sergeant, who was quietly seated in the saddle, and the question was promptly echoed hy three or four burly men who, in shirt sleeves and various stylos of undress, came tumbling in the wake of their leader and stood now a menacing group looking up at the j silent troopers. j If them be one thing on earth that will stir an Irishman's soul to its inmost depths and kindle to instant flame the latent heat of Iiis pugnacity, it is just such an inquiry in the readily recog? nized accent of the hated ..Sassenach." j Perry recognized the danger in a flash, j and, springing through the open case- j mont, interposed between the hostile j parties. "Nota word. Sergt. Leary. Here. Mr. j Manager, these men simply obeyed or- j ders, and I am responsible for any mis- j take. No harm was intended"-. "Hann:" broke ia one of the ranch- j men. with a demonstratively loud laugh, j "Harm be Wowed! What harm could '. you do, I'd like to know? If the mus- ? ter'll only say the word, we'd break your j heads in a minute.** "Quiet, now, Dick!" interpose..! the j overseer: but the other hands growled ! approval, and Perry's eyes flashed with j anger at the insuit. What reply hu j might have made was checked by the j sight of Sergt. Leary throwing himself j from the saddle and tos- ing his reins to; ono of the mon. ile knew well enough I what that meant, and sprang instantly j in front of him. "Back to your horse, sir! Back, in? stantly !" for the sergeant's face was fierce with rage. "Mount, i say!" added tho lieutenant, as the sergeant still hesitated, and even the sense of discipline could not keep the mounted troopers from a mut? tered word of encouragement. Slowly, wrathfully, reluctantly, the soldier obeyed, once turning furiously back as j jeering taunts were hurled at him from among th.* ranchers, unrebuked by their manager. "Now move off with your men to the gate. Leave my horse, and wait for me there. Go!" added the young officer, sternly: and. with bitter mortifi? cation at heart and a curse stifled on his quivering lips, the Irishman turned his horse's head away and slowly walked him in the indicated direction. -Now. Mr. Manager." said Perry, turning fiercely upon tho younger Eng j lishman, "I have done my best to re? strain my mea clo you look out for yours. You have allowed them to insult me and mine, and you may thank your stars that discipline prevailed with my people, though you have nothing of Un? kind here." "Your men have out down our fences, by your order, I presume." said the man? ager, coolly, "and it's lucky for them | they got out of the way when they did. j We have a right to protect our property j and eject intruders, and" "I came here to inquire for a missing : man-a right even an English man can? not deny us on these prairies. We had excellent reason to believe him injured, and thought, not knowing you for the inhospitable gang you are, that he might have been carried in here for treatment: there was no other ?dace. Your pro? prietor tells me he is not bore. After what i've seen of your people. I have reason to be sud; mor.,- anxious about him. Scant mercy a single trooper would have had at their hands. No.. j ask you, I) ? you know or have you heard of a cavalry soldier being seen around here during the day?" Perry was standing holding his horse by tie* curb as be spoke, facing the p ir lor windows a ?if ron ting th * angry group of ranchmen. Wit'dn. though nearer the window than ho bad left bim. was the bent form of thc owner of Dun raven, leaning on ids cano and apparent? ly impatiently striving to make* himself heard as be ' arie-forward. Before-the manager could answer, lie was compel? led'to turn about ami rebuke his mon. two of whom were esj>eeially truculent and menacing. Finally h.* spoke: "I have heard nothing, but I tell von frankly that if any of your men have been prowling around hon.. it's moro than probable some one bas got burt. ? las there been any trouble today, men?'" h<. askod. "By God. there will be if this ranch isn't cleared in five minutes." was th? only answer. "Don t make an ass of yourself. Hoke.* growled the manager. "They are going quick enough." "I am going," said Perry, swinging lightly into sad? lie; "and mite! you this, sir: I go with well warranted suspicion that sonto of tb'-s.* bullies ?d' yours have been responsible for the non-appearance of my stubb* sergeant. If bois not found this night you may confidently look f<>: another visit. I say that to you also, Mr. Maitland?an*l you owe it toour f'>r bearance that there has been no hi-x*! shed bore to-night." Old Maitland s tremulous tones wen heard but a second in reply ? hon he was interrupted by a coarse voice from the crowd of rai:- lon- -;, by tun time in creased to nearly a dozen men. Som >f tliem were gathering about Perry a ie sat in the saddle, and an applaudin K?ho followed tho loud interruption: "Give the swell a lift. Tummy; 'twil ?each him better manners." Almost instantly Perry felt his righ foot grasped anti a powerful form wa lending at the stirrup. He had hear j rf the trick before. Many a time ha :he London cad unhorsed the Englisl .rooper, ta leen unawares, by hurling bin with sudden lift from below. But Perr; .vas quick and active as a cat. Seat an< >addie. too. were in his favor. Ile sim ply threw Ins weight on the left foot an? his bridle hand upon the pommel, let t' ? right leg swing over the horse's back un lil released from the brawny hand, thei back it came as he settled again in tin saddle, his powerful thighs gripping lik< a vise: at the sante instant, and befon his assailant could duck to earth and slij out of the way, he had whipped our th< heavy Colt's revolver and brought it! butt with stunning crash down on th< ranchman's defenseless bead. There was instant rush and commotion In vain old Maitland feebly piped hi: protests from the veranda: in vain th? overseer seized and held back one or tw< of the men and furiously called off th< rest. Aided by the darkness whicl veiled them, tin* others made a simulta ueous rush upon the young officer ana sought to drag bim from his plunging horse. Perry held bis pistol high in air, '.hreatened with the butt the nearest as? sailant, yet loath to usc further force, ile was still in the broad glare of the parlor lights-a conspicuous mark; eager hands had grasped his bridle rein at the rory bit. and he could not breakaway: and then missiles began to fly about bia devoted bead, and unless be opened fir?? he was helpless. While two men firmly held Nolan by the curb, half a dozen others were hurling from the ambush of darkness a scattering volley of wooden billets and chunks of coal. He could easily have shot down tho men who held .him. It was sore temptation, for already he had been struck and stung by unseen projectiles: but just as the manager sprang forward and with vigorous cuffs induced the men to loose their hold on his rein, t?tere came titree horsemen charging full tilt back into the crowd, scattering the assailants right and left; and. this time unrebuked, Sergt. Leary leaped from the saddle and, with a rage of fierce delight, pitched headlong into battle with the biggest ranchman in his cay. And this was not all: for behind them at a tvpid trot came other troopers, and in a moment the open space was thronged with eager, wondering com? rades-full half of Stryker's company in whose overwhelming presence all thought of promiscuous combat seemed to leave the ranchmen. Tiley slipped away in the darkness, leaving to their employers the embarrassment of ac? counting for their attack. Leary was still fuming with wrath and raging for further battle and shouting imo the darkness fierce invective at the vanished head of bis opponent. He turned on the overseer himself, and but for Perry's stern and sudden prohibition would have had a round with him. but was forced to content himself with the information conveyed to all within hear? ing that he'd "fight any tin min" the ranch contained if they'd only come out where the lieutenant couldn't stop him. The troopers were making eager inquiry as to the cause of all the trouble, and, fearing further difficulty, Perry prompt? ly ordered the entire party to "fall in." Silence and discipline were restored in s moment,andas the platoon formed rank he inquired of a sergeant how they came to l>e there. The reply was that it had grown so dark on the prairie that further search seemed useless. Capt. Stryker and ue>st of tit?* men had been drawn off by signals from the Cheyennes up the val? ley towards the post, and these men who had been beyond Dunraven on the north? ern prairie were coming back along the Monee trail when they saw the lights and heard voices over at the lower shore. There they found Leary, who was excit rd about something, and before they bau i me to ask lie suddenly shouted, "They're sill?n" tlie lieutenant. Come" on, boys!'" md galloped off with his own party: so [hey followed. Perry quietly ordered them to leave a corporal and four men with him, and told the senior sergeant to march the (?tilers back to the post; h( would follow in five minutes. Then he turned to the manager. "You will have to put up with my keeping some of my men with me, in view of ail the circumstances." he said, coldly. "Bat after this exhibition of lawlessness on the part of your people 1 do not propose to take any chances. 1 want to say to you that it is ruy belief that some of those ruffians you employ can tell what has become of our missing man. and that you will do well to inves? tigate to-night. As to you. Mr. Mait? land." he said, turning to the old gentle? man, who had sunk into a low easy chair, "much as I regret having dis? turbed your privacy and-that of the ladies of your household, you will ad mit now that justice to my men and t< the service demands that I should report my suspicions and my reception here t<; the commanding oflicer at Fort Rossi? ter." Then* was no reply. "I wish you good night, sir." said Perry: but his eyes wandered in to iii, lighted parlor in search of a verv differ? ent face and form-and still there wai no answer. The manager came back upon the pi? azza and stepped rapidly towards them. Perry quickly dismounted and bent dou n over tie* . "ouching figure. "Why. her? 1" he suddenly exclaimed, "your employer is faint, or - something*!, gone un mg." "Hush!" w;is the low spoken, hurried ansu.-r of the Englishman. ".Ju-t hear a hand, will you, and help nie to lift him to yonder sofa?" Easily, between them, they hon- th? slight, attenuated form of the old man into the lighted pari? ?r. A deathly pal loi had settle?! on his face. Ujs eyes wen dos?"'d. ami beseemed fallen into a ?le.-; swoon. Perry would have set a cushion Ululer lu'-? head as they laid him ?lownoii a broad, easy couch, but the managei jerked it away, lowering the gray hair t?? tie- very level of the l>a<-k. so that tin mouth gape?! wide.and looked like death itself. ?*.Iu-t steady his head in that posit i >i: one minute, like a good fellow, i'll I* Lacle ?n a twinkling," said the manager, as he darte?! from the room and leaped hurriedly up tho hall stairway. Perry heard him rap at a distant ?loor. | apparently at the southwest angle ??f tue big house. Then his voie., was calling j "Mrs. Cowan! Mrs. ('??wan! would von j have thc goodness to conn' down quick: ? tb?' master s ill." Then, before any answer could ? ? j given, another dour opened aloft an I trailing skirts and lighl foot falls cann flashing ?I??wn th?' stairway. .\luu>st be fore he eon M turn gre? t her, she was j iti the room again, aiul with quick, im I pulsive movement had thrown herself on her knees by his side. "Oh, papa! dear father! I was afraid of this! Let me take his head on my arm. so," she hurriedly/ murmured: "ami would you step in tiio oilier room and fetcli me a little brandy? Tis there on the sideboard." Perry sprang to do her bidding, found a heavy decanter on thc great oaken buffet, half filled a glass, and brought ii ' wit" some water buck to the lounge, j Sile stretched forth ber hand. and. . thanking him with a grateful look from her sweet, anxious eyes, took the liquor j and carried it carefully to her father's j ashen lips. .'Can I not help you in some way? Is j there no one I can call?" asked the young | soldier, as he bent over her. "Mr. Ewen has gone for her-our old nurse, I mean. She docs not seem to bs in her room, and I fear she- luis gone ovei to her son's-a young fellow at the store house. Mr. Ewen has followed by this time." She dipped her slender white fingers in the water and sprinkled the forehead and eyelids of the prostrate man. A feeble moan, followed by a deep drawn sigh, was the on ly response. More brandy poured into the gaping mouth seemed only to strangle and distress him. Ne sign of returning consciousness rewarded her effort. "If Mrs. Cowan would only come! She has never failed us before; and wt so lean upon her at such a time." "Pray tell me which way to go. Sure Iv I can find lier," urged Perrv. "Mr. Ewen mw.st be searching for her now, or ho would have returned by this time; and I dread being alone. I have never been alone with my father when he has had such a seizure." Perry threw himself on his knees be side her. marveling at the odd fate that had so suddenly altered all the condi- I tions of bis unlooked for visit. He seized one of the long, tremulous hands that lay so nerveless on the couch, and begar. rapid and vigorous chafing and slapping. Somewhere he had read or heard of wo? men being restored from faintingspellsby just such means. Why should it not pre? vail with the old man? He vaguely be? thought him of burnt feathers, and look? ed about for the discarded pillow, won? dering if it might not be a brilliant idea to cut it open and extract a handful and set it ablaze under those broad and emi? nently aristocratic nostrils. Happily, be was spared excuse for further experi? ment. He felt that iife was returning to the band he was so energetically grooming, and that feeble but emphatic protest against such heroic treatment was manifest. "I think he's coming to," he said. 'He's trying to pull away. Shall I keep on?" "Yes, do! Anything rather than have bim lie in this death like swoon." Oliediently he clung to his prize, rub? bing and chafing hard, despite increasing tug and effort Then came another fee? ble, petulant J loan, and the hollow eyes opened just as rapid footfalls were heard on the veranda without and Mr. Ewen rushed breathless and ruddy faced into the room. "Whereon earth can that woman have gone?" he panted. "I cannot find her anywhere. Is he better, Miss Gladys?" "Reviving, I think, thanks to Mr. thanks to you," she said, turning her eyes full upon the kneeling figurent her side and sending Perry's heart up into i bis throat with delight at the gratitude j and kindness in her glance. She was j striving with one hand to unfasten the scarf and collar at the old man's neck.! but making little progress. "Let me help you," eagerly said Perry. "That, at least, is more in my line.'* And somehow their fingers touched as he twisted at the stubl>orn knot. She drew her hand away then, but it was gently, not abruptly done, and be found time to note that. too. and bless her for it. "I bate to seem ungracious, you know, after all that's happened." said Mr. Ewen, "but I fear 'twill vex bim awful? ly if he should find you in here when he comes to. He has bad these attacks for some time past, and I think he's coming through all right. See!" Old Maitland was certainly beginning to open his eyes again and look vacantly around him. "Better leave him to Miss Gladys.*' said the overseer, touching the young fellow on the shoulder. Perry looked, into her face to read ber wishes before he would obey. A flush was rising tc her cheek, a cloud settling about her young eyes, but she turned, after a quick glance nt ber father. "I cannot thank you enough-now.'* she said, hesitatingly. "Perhaps Mr. Ewen is right. Y'ou-you deserve to bc told the story of his trouble, you have boen so kind. Some day you shall un? derstand-soon-and not think unkindly of us." "Indeed I do not now," he protested. "And-whom are we to thank?-youi name. 1 mean?" she timidly asked. "I am Mr. Perry, of the -th cavalry. We have only come to Fort Rossiterthi> month." "Ami I nm Miss Maitland. Someday I can thank you." And she held forth her long, slim hand, ile took it very reverently and bowed over it, courtier like, longing to say something that might fit the occasion; but before his scattered j senses could come to bim there wa? i another quick step at the veranda, ami :i ! voice that sounded strangely familial i startled Iii; ears: "Gladys! What has happened?" And j there, striding to the sofa with the steps j of one assured of welcome and thorough? ly at bonn4 in those strange precincts, carno Dr. Quin. j CHAPTER VIII. lu _ - 1 ?&# ,if, 'fr ? > ' V F - frPjg?? T W \S very l.itethat night j ''iii -nearly midnight -when j *'"*' ' s,'il*('d on bis -.We' veranda and smoking ni "* cigar, caught sight of ;? cavalry sergeant hurriedly passing his frontgate. The main searching parties bad long ?ince come home, unsuccessful; Lieut. Perry had returned and made re- ; port that ' iie people at Dunraven denied having seen or leard anything of Gwynne, that both proprietor and mann ger b id ?reatcd bis visit as rm afTrotit. and that he bad bad mindi difficulty in . preventing a fracas between bis men and i gang of rough fellows, employ cd at the ranch, that Mr. Maitland bad fallen back in a swoon, and that he had lei him to the care of Dr, Quin, who ai rived soon after the occur? encc. The colonel bad been ?rreatiy intereste* and somewhat excited over the details o Perry's adventure as that young gentle man finally gave them, for at first h was apparently averse to saying mud about it. Little by little, however, al his conversation with Maitland and Ewe] was drawn out, and the particulars o his hostile reception. The colonel agree; with him that there was grave reason t' suspect some of the rauch people o knowing far more of Sergt. Gwynne" disappearance than they would tell: an? finally, seeing Perry's indisposition t< talk further, and noting his pr?occupa tion arni apparent depression of spirits he concluded that between fatigue am rasped nerves the young fellow would b< glad to go to bcd, so he said, kindly: "Well, I won't keep you, Perry, you're tired out. PH sit up and see the doctor when he gets back and have a talk wit! him. then decide what steps we will take in the morning. I'll send a party down the valley at daybreak, anyway. May ] offer you some whisky or a bottle o? beer?" "Thank you, colonel, I believe not to night. A bath and a nap will set me al! right, and PH be ready to start out firsl thing in the morning. Good night, sir.' But Col. Brainard could not go to sleep. The garrison had "turned in." all except the guard and Capt. Stryker. Th^it officer had returned an hour after dark, and, getting a fresh horse, had started out again, going down the south side of the Monee to search the timber with lanterns, the Cheyenne scouts having reported that Gwynne's horse had come up that way. He had been missed by Mr. Perry, who galloped up the trail to catch the platoon before it reached the post, and tho colonel, now that he had heard the lieutenant's story, was impa? tiently awaiting his return. Up to with? in a few minutes of midnight, however, neither Stryker nor the doctor had come: dim lights were burning in both their quarters and at the guard house. Every? where else the garrison seemed shrouded in darkness. Catching sight of the yellow chevrons as they flitted through the flood of light that poured from his open door? way, the colonel instantly divined that this must be a sergeant of Stry kefs troon going in search of his captain, and promptly hailed him: "What is it, sergeant? Any news?" "Yes, sir," answered the soldier, bait? ing short. "Sergt. Gwynne's come back. I was going to the captain's tc report." "How did he get back? Isn't he in? jured?" "Ile says he's had a fall, sir, and baa been badly shaken up. but he walked in/ "Why, that's singular! Did he see none of the searching parties?-see none of their lights?" "I can't make out, sir. He's a little queer-doesn't want to talk, sir. He asked if his horse got in all right, anti went and examined the scratches, and seemed troubled about them; but he doesn't say anything." "Has he gone to the hospital?" "No, sir; he'll sleep in his usual bunk at the stables to-night. He is only bruised and sore, he says. Iiis face U cut and scratched and bound up in his handkerchief." "Very well," said the colonel, after r. moment's thought. "The captain will look into the matter when he gets back. You take your horse ami ride down tlie south side of the valley and find tim Cheyenne scouts. Capt. Stryker is with them. Tell him the sergeant is home, safe." "Very well, sir." And the trooper saluted, faced about, and disappeared iti the darkness; while the colonel arose, and, puning thoughtfully tit his cigar, began pacing slowly up and down the piazza. Ile wished Stryker were home; he wished Capt. Lawrence were ofticei of tiie day, and, so, liable to come out of his quarters again: ho bad heard jusi enough aliout that odd English ranch tc make him feel disturbed and ill at ease. There had evidently been hostility be? tween Iiis predecessor and the proprie? tor of Dunraven, and very probably there had been bad blood between thc men of the Eleventh cavalry and the em? ployes of the ranch: else why should there have been so unprovoked an as? sault upon the lieutenant this night: Then there were other tilings that gave him disquiet. Several officers had gath? ered upon the piazza during the early evening; they were mainly of his own regiment, but Capt. Belknap and two o) the infantry subalterns were there: Law? rence did not come. Of course tile tal ii was about the incident of the evening, and, later, the rumors about Dunraven. All this was new to the cavalrymen they had heard, as yet, nothing at all and were not a little taken aback by thi evident embarrassment and ominous si? lence of the three infantrymen, whee the colonel turned suddenly on Belknap with thc question "By the way, captain, I had no time to ask Lawrence, and it really did no' occur to me until after he had : \ but -what did he mean by saying that Dr Quin could tell us something about thi people at Dunraven?" Belknap turned re?! ami looked un? comfortably at his two comrades, ai though appealing to them for aid. Thi younger officers, however, would say nothing at all. and the colonel promptly saw that he had stumbled on some piec?? on garrison g?>ssip. "Never mind." lu* said, with a kindly j laugh. "1 don't want to drag any stories out l>v thc roots. The doctor can doubt less explain it all in good season." "Well, Col. Brainard." answered Bi l knap, hulkily. "to tell the truth. I really don't know anything al*>:u it. an I I d?>n"t know any ?m?' wh???l??es. though !. have beard some woman talk about th? post. The illations be; wren Dr. Quin! and some of th-> ??flieers of the Eleventh were rather strahle*!, and he is a som?' ; what reserve?I an?! s?vivi.?ve\'niati. Tin stories were s?-t afloat h?-re last .fall, ami j we had to lu "ar in? >:<. or -less of them un j til the Eleventh went away this spring j We know only that Dr. Quin has I*vu? t??Dunraven ami tb?-1?'st of us haven't : Possibly Some *>f th?' Eleventh wen j piqued b cause t.,eV bad 11(1 SI If ll lllfk. j or |x-rhaps ih?ir helles ??id not like it be ; cause Quin wouldn't tell thom anythin ; ! about what be saw. At all events, le refuse?! t?? talk ?in the subject at all, aa r allowed people to draw their own con elusions." "Ih* probably told his |x>st com-; mander." suggested Lieut. Farnham, who. as acting adjutant of thc [tost and an aspirant for tho adjutancy of the regiment, thought it a goo 1 importunity of putting in a word as indicative of what he considered tho bounden duty ?.< an otiieer under lik<- circumstances. "W. ll, no. I fancy mit." replied Bel knap. "About the only thing we rea I h do know i^ that, in a somewhat angry i:it?'?-vi?'w las! fall. Col. Stratum forbad Dr.-Quill's leaving the post or going Ui Dunraven wi;bout his ex.press pennis sion. I happi'Ueo to be ij Iiie office a? the time.*' "Was it before or after that he wa said to go there so of ten?" asked Fan ham. "Well, both," answered Belknap. r< luctantly. "But understand me. Mi Farnham. I know nothing whatever t the matter." "I should not suppose that Col. Strat ton would care to restrict his post sui geon from going thither if they need? his professional services," said Col. Brui nani, pleasantly. "That was the point at issue, appar erttly,'* answered Belknap. "Col. S trat ton said that lt was not on professiona grounds that he went.and thereby seemei to widen the breach between them. Dr Quin would not speak to thc colonel afte that, except when duty required it." Tiie conversation changed here, ant little more was said; but Col. Brainan could not help ti 'nking of a matter tim he carefully kept tc himself. It was no his custom to require his officers to asl permission to leave the garrison fora rid< or hunt when they were to be absen from no duty, and only by day. Here h was midnight, as he thought ir. over, ano1 the doctor had not returned, neither had he mentioned his desire to ride away, although he had been with the colore! well nigh an hour before parade. True, he had sent the doctor word to go and join Lieut. Perry at the gate of Dun? raven, and that would account for his detention; but he knew that the surgeon was several miles away from his post and his patients at the moment that message was sent. Meantime, Perry, too, was having a communion with himself, and finding ii all vexation of spirit. All the wa; home the memory of that sweet English face was uppermost in his thoughts. He had been startled at the sight of a youn<> and fair woman at Dunraven; he had felt a sense of inexplicable rejoicing when she said to him, "I am Miss Mait? land:" it would have jarred him to know that she was wife; he was happy, kneel ing by the side of the beautiful girl !i? had never seen before that evening, and delighted that he could be of service tc her. All this was retrospect worth in? dulging; but then arose the black shadow on his vision. How came Dr. Quin striding in there as though "native and to the manner bom?"-how came he to call her "Gladys?" Perry had been pondering over this matter ior full half an hour on the homeward ride before he bethought him of Mrs. Lawrence's re? marks aliout the signal lights. One thing led to another in his recollection of her talk. The doctor answered the sig? nals, no one else; the doctor and no one else was received at Dunraven: the doc? tor had declined to answer any questions about the people at the ranch; had been silent and mysterious, yet frequent in his visits. And then, more than all. what was that Mrs. Lawrence said or in? timated that Mrs. Quin, "such a lovely woman, too," liad taken her children and left bim early that spring, and ail on ac? count of somebody or something con? nected with Dunraven Ranch? (rood heavens! It could not be "Gladys." And yet Instead of taking a bath and going to bed, Mr. Perry poked his head into Parke's bachelor chamber as be reached the little cottage they shared in common. "So Gladys disturbed the junior's dreams, apparently, for he was breathing regu? larly, sleeping the sleep of the just; and so, finding no one to talk to arni being in nc J mood to go to bed at an hour so com? paratively early when he had so much to think about. Perry filled a pipe and perched himself in a lug chair by tin window seat, intending to think it all over again. Ile was beginning to hate that doctor; he would have chafed at the idea of any bachelor's being before him in an acquaintance with (/ladys Maitland, but a married man knowing her so well as to make his wife jealous and himself indifferent to that fact-knowing her so well as to drive "such a lovely woman, too," into taking her children and quit? ting the marital roof-that was too much of a bad tiling, aud Perry was sore dis? comfited. He got up, impatient and rest? less, passed out to the little piazza in front of his quarters, and began pacing up and down, the glow from his corncob pipe making a fiery trail in the darkness, ile would have been glad tv) go back to the colonel and keep watch with him: but there was one thing connected with his visit to Dunraven that he could not bear to speak of. especially as those words of Mrs. Lawrence recurred again and again to his memory. He had not said ono word-he did uot want to tell of G halys Maitland. And so it happened that Perry, too. was awake and astir when the footsteps of the cavalry sergeant were heard on their way to Capt. Siryker's quarters. Listening, be noted that the soldier had halted at the colonel's, held a brief con? versation with that oliieer. and then turned hack across tiie parade. Instant- j ly divining that news had come of Sergt. ti wynne. Perry seized his forage cap and hurried in pursuit. Ile overtook the trooper just beyond the guard house and went with bim eagerly to the stables. A mot neut more, tun! be was bending over a soldier's bedside ina little room adjoin? ing the forage shed and by the light of a ibm stable lantern looking dow? into the bruised and battered features of the non? commissioned oliieer. whom lie had pro nouured of ail others at l?ossi?er the most respected and highly thought of by thc cavalry garrison. "Sergeant, i'm very sorry to see you so badly mauled." said Perry. "How on earth did it happen?" ( ? wynne turned lus head painfully until the one iinbaudaged eye could look about and see that none of the stable guan! w ere wit hi? hearing, then back again and np into the sympathetic face of his young superior. "Lieutenant. I must tell you and the captain: and vet it \< a matter 1 pro? foundly wi>h to keep as secret as pos? sible the story of my day's adventure, 1 mean." "You need not tell me at all if you do riot wish to." said Perry; "though I think it i ; due to yourself that the cap? tain should know how it was you were gone all day and that your horse and you j both came back in such condition." "I understand, sir. fully." answered ('wyam-, respectfully. "I shall tell the! captain the winde st??ry. if be so desire. Meantime. I can on!} ask that no one eise |?c told. If the mei> in the troop bad | an inkling ?>f the true story there would ! In? endless trouble; and so l have tried to account for it by saying my horse and I . had an ugly fall while running a coyote ! through the ri tuber. We did see a co j y??t?\ down nearth?1 ranch on the Monee. . and I ?lid have an ugly fall: 1 was set upon by three of those ranchmen and badly ha idle.I." "N'es, damn them!" said Perry, ex? citedly an?l wrathfully. "I've had an . \perieiii-e with tlean myself tonight, while we were searching for you." "So much the more reason, sir. why my mishap should ?ot be told among the men. The two affairs combined would be more than they would stand. There are enough Irishmen here in our troop alone to go down and wipe thai, ranch nut of existence; and 1 fear trouble as it stands." " Whether there will be trouble or not will depend very much on the future Conduct of the proprietor and manager down there. Of course we cannot tol? erate for an instant the idea of their maintaining a gang of radians there who are allowed to assault officers or men who happen to ride around tina neigh? borhood. You were not inside their limits, were you?" "Yes, sir." said the sergeant, pain- ? fully. "1 was; I bad tied my horse out- ( side and ventured in to get a nearer : look at the buildings." .What time did it happen?" .This morning, sir; not mere than an I hour and a half after you spoke to me in the val lev." "Indeed! Then you must have Iain there all day! Why, Gwynne, this will j never do. I'll go and get the surgeon j and have him look you all over. You ! must have been brutally mauled, and must be Utterly exhausted." "Don't go, sir," said the sergeant, eagerly stretching forth a band. "It it isn't as you think, sir. I hare been kindly cared for. They're not all ruf? fians down there, and the men who as? saulted me will be fully punished. I've been quite as well nursed and fed and brandied and bandaged as though I'd been carried ri^ht to hospital. Indeed. I don't need anything but rest. I'll be all right in a day." "But 1 think Dr. Quin ought to see you and satisfy us you are not injured." "Be satisfied, sir. The doctor has seen me." ""Why. but how?-where? Ile was here all day, and only went away at sunset. He joined me at Dunraven about 9 o'clock, and hadn't returned when 1 came in. Did he find you and bring you bael:?" Gwynne hesitated painfully again: "The doctor saw me this evening down near v/here 1 was hurt: but I got back here without his help, sir. Lieu? tenant," said the soldier, suddenly, "there arc one or two things connected with this day's work that I cannot tell. Come what may, I must not speak of them, even to the captain." Perry was silent a moment. Then he kindly answered: "I do not think any one here will press you to tell what you consider it might be ungrateful or dishonorable in you to reveal. I will do what I can to see that your wishes are reselected And now, if you are sure I can do nothing for you, good night, sergeant." And the young officer held out his hand. "Good night, sir," answered Gwynne. He hesitated one moment. It was the first time since he entered the service, nearly five years before, that an officer offered him bis hand. It was a new and strange sensation. It might not be "good discipline" to take advantage of it, but there were other reasons. Gwynne looked up in the frank blue eyes of bis lieutenant and read something there that told a new story. Out came a hand as slender and shapely as that of the young officer, and the two#were silently and firmly clasped. "How can I question him?" said Perry to himself as he walked slowly home? ward. "Is there not something I am holding back?-something 1 cannot speak of:1 By Jupiter! can his be the same rea? son?" CHAPTER IX. T JUST what hour the ? : ^^^^^\ P?st surgeon returned ' ^y??'^^lk t(> Fort K?ssit(T tnal s *4?^p3 \rS night no one seemed to w know. He was present at sick call, and imperturbable as ever. | ' on the following ni?urning, and the few j I officers who were at headquarters after j I guard mounting were able to affirm that j J the colonel bad been courteous as usual j * in bis greeting to the medical officer, and | *. that nothing whatever had been said j I about lu's being away so late the previ- j j ons evening. Capt. Stryker came home j | soon after midnight, bad a brief talk j ? with bis colonel, and went over to the J I stables to inquire into (?wynne's condi- s rion before he went to heil Parke came | c into Perry's room after morning stables, j - ami told bim. as be was yawning and - stretching in bed. that the captain had t bad quite a long talk with (?wynne that I morning, and that -something -.vas up" < - be didn't know what. Later in the I day Perry was sent for by Col. Brainard I ? and found the commanding officer in j I consultation with"Capt. Stryker and two j * other troop commanders. . 1 At their request be repeated the story 1 f nf his ad venture at Dunraven, beginning ! I with bis instructions to the men he left 4 at the gate, and ending with old Mah land's swooning: and about an hour after ' he bad finished ho saw the adjutant with j 1 a small escort ride away down the valley, and rightly conjectured that the colonel bail sent a letter to Dunraven inquiring 1 into the cause of the assaults on two i members of bis command. Battalion drill kept bim occupied all the morning; 1 a garrison court convened at noon and sat until skirmish drill began at 3 p. m.; 1 ami so ii happened that not until near parade ?lid be lind a moment's time to 1 himself. He longed to see Mrs. Law- j 1 r< nee and question ber as to the nature ! ! of the "Dunraven stories" she had men- j 1 tioned; for what had been a matter of j indifference to bim then had suddenly become of vivid interest. T?tere were ladies sitting on the Lawrences' gallery, i be could plainly see. as the cavalry offi- : cers came tramping in from afternoon Stahles, but he could not hope to ask or J hear anything.; about a matter so near j bis heart in J be presence of so many ! ey ni pathetic and interested listeners. Ile kept away towards his own gate, there- ! fore, until he saw that there. Waning on ! the gate post, and apparently awaiting bim. stood Dr Quito. Perry would gladly have avoided the doctor, the an tag? m ism be was beginning to feel for him was of a character that j ; would hardly brook concealment. Cor- j dial and joyous in manner as be was So almost every man. woman and child be met. it was all the more noticeable that to the very few whom he held in dislike or distrust his bearing was cold ami re? pellent in the last degree. Something tobi bim the doctor was there to s|>eak 4 to bim about their chance meeting, at Dunraven. l?e di<? not want to speak to? him at all, just now. Yet how could he* hope to have these matters explained^ without a meeting and a talk? V\ nile? the officers strolled over and stopped, most of them, in front of the group of ladies at Lawrence's, Perry stalked; straight acrossjthe parade and the boun? dary road, with his blue eyes fixed on1 the doctor's face. The latter was studying him as he* came, and doubtless read that expression' of coldness and distrust; possibly he te* sented it. At all events, something: prompted lum to sj>eak in a tone less cordial than he had ever employed to? wards Perry-"a youngster whom ? thoroughly approve of," as he said be? fore he had known him a week. Still'} leaning on the gate post, and resting his*, head on his hand, the doctor began-: ' "Mr. Perry, I have been to see yoi? i twice today, but could not find you, and \ I wanted to speak with you on a matter'i of some importance." I "You could have foiind me on" drill or'j the court, if anything immediate was; needed. I have lieen nowhere else, ex cept to stables," said Perry, shortly. j "It was a personal matter-a some--j what embarrassing one-and I thought-! best to see you alone." "Well, here I am. Dr. Quin: drive ahead and let ns have it." "I wanted to ask yoxr if, while you? \ were at the ranch last night, you saw j anything of a large signet ring, with a? j crest and motto engraved on the stone/'' j "I did not, unless you mean the one* i Mr. Maitland wore." "The very one!" You noticed that, did ; you?" : "I noticed he had something of the*] kind on his left hand when he caine*j down.'* i "And it was nowhere to be found af?ef'i you went away. You may remember' j you wer ".Hatingand slapping that hand.- j and I thought you might have accident- i ally removed it at that tillie-." "The reflection is not a pleasant one; ] Dr. Quin." said Perry, with an angry ] light in the blue eves. ?. "Pardon me. Mr. Perry: I put it awk'i ward ly, but 1 mean no reflection wliat- ! ever. Miss Maitland mentioned your cf-1 forts to restore the old gentleman to con- . sciousness, and together we searched the- i sofa and the floor after we had put him safely to bed and discovered the loss- <**? j the ring. It is one to which he attaches peculiar value, and its loss lias preyed upon him. While I know very well you : could not have the ring, 1 was asked to-1 ascertain if you remembered seeing it. . and so establish the truth of ?:r. Mait- ! land's belief that it was on his finger ' when he went to that room." "It was: but I do not recollect its be ing on his hand after he was carried to- ' the sofa. It would surely have attracted? my attention while chafing ir." "The parlor, hall and piazza have beor? ; swept and searched, I am told by this ' note," and the doctor radicated a little ' missive he held in his hand, whereat Perry's face did not brighten, "and with no success. I wa?, asked to inquire of you, and if it has annoyed yon, as ? in? fer by your manner, pray let that be* my apology. Then I am to say you saw ' it when Mr. Maitland entered the room, but not again?' "Precisely; unless you choose to adj to your correspondent that the nexf time I am associated with missing prop? erty at Dunraven I would prefer to be questioned direct, and not through a* third party/' A quiet smile shone for an instant on- . the doctor's grave face: "I fear that I have not accomplished ' my mission very diplomatically. Mr. Perry, and am sorry to have vexed you. The colonel tells me, by tiie way, that 1 ought to say to you that the reason t was so long in reaching your party last night was that I was detained attending* to another ?case-one of our own men. Good evening, sir." And, raising hi* forage cap, the doctor walked slowly and with dignity away, leaving Perry too surprised to speak. "The colonel told him to fell mef" wast Perry's wondering soliloquy at Fast. '.Then I suppose he must have told tlu? .jhieT some story to account for his being iway." It was pretty evident from fha roting fellow's manner as he entered th<r house that the story was not one which struck him as being entitled to consc? ience or consideration. On the table in his little sitting room lay a dainty note. It was not the firs* ie had received under that superscript? ion, and he had not been slow to ope*> md read them. If anything, the cloud ipon his forehead seemed to deepen afr right of rt. He picked it up. looked lationtly at the address, hesitated a ruo"-* uent, tossed it back on his desk and wentV nto the inn<rr room. He would not read t now; it was almost parade time: ho md to bathe ami change his dress, for if ter parade he was to dine at tl ie quarter* >f an infantry friend, and Capt. amt Mrs. Lawrence w??re to be of the party*. \1 reaily it wasnotod that when any of tin* ew infantry people at the post gave a? ittle tea or dinner at which only eight >r ten were gathered together, the Bel cnaps were not invited on the same even ng with Mr. Perry, and vice versa. When" ^rke came in, whistling ami swiging, ind banging doors and making al! man? ier of uncouth noise in the exuberance >f Ids spirits, he* bolted into Perry's do? nain, as was his wont, and begin a ratk ding comment on the events of the day. "By the way." he broke in. suddenly, . "we can't both go to-morrow; and 1 sup pose you want to."' _ "Go where?" "Why, out with the hounds: to-mor? row's the day. you know." Perry gave a wi dst le of perplexity. The colonel had promised the ladies that there should be a run this very week. All the fleet hounds of the cavalry bat? talion were to be out. and all the officers* who could be spared from the day's du? ties; a detachment was to go over rtit-o? the valley of a stream some fen miles away, pitch tents in the sliade. and there -et luncheon f<u* the entire party: horses' were to be provided for ail the ladies who cared to go mounted, buggies andi "buckboards" were t?> convey tue others, and it was to be a gala occasion. Ante? lope, coyote or jaek rabbit-any four footed game the prairie afforded-wa6tO' l?e "coursed" in due state and ceremony: the ladies "in at the death" were to be' crowned and subsequently presented with trophies of the chase more sightly than the mask or brush au naturel. Tue" affair had been gayly talked over tba* verv evening of the colonel's ?linner. butt the events of the previous day and the perplexities of the one just closing had completely driven it ail out of his head. And y<>the was engaged' to riile with "firs. Belknap, tho amazon of Fort Rossi? ter! An?l for the first time in his life ".sed Perry would have been glad of an' ?xcuse to get away from a gallop with wi accomplished equestrienne. "You don't mean to say you had for? gotten it?" asked Parke, tn amaze. "Don't blow on me, there's a good? CONTINUED OS- rou TU- P .??