BCNRAVEN 1111
Cforr of American Frontier
A s 1 Life.
jj dipt CHARLES KISQ, 0. 8. A,
af-Th'Colon'I'i Diiughtrr "from
li. t r-.t iin vanished, .nan
p,.rry
mu. co'"1"
I oi-liove i un i care to
I ! .: I t, ... .
. i wu-ereu. nnu. raisinx ins far
o'the hulii-a- turned on hi heel and
hurr-it-! u Uin itiurtcr& Mrs Belknap
I ,v;iii liin'4 liim one moui.nt, tiinj
L..i,.iM..l the nartv at tlw jwte.
aim! "i . . ... . ;
Will. '
with the liiiti'uitl
in thai h'r reiniemai iusoc.au- i.a.i
,-meil to know no well. -iMs una Heen
this has been
has it not? (Jul T
OSJ - l
taej out having
lure within
. .. ,.f nrlirisi'il
beautiful RnIinU
reach ami never
,,,ttiiiK H until today I" (
ul you liau a sui pi w ui your own.
uiil you nntr lnU'rMweu Mrs. sprague,
ho was "till cnunng over me iiwi mat
... .....I .laiii.ii.'itiiu ni mr I.I M.r mI..ii 1.1
ei ill" u.m. ... ...... nniium
Mvf o monopolized the guest she con
n.lcreil 'y Prior ril'1 uni' wl0
muni U remind her thus publicly of
jienegk".'! which "he '""I '"-en K"ilty
Mnt I 'lo"- yu "'mi' lesponiled
m llelknnp with the same languid
"r- ;r . ... .... i
K.rllll"-!"'1 ic-n. iitnii
jll' MIC If HlWiM" n 1 1 u.n-ii IIJI Ql IL'I
vie of (hose long ambulance journeys
inJ ran ntilv lane u cup of lea mm go to
ml in a darkened room All she wants
In to be H "lone, xhe says, until she grin
jfpi it I upKi.te she will sleep till
ll.ioantl men ne up nan me nigiii.
im'II ciue in anil se her. won I you?
Au rrroir "
i.l mi c-ihnlv h ml erncefullv nnrt
ririiirioiislv. the Jark eyed dame with
jn w leaving her honest hearted nntag
jinsi only tlie sense of exasperation nnd
Mint
ll as lull quarter or nn Hour nrter
pnule, ami darkness was netting down
millie garrison, when Capt. I-Hwrciie.e's
grldly tapped atthediHir of Mr. Perry'
garters, and, being hiilden "t.'onie in,"
iwlnjl on ui me hiiiu' roiin. wijeiv ne
lnuml mat young ouirer jnuiigeo oeep
aiiouMyelmir in Irontol the lireplace.
tiinaitituile one 01 proioinui uejecnon.
Ik'); pinion nontenant, xniil the
nnn, .'lit u'iKiur aim me capiaiu
snitin ilinnei lor you.'
CI1A1TER XV.
WO days pasRed with
out event of any kind
Socially Hpeaking. the
garrison was enliven
ed by the advent of
Mrs. Pago, nnd every
body Hocked tothe Bel
knap' quarters in order torlo her proper
Hornag. When Perry called lie asked
r'jiketogo with, him, nnd when the hit
ler imned ready to leave the former
wepirditig a very palpable hint from
lie lady of the house, picked up his for-
? cap and went likewise. . I-or two
lays the one subject under constant dis
ussum at the post was the event of Miss
uiiland sudden appearance, her peril-
m run and her daring nnd skillful res-
'i Ererybody maintained that Perrv
njhttn lioa very proud anil happy lei-
j to have bivn the hero of such nn
Msion; hut it was very plain that Perry
a neither proud nor anvthiim like
W No one had ever known him so
fel nnd cast down. The talk with
Utirnce had helped matters very little
"i 'iriet, this was ntxnit nil the cap-
fiiuld tell him, and it was all hear
a? evidence at best Thuolil eers of the
'With and their ladies had. with a
Mi-rations, taken a dislike to Dr
(Jin before Itelknapnnd Lawrence with
v companies of infantry had been or
twl to Port Ilossiter. The fcelinL' was
full blast when they arrived, and dur-
Wan or eight months they served
" together the infantry people heard
L' one side of the story that of the
"enth-for the doc-tor never eonde-
fiW to discuss the matter. After
M forbidden to leave the osl
' kit roilllnanilinf nRtcur anH nffr
tmnouncementof tho "blockade" of
,J"f3Ven. it W.l nluwri-ol m'rnnl
I w . 1 x w giiiui
fwimnetiine made from the ranch at
;"" "trong light thrown from a re-
Wlla flashed fhrp limm nml limn
hMrawn Next It nnleil hv nn
"njns member of the miard. that
".'Hals Were nnan-orml lv a liirlil
f doctor's windows, tlien that he
,5nW his horse und rode nway down
'Jlley of the Moneo. llo was al
5rliokat sick call; and. if anv one
commanding officer of his diso
wn of orders, it was not done until
the departure of the Eleventh
. ductor was nol afterwards act-
'.' caught in the net. Thino-. would
r-ouUedly have been brought to a
, " the Eleventh been aUowed to
""Utotlie story about Mrs. Quin
Weoinj It was observed during
"iter that she was looking very
Jf.nd Ilia .,-- . .1 " 1.
Wventh that she was stung and suf
lecauseof rr iuEband"s conduct.
)nilly there wa some fair 11
'fftaat Dunraven who lured him
own tiresida. She had no inti
psniong the ladies She was proud
''fit It dill nni.tt.m ti vfiir to
VH1 WM resentf"' of their di
" ner husband. Tliey were sure she
r ...ns oeeauae of his neglect or
"lien, therefore, without word
Tnuie. ilia ... .1.1.-1- l-- j..
asri l. "Pnn8. there was a gasp
8 cronies in the garrison;
-Hi ere at an endi ,he had wt
J1 aken her chUdren with her.
Qlnm I !.:.. 1. . . i. M i r
. . - mm 01 IL, saiti uiw-
I lui n.. l l. t I-
ij. "jvm 1 uetieve uie wnoie
l -,rpble of explanation. The only
W .w ZZ I
. ,
"ythinff trr.Tr. i .1
o ;m vuiuuch - ;
v. - wt wuawui SDU COIISJU'
lup mna j : 1 1
"K0 1 a m.J
ctcJ 11111,
d him by thi time;
with. Perhap ;
w don't
Vt'V- 'i0. " hT
T: 1 ,l0 bn Dl" w" mUTer-'
I -1 "ugu. o uigu from the airecuoD 01 i" t,im.lf after a while, opposite
a ciiihtm 1 . i. 4 1 : u 1. . sv.. rori m rit-te urn "
-'JV.-,runP " b predecessor, Ifpt bU horse in rear of msown quw- , entrance to the post, and
Hkl 10 Bn1 001 be'0" tere. CoL Brainard greeteo nira ---v , " . which
i. " wnailenra. ifr 0 n'a , i : I .r. hu oatieni uw- .
hi. fun ..hlee and by hi. wUh. and he
mplj feel, too much contempt for car
rion gossip , ,,,, r k
h. know. ,,,,,1,1, of tl19 .torK, .dT,
origin circulation- I'm ure 1 dij nol
Perry" theJ '.7., k"0,f0 . You know.
... 7; l"e" are "" men In garrison
ho bear nd know ,TerTlln Bnd
other, who never hear. word of .can-
But Perry wai low In ! mini n.
could not forget Quln-l .udden .ppcr
nee; hi. CIlinK herOladyi; and then h.
hated the thouijhuhat It wM Quin who
ww him having thul confounded tender
Interview with 11.- IWknan. Wa. thur.
ever uch a .treak of ill wk M HmU
No dmiht the felloe had told her aU.ul
tl Terry U-fi Uwrence1. that night
very little comforted, ami only one
gleam of hope did he recuiv, the two
uuj mat followed Mrs. Snrairua in
fully beckoned him on Wednesday after
reau mm a utile note that had
i i "ou Maltland. Her ! iw aUe.l to sec you; and it
rather had been very ill, she wrote; his I '0"1'1 rmUj him if you would ride
condition was stJ critical; but she sent : d,m'n tl,B morning."
a world of thank to her kind entertain- I Ev,'n 1,1 Ihedarkness Perrv feared that
era at Kossiter, 4(J these words: "I was " 'oulJ tho (lush that iead to hi
orrynotto be able to see Mr. Perry f:"' Summoned to Punraven Ranch
agaia Do not let him think I have tor- ' h Ufr fi,ll"'r- pomibility of see
gotten, or will be likely to forget, the ! '"8 ,",r! lt wus hi:ost too sweetl too
service he and Nolan-did me." j thrilling! He could give no reply for a
Of Dr. Quin he saw very little. With Ul0lm't. and an awkward silence felloo
the full consent and knowledge of Col. . 1,10 Criup until he chokinglv answered
Brninard. the doctor was spending a ! 1,0 K1'"' ,0 R Whiit timer
goou deal of time at Dunraven now. at-1
lemnng w Mr. aiaitland.
Indeed, lln.ro
eemed to o an excellent understanding
between the commandant and his medi
cal officer, and it was known that thev
hn.l 1 1 . I . ,1 . -
wu a long mm together. Upper
circles in the garrison were still agitated
with chat and conjecture alwut Gladys
Maitland and her strange father; Perry
was still tortured with questions about
Lis one visit to Dunraven whenever he
w as so Incautious as to appear in public;
but all through "the quarters," every
where among the rank and file, there
was a subject that engrossed all thoughts
and tongues, and that was discussed with
feeling that seemed to deepen with every
day-the approaching court martial of
Scrgt. Leary and of Trooper Kelly.
Asa result of his investigation, Capt
Stryker had preferred charges against
these two inert the one Tor leading and
the other for being accessory to the as
sault on his stable sergeant Gwynne
was still at the hospital, though rapidly
recovering from his injuries. Not a word
had lie said that would implicate or ac
cuse any man; but Stryker's knowledge
of his soldiers, and his clear Insight into
human motive and character, were such
thut he had readily mado up his mind as
tothe facts In the case. He folt sure that
Lcary and some of the Celtic members of
his company had determined toco down
to Dunraven and "have it out" with the
hated Britons who had so affronted and
abused them the night of Perry's visit
They knew they could not get their horse
by fair means, for Uwynne was above
suspicion. He was English, too, and
striving to shield his countrymen from
the threatened vengeance. They there
fore determined, in collusion with Kelly,
to lure him outside the stables, bind and
gag him, get their horses, having once
rilled Owynne of the keys, ride down to
tho ranch, and, after having a Donny
brook fair on the premises, get back to
Rossiter in plenty of time for reveille and
siables. No sentries were posted in such
a way as to interfere with them, and the
plan was feasible enough but for one
thing. Gwynne had made most gallant
and spirited resistance, had fought the
whole gang like a tiger, and they had
been unable to overpower him before the
noise had attracted the attention of the
sergeant of the guard and some of the
men in quarters. An effort, of course.
was made to show that the assaulting
party wero from without, but it was
futile, and Stryker's cross-questioning
among the men had convinced them that
he knew all about the matter. There
was only one conclusion, therefore, that
Gwynne must have "given thamaway,"
as the troopers expressed it
Uespue tne laci mat ne naa ueen as
saulted and badly beaten, this was some
thing thnt few could overlook, and the
l?.tent jsalousy against the "cockney
sergeant" blazed into a feeling of deep
resentment. Garrison sympathy was
with Leary and his fellows.
Thursday came, and bergt. Gwynue
returned to light duty, though his fact
was still bruised nnd discolored and he
wore a patch over one eye. He resumed
charge of the stables fn the afternoon,
after a brief conversation with his cap
tain, and was superintending the issue
of forage, when Perry entered to Inspect
the stalls of his platoon. Nolan was
being led out by his groom at the mo
ment, and pricked up his tapering ears
at sight of his master and thrust his lean
muzzle to receive the caress of the hand
he knew so wcIL Perry stopped him
and carefully and critically examined
bis knees, filing down to the fetlocks
with searching fingers for the faintest
symptom of knot or swelling in the ten
dons that had played their part so
thoroughly In the drama of Monday.
Satisfied, apparently, ho rose and be
stowed a few hearty pats on the glossy
neck and shoulder, and then was sur
prised to find the stable sergeant stand
ing close beside him and regarding both
him and horse with an expression that
arrested Perry's attention at once.
"Feeling all right again, sergeantr hs
asked, thinking to recall the non-commissioned
officer to bis senses.
"Almost, sir. I'm a trifle stiff yet
Anything wrong with Nolan, sirr
"Nothing. 1 gave him rather a tough
run the other day-had to risk the prai
rie dog holes and, though I felt no jar
then, I've watched carefully ever since
to see that be was not wrenched. I wish
you would keep an eye on him too, will
There was no answer, rerry nau own
Innkinir over Nolan's haunches
he I
sDoke and once more turned to the eer- -
geant To his astonishment, Gwynne 1 , on the starlit prairie might soothe ma
lips were twitching and quivering, hi nerves and enable biro to sleep
hands, ordinarily held in the rigid pos Ail lighta were out in the quadrangle,
of the English service extended along Hve those at the guard house. Even at
the thigh-were clinching and working j Belknap quarters, where the veranda
nervously, and something suspiciously had been thronged with officers and la
like a tear was creeping out from under dies only an hour before, all was now li
the patch. Before Perry could recover lence and darkness Unwilling to attract
from his surprise the sergeant suddenly attention by tramping up and down on
regained his self control, hastily raised ; the board walk, he crossed the road and
his hand in salute, aving omething , went out on the broad level of tie pa
balf articulate in repiv, and turned ; rade. but took care to to direct hi trp
lmmli awav leaving bi lieutenant as not to come within hailing distance of
MinH .fur him in much perplextty. ,
. . . j..-. ..,.. totim roll call,
inai mans JUB ' v-' .
1 M .tT sra U nLar D
. - . m . IT. -a araa nin
,a , the colonel gate, they were sua- ,
w utru inuw h,w"r . 1
ioined by Dr Quin, wbo came i
raven. Ery one noted ho grave and ,
wbdued was lb tone in wmcn u ;
U a very sick man. colonel, au4
U hard towy what will I th rmlt
of thii ifuure."
"You may want to go down agnln
docU,r, f l)ln, iht oV.
fall l-morrow m,.,i. TOU ,,,,
rtter take one of my hoiseii u.
my man to have one in fa.linen."
"You are v,.ry kind, ir I think old
Brian will do nil the w ork nmh-d Hut
i would like to go dow n at reveille, u
e huve n .nirn In li.inpital at nil now
And. by the way, U Mr l'erry here?"
"I am here,"nnweivd l'erry coldly
o was Uhma rtKilllhl ,ie ruilj
rathe, Hway Trom U... KlUpi isU,Ilill(.
Int. ntlv. yet uiiilling u m.vt or hold
conver-ation with the m.in he conceived
to hu so Inimical to his every ho; and
interest,
"Mr Pi.rrv ' -u tl.. j. ......
! M- '" utterly ignoring the col'lne..
01 Uw 0U"A fellows manner. "Mr
1Jl,t'pr ndcdowtrearly. Nevermind
nrcanrast Miss Maitland will be glad
to give you a cup of coffee, I fancy."
And Perry felUsthnugh the fence had
taken to waltzing. He made no answer,
fclriving to regain Ids composure, and
then the talk went on It was Stryker
who was talking now:
"Has the ring been found, doctor?"
"Nol That is a most singular thing,
and one that worries the old gentleman
great deal It had a history; it be
longed to Mrs. Maitl ind's father, who
was from Ireland -indeed, Ireland was
her country, as it was my father's-und
that ring she had reset for her son Archie
and gave it to him when he entered serv
ice with the Lancers. It was sent home
with his watch nnd other property from
South Africa for hedied there and old
Maitland always wore it afterwards.
Archie was tho last of three sous; and it
broke his heart"
"And tho ring was lost the night of
Perry's adventure there;" asked the col
onel "Yes. Mr. Perry rememliers having
seen it on his hand when tho old gentle
man first came down to receivo him It
was missed afterwards, mid could easily
have slipiH'd off ut any time, for his fin",
gers were withered with age and ill
health. They have searched everywhere,
and could lind nothing of it It could
easily have rolled off the veramla on to
the grass during his excitement at the
tiuioof the row, and somclioily may have
picked it up cither among the ranch
men or among the troopers."
"I hate to think that any of our men
would take it," said the colonel after a
pause.
"I do not think nny of them would,
with tho idea of selling it." said Stryker;
"but here is a case where, it was picked
up, possibly, as ono of the sjHiils of war
I have had inquiry made throughout the
troop, but with no result so far. Do you
go down again to-night, doctor?"
"Not if I can avoid it. 1 am going now
to try and sleep, nnd will not rido down
till daybreak unless signaled for Good
nlit, colonel; good iiight.'nll."
Uuless signaled fori InstlnctlvcW
Perry edged closer to Lawrence, who had
stood a silent listener to the conversation,
and Lawrence turned und saw him and
knew tho thought that must be upper
most in bis mind. Thcro was a moment
of perfect silence, and then Lawrence
spoke:
"Does anybody know what the signal
lb?"
"Certainly," said Col. Pralnard,
promptly. "He has explained the whole
thing to me. Those were signals for him
that we now the night you were all on
my gallery, ft was an arrangement de
vised by their old nurse she who came
up with the carriage for Miss Maillund
the other day. She had a regular old
fashioned headlight and reflector, and,
when Mr. Maitland was so ill as to need
a doctor, used to notify Quin in that
way. He sometimes failed to see it, and
I have given orders today that the guard
should wake him when it I seen here
after." "Then that was what those mysterious
night lights meant that we have heard so
nmclialiout during the last three weeks?'
asked Mr. Dana.
"Certainly," answered Bralnard.
"What on earth did anybody suppose
they meant ?"
To this there was no response for a
moment Then Lawrence burst out
laughing
CHAPTER
!i
1 a ti h is
mm.
ATE that night Mr. Per
ry left his quarters and
strolled nut on the walk
that bounded the parade
He could nol sleep; he
was feverishly impatient
for the coming of another day, that he
ailght start forth on his ride to Dunr
en. A "spin" around the parade or out
,h. guard nous J-
worn explaining mo iiiutuvu
. . " 1 . 1..
eeant or inm guaru m i
.
j it 1. 1
were w mrc v . .-..-
. . ft
ith.nrned that he found
IB
close
commia-
7 an s
- do to be challenged bj him
XVL
iff
m
ny more than by "NuuiVr One,"
Stopping a moment to listen for tb
sentry's f.trall l'erry' ear wa at
traded by the wiuiid of a door slowly
and cautiously opened It was some
liitle time before he could tell from
w hlch one of the neighlioriiig building
looming then, In the darkness, the sound
, prucissled Then he hi-anl mutlhil f,Kit
i steps ami whisenil consultation not
far nway, and hurrying on tiptoe in the
I direction of the sound he presently
j caught sight of two or three shadowy
I forms moving noiselessly along th
, porch of the coinany quarters ncarvM
I him Stryker's li-oop, that to which he
I belonged, was quartered down beyond
1 the guard house on the lower side of the
; panulc. those forms were Issuing from
I the barracks of ("apt Wayne's troop
; and U-fore Perry could realize the fact
! that they were out either In inoccasint
j or their stocking fwt, and presuiuahly
, therefore on some unlawful enterprise,
i they had disapcaiv.l around the cornet
j of the building. lie wafted rapidly
thither, turned the corner and they weit
now here in sihl or bearing Sioppins
to listen did not help matters at all He
could not hear a sound, and as for the
shallow, of which he was in pursuit, it
was simply impossihlo to tell w hich di
rection thev had taken. They had van
ished from the face of the earth and
were lost in the deeper gloom that hung
nlKiut the scattered array of wooden
buildings store houses, fuel sheds and
cisik sheds ot the rear of the post
Had it been his own troop he could
have roused the first sergeant and order
ed a "check" roll call at a means of de
termining nt once who the night prowl
ers might be; but Capt. Wayne had hit
peculiarities, nml one of them was a 11
unalterable and deeply rooted objection
to any interference 011 the rt of other
officers In the management of bis men
Perry's first thought, too, was of the sta
bles and Sergt. Gwynne, Were they
meditating another foray, nnd hud the
feeling spread outsido their own com
pany? No time wus to be lost. He turn
ed his face eastward to where tho dark
outlines of tho etahlcs could be dimly
traced against the sky, and hastened,
stumbling at times over stray tin cam
and other discarded rubbish, until he
crossed tho intervening swulo and reach
ed the low blulf along which tho crude:
unpainted structures wero ranged. All
was darkness here towards tho northern
end, nnd tho one sentry who had ex tor
nal charge of the entire line was Blowiy
peeing bis post; Perry could see bis form,
dimly outlined, as he breasted the slope,
and it determined him 10 keep on in the
hollow until he got to a point opxsitr
the stables of bis own troop. If there
wa to be nny devilment it might bo well
to see whether this soldier, too, would
turn out to be In league with the con
spiiators Listening intently as ho hur
ried along, but hearing nothing, Perry
soon found himself ut the pathway lead
ing to bis own domain, and the next
minute was gazing in surpriso at a light
burning dimly in tho window of the lit
tle room occupied by Sergt. Gwynne;
there was not a glimmer elsewheronlong
the line.
Striding up to tho window, lie tapped
lightly, and Gwynne' voice sternly
challenged from within, "Who' there'?
"Lieut, l'erry, sergeant Come around
and oien the stnhlo door for me."
"One moment, sir," was the answer
and ho heard the Rergeant bounding, ap
parently, off his bed. Then a hand drew
usiile the shade, nijd Gu-ynne's face a p
pcarcd at the window, while a small Ian
tern was held so as to throw its rays on
the face without, "All right, sir," hf
continued. "I thought I could not U
deceived in the voice."
Perry w alked around to tho front again
taking another survey of the sleeping
garrison as he did so, and listening one
more for footsteps, but all was still
Presently the little panel in the big dooi
was unlocked from within, and the lieu
tenant lienl low and entered, finding!
Gwynne, lantern In hand, standing In Im
uncompromising attitude of "attention'
at the entrance.
"Everything lieen quiet here to-night!'
e asked, as he straightened up.
"Perfectly so, sir."
"Co.ne into your room moment; 1
want to sH-ak to you." said Perry, after
a moment's rellection.
They passed along the broad gangway
between the rows of sleepy horses, somf
lying down in their stalls, others still
afoot and munching at their hay. The
stable guard stood at his post and faced
them as they turned Into the dark and
narrow passage leading into Gwynne'
little sanctuary The lamps along the
line of stalls burned low and dim, and
the ports lieing lowered, gave uo glean)
without the walls Once more, however,
a bright light shone from the window of
the stable sergeant's room brighter than
before, could they only know it, for thi
time there was no intervening shade
After his brief inspection of the lieuttn
ant's face. Gwynne hud left it drawn.
The sergeant set his lantern on e
wooilcn desk, and respectfully waited
for his superior to speak. Perry looked
him well over a moment, and then be
gan.
"Did yu tell Capt Stryker the panic
ilar of your rough treatment down
here at the ranch?"
"Tho rough '.reatm? nt yes, ir."
"Would you mind telling me whore
ou were taken where you saw Dr
Jul n?"
The sergeant heflitnted one moment.
roubled look on bis face. Hi one
tvikilable eye stuped his lieutenant's
'eature attentively Something In trie
.'rank, kind blue eye possibly some
tudden recollection, too seemed to rea '
ture him
"It was to Mr. Cowan' little house,
nr. He Interposal to save me from
worse beating at the hands of three
brutes who were employed there and had
nue grudge against thi garrison of
w hich I wa ignorant They allocked
me without word of warning. It wa
he, too. who called in Dr Quin."
"Have you iid you see any of th
people at Dunraven beside this young
man?"
"I aw hi mother, dr. She I a nurse
there, and has been In tlw family for
year. I am told."
Perry was silent moment Then be
poke again
"Have you heard any furthrer threat
among the men here line th arrest of
Sergt Learyr
Gwynne hesitated, coloring painfully
"It is something I hale to speak of, sir
Die talk baa oot alarmed tne in the
U-a.t"
I know that, wrgiant All the same
we waul to prevent a recurrence of thai
performance, and it was that, mainly
that brought me over here 1 aw some
men stinhng out of M troop's quarters
awhile aito. and lost them in tb dark
oca. I liuxifcht they might b coming
over here, an1 got Ver first"
Owynno's face lighted up It touched
him to know bis officers were on the
lookout for his safety.
"I have heard nothing, sir. Tho men
would hardly be apt to speak tooieoD
the subject, lim e tho affair of the other
night What 1 fear is simply this that
there Is an element I
quartermaster'
try that there
nightr"
"Not yet They w III hardly make tlx
attempt while your Tight is burning here.
What I'm concerned about just now is
this: We all know that thcro Is deep '
sympathy for U'ary in the command,
and il is not improlwhle thnt among the I
; Irishmen there is corresponding feeling ;
j against you. I don't liko your being .
j here nlone just now. for they know you ;
J are almost tho only witness against -I
liim."
j "I have thought of that, sir," answered
uwynne, gravely, "nul I want nothing
thut looks like protection. The captain
has spoken of the mutter to 1110, and be
agreed, sir, thai it would do more harm
than good. There is one thing I would
ask if I may trouble the lieutenant"
"What is it, sergeantr
"I have a little packet, containing sums
papers and a trinket or two, thai I would
liko very much to have kept safely, and
if anything should happen to mo, to
have you, sir, and Cupt Stryker 0en it.
and the letters there will explain every
thing that is to I done."
"Certainly I will take care of ll for
you if not too valuable."
"I would rather know it was with you.
sir, than stow it in the quartermaster's
safe," was (iwynnj's answer, as hv
opened a littlo wooden chest at tho foot
of his bunk, and, after rummaging a
moment, drew forth a parcel lied and
sealed. This ho handed to tho lieutenant
"Now I will go back and notify the
officer of tho guard of what I have
seen," said Perry; "and I want Nolan,
saddled, over at my quarters right after
morning stables. Will you seo to ll?"
"I will, sir. and thank you for your
kindness."
All was darkness, all silence and pence
as Perry retraced his steps and went
back tothe garrison, carrying the little
packet in bis hand. Uo went direct to
the guard house, and found Mr. Graham
sulky over being disturbed in bis snooze
by the sentry's chnllengo
"What tho devil are you owllug
around this time of night for?" was the
not unnatural question. "I thought it
was the officer of the day, and nearly
broke my neck in hurrying out hero."
Hut Perry' brief recital of tho fact
that he had seen some men stealing out
of the quarter of M troop In their stock-
inn fiM.t fir mra-fV'tMiiifl mil nn nml ti,ni-n
ham's complaints Hastily summoning
tho sergeant of tho guard, ho started out
to make the rounds of his sentries, while I
Perry carried his packet homo, locked it j
in his desk, and then returned to tho 1
veranda to uwait developments i
. Sergt Gwynue, meantime, having j
lighted his young olth-er to tho Bin bio :
door, stood there u few moments, look
ing over the silent garrison and listening i
to the retreating footsteps The sentry
came pacing uloug tho front of the Hi a 1
bh-s.iiud brought bis carbine down from
the shoulder as lie dimly sighted the tall
figure: U it. recognizing the stable scr
geanl as he camo nearer, the ready dial
icngc died on bis lips
"I thought I heard somebody moving
around down hero, sergeant It was
you, then, wa it?"
"I have been moving around Insid
-but made no noise. Have you beard
footstep or voices?"
"Itth I thought, but it as black n
your hat 011 this heat to-night I can't
ec my band afore my face."
"Keep your ears open, then, there are
men out from one of the qunrtcrs, ut
least, and no telling what they are upto.
Who's in charge at the quartermaster's
stables?"
"Sergt Kcilly.of the Infantry; somoof
the fellows were over having little
game with him before tnttoo, and I
heard him tell 'em to come again when
they bad more money to loso. He and
his helper there were laughing ut the
way they cleaned out the cavalry when
they were locking up at taps The boys
fetched over bottle of whisky with
'em."
"Who werethcy?"
"Oh. there was Flanagan and Murphy,
of M troop, and Corporal Donovan and
on or two other. They hadn't been
drinkin'."
"But Riley had do you mean?"
"He was a little full; not Much."
"Well, look alive now,. Wicks It'i
my advice to you that you watch that
end of your post with all your eye.'
And with thi Sergt Uwynne turned
back Into the stable, picked up his hto
tern and returned to the little room in
which he slept A cunent of cool night
air, blowing in through the open case
ment, attracted bis attention Odd! He
knew he had pulled aside the shad to
can the features of the lieutenant when
he taped at the pane, but he could nol
recall liavlng oM'ned the sash. It swung
on a bingo, and was fastened by a loose
ly fitting boll Purh;iM the rising wind
bad blown it In. He set bis lamp down
a before, clotted the sash and then closed
and locked the lid of hi chest That
loo, was oMn. Wicks, the sentry, well
up to the north end of his post and do
o the entrance of the quartermaster'
corral wa bawling: "Half past 13
o'clock, and o-all' well." when the light
went out In Gwynne' little room, and
all tho line of stable wa' wrapped in
dnrknes
Perry fretted around the veranda until
1 o'clock, then (ought his room He was
still too excited to sleep, and it seemed
an Interminable limebeforeliedittedorT
Then it scorned as though he could nol
have been in dreamland live minutes be
fore a hand wa laid upon hi shoulder
shaking him vigorously, and a role he
well knew wa exclaiming, in low but
forciblo tone:
" Wake, lieutenant wake I Every
horse is gone from the quartermaster's
flwrral There must be twenty men gone
down the valley. I've Nolan here foi
you at the gala."
In Urn minutes IJeut Perry and Sergt
Uwynne were riding nock and neck oui
over th eastern prairie out toward
th paling orient stars and th faintly J
gleaming' sky before them, severs
miles away, the dark and threaleneC
walls of Dunraven. behind them tin
stir and excitement and bustle conse
queii t upon a night alarm. Th colonel
iere in the regiment I t -V3 r"t I fifts j?-
that Is determined to get down there to ! ifr j j iVf ?ll fTI IT
thoranshand have iwtUfaetion for the I Tr f-rd' J , vff ' 1 If
assault that was made on you and your V . 1 i T I '
party. They need horses in order to gel r . ' ' i III I '
r...l I-,,...,,.... ...I I..!.. I I! tL'-.;T'j t VT '.. I I I
reveille, and are doubtless hatching some vJijr Vv m V'-cr
plan. They failed here; now they may WV'if V I'T
try the stables of some other trooporlhe sSs.-ji .C!k' , I JT"
. Rh.11 1 a..-- ih.. .rfy. u v.- -j .
are prowler, ou, to J ,1 HJ ;
iit(s n 111 11 a ne en. -ri- 1 .
roused by Perry w ith (lie news, had or
dered the Instant sounding of tho assem
bly, and the garrls.ni wa tumbling out
(or roll call
CHAPTER XVIL
. .fciJVS. " T 1 II E head of a coM
men, Capt
roilo forth
een mlnutei
later His orders from Col Hrainard
were to go to Dunraven, and. If he found
the iiiaiaiiilors thcro. tourre.-l the entir
p;ii-t.v nri I bring them back to the post
' Mtt '''"t rould lie learned from bur
tod questioning of tho sentries and thi
d:ircd. half drunken sergeant of the cor
tnl, tho triHH-rs engaged I11 the raid
liiusl hnvo selected a timo w hen the sen
try was walking towards the couth end
of bis post to lift one of their numhei
over the wall of tho inelosuru In which
were kept the wagons and ambulance.
This mail hal unbarred from within thi
gate lending eastward to tho trail dowi
which the "stock" wn driven daily tc
water In the Moneo, Riley admitted
that "the lnys" had left bottle wltb
hint which he and hi assistant had
emptied before turning in, and o It hap-pei-cil
thai, unheard and unseen, thi
raiders had managed to slip out with
dozen horses that wero kept there and
had also taken six mule a "mounts''
for tlioso who could not find anything
better.
Eighteen men, apparently, were In tin
party, and the sentry on Number Throt
iieard hoof beats down toward the val
ley aUmt half past 3 o'clock, but thought
it was only soma of the ponies belonging
to the Cheyenne ccouts. There wa oni
comfort the men had taken no flrcartui
with them; for a hurried inspection ol
tho company quarters showed that th
carbine were ail in their rack and thi
revolver in their cases. Some of tin
men might have small cnliliur pistols ol
their own, but tho government arms had
not been disturbed. Half the party, al
least, uiust havo ridden bareback and
with only watering bridles for theli
teed. They were Indeed "spoiling fol
tight" and tho result of tho roll call
bowed that the missing troopers wen
all Irishmen and some of the best and
most popular men in the command
Whatever their plan, thought Stryker
ho trotted down to the Monoo, It wai
! probao.J carried out by this lime; it wai
now within a minuto of 4 o'clock.
Only a mile out ho was overtaken by
Dr. Quin, who reined up an Instant U
ask if any one had been eiit ahead
"Thank God for that!" h xclnimedy
when told thnt Perry and Sergt Gwynni
had gone at the first alarm; then, strik
ing spurs to his horse, pushed on at rapid
callop, while the trooperj mlntntno
their steady ti A from Dun
raven, in the dim light of early uiorulng,
the captain' keen eye caught sight ol
shadowy form of mounted men on thi
opposito shore, and, despite their efforti
to escape on their wearied steeds, threi
of them were iecdily run down and
j captured. One of them wa Corp. Dono
1 ran, and Donovan' face wa white and
hi ninnner agitated. Bidding him rid
1 alongside as they pushed ahead towardi
j the ranch, Sts-ykor questioned him a U
what bad taken placo, nnd the corpora!
never sought to oqulvocuto:
"We've been trying for scvsral night,
I sir, to get horse and go down and bar
ll out with those blackguards at the
ranch. We took no arms, sir, even those
I of u who bad pistol of our own. All
i w asked was a fair light, man against
man. They wouldn't oome out of their
1 bole they dasn't do it, sir and then
I they fired on ua We'd hav burned th
I roof over their heads, but thut Lieut
j Perry galloped In and stopped lis, 1
j cams away then, lr, and o did most of
I ua We knew 'twas nil up when we saw
th lieutenant; but there wa more fir
Ing after I left Thi way, captain. Out
cross the prairie here. We cut down
the fence on this sldo." And so saying,
(Kinovan led the little troop to broad
gap in the wide barrier, and thenc
trulghl across tiie del. is to where lights
were seen Hitting alsiut In the dark
shnikiws of the buildings of the ranch
Another moment, and Stryker had dis
mounted h 1 1 1 1 wa kneeling beside th
prostrate nnd unconscious form of hi
lieuteiinul Some misguided ranchman
mistaking for a new assailant the tall
young soldier who galloped Into th
midst of the (warm of taunting Irish
men, had tired the cruel shot There
Iny Nolan dead upon the (ward, and
here, close ut hand, hi grief stricken
master had finully (wooned from loss
of blood, the bullet having pierced his
h-g below the knee Ik-side him knell
the doctor- he had cut away the natty
riding IkhiI. and wus rapidly binding up
the wound Close ut hand tt.v4 Gwynne,
a world of anxiety und trouble in hii
bruised and still discolored face.
(TO HE CONTINLKD.
li t 101 Ml Tl IIKClN.
roultryiiid IYU.
It is we'l to watch turkey lien in the
spring. Hie will b-t vm ki.ow when she
wants lo lay. Shu w ill hunt around here
nnd there lor a sdilub'e plie e for a nest.
When you ere her doing I hi fasten her
op in a yard until she makes a nest and
liys, and she will be almost sure to go
buck snd lay in the lame pl,we alter
wr Is. Ix-ave the gate to the yard open
and you will have little trouble finding
her egs. Hie turkey hen always coven
her rg, and it is well to leave sn egg in
the nest. In rearing tur
keys th main thing 1 to keep them dry
limit they re full feathered. If thev
once become thoroughly water soaked
there la no ue tryii.g to di thing with
them. Ther wil'l all die sure. Their
main food whi'c young rhould hs wheat
rojked in milk. Corn meal alone kill
them. If a little corn meal is (el with
bran no evil result will follow, but it
will not do to fee 1 it alone.
The try in time on young turkey is
when they are Liking on their coat of1
( atbers.
An object glass for the fortT-ineh tele
coi to lie mounted at the University of
Southern California ha been tiken to
Canihridire, Mat. Clark Kro. are ex
pected to spend two yrar on it U-f to it !
1 ready for as. I
THE POLICY OF RUSSIA.
hs Will Novsr I'.rnilt tli IHtmrfiilisr.
niftnl or Franc.
In the Message Itusw, review piib
llshed In St Petersburg, tliera is so
irtlelo upon th future, policy of Itussla,
by Mr. Serge d 9 TatMioff, th eminent
hlxtoriuii and dlpliuiiHtlst. Ho declares
thnt Russia nisy remain Indifferent to
sll the inlsnnJt rstuinlliigi ami dlllb-ul-lles
of Western Kurum, but that there
is one thing t hut tho Empire Is bound at
ull hazards to resist, and thut Is the dls-
1 niemhni'iueiit of France by (iermsny or
by the qnsdriipla alliance. In opposing
siieli sn set, ho, says, Russia would only
bo defending her own Interests, because
powerful France Is absolutely neces
sary a a eouuter-bulanc to the (lorman
Empire, which Is at present supported
by tho armies of Austro-Ilungary snd
Italy and also sustained by the nsvst
forces of Grout llrltaln. This was some
thing that was well undontood by th
Eniieror Alexander L In 1814-15, and
later still by Alexander II., when In
1875 he woull not permit Germany to
Invade France for th second tlmn, be
fore she could recover from nor disasters
snd place knrself one mors on
tho defensive. Let lt be remem
bered that at the above-named
date Russia wa bound to the
court of Berlin and Vienna by
treaty, whllo to-day ah I perfectly free
to mold her policy according to her own
Interests and needs. Germany, at Mis
bead of the so-called league of poaw,
already dominates the wbolo of Central
Europe. Two great powers alone pro
sorve their Independence and hinder her
domination from spreading all over the
unlrerso. Henco th absoluto identity
1 of their reciprocal interests. If Ger
many should (iircecd In conquering
Franco without the Intnrforeneo of Ru
fcla, or In conquering Russia, loft with
out tho aid ot France, there would thon
I not nly bo no balance of powor In
Europe, but none in tho entire world.
All powers and all people would find
: themselves obliged to bow their heads
' under the yoke of Germany and to ac
. knowledge her universal sovcrlgnty.
Therefore, In any struggle with the
quadruplo alliance It Is the duty ot Uus
! sla to sustain France, Just as It Is the
duty of Franco to sustain Russia. To
. the objection that If an alliance wore
I concluded botween France und Russia a
declaration ot war would be the Immedi
ate result Mr. Totlsholl replies:
j "It Is just tho lamo as If two separate
army corps, acting against tconcentrat
I d enemy, were ad v I sad to keep separ
, at for fear of hurting the feelings of
I that enemy. And how should they b
kept tbu separate? Ily manuvr
j which must necessarily lead to dofaatl
1 Tb absurdity of inch advice Is plain to
I every body from k purely military point
I of view, and only a halt-blind and In
competent diplomacy fall to ice lt ai
matter of policy. To our oyosltlsai
plain that two and two tnak four
that It the pcaoe of Kurope 1 to b as
sured lt must b by an alliance frank
snd sincere between France and Russia.
I Th conditions of such an alliance are
j very simple common defense against
th common tnemy; a mutual guaranty
of tb Integrity of our territories, and
I an engagement not to conclude peac
otherwise than by common consent
j The treaty would contain nothing hurt
' ful to anybody, even if lt wa not justi
fied by the threatening coalition of th
four other great powers known under
tho name 01 the lnagu ot poac, and
which, notwithstanding It name, Is pre
cisely the thing that compromise th
peace of Europe by th mysterloui ac
tions and th constant armament ot it
members,"
SHAN SUPERSTITIONS.
A Frlmltlvs rxipt I'ommmmI Ily a 1UIII
In Kvll HplrlU.
The spirit both good and evil havo
tholr origin In human beings, and all
the common event of life, all phases of
good or bad fortune, aro regulated by
thnso. Itoth Hinduism and liuddhlam
havo, to a certain extent, left their
traces upon the primitive creed, and the
ceremonials of worship are naturally of
the Iluddhlst type. Among the Shan
Quadama very significantly ranks a tho
deity of mercy an indication that bl
bloodless rite came a relief to the
oldor human sacrifice to the spirits.
Tho village and family and household
spirits, s the nearest to hand and most
active, bulk most largely In the mind
of the people, and exercise a vory se
rious Influence upon their ordinary life.
"Malicious as monkeys, and can only b
kept In good humor by constant coax
ing," Is the sentiment which the people
have regarding tholr unseen encompass
ers. Each house has part assigned to
the iplrlts belonging to it, good or bad.
Possession by evil spirit 1 k common 1
belief, and every malady 1 kttrlbutcd
totwltchcraft or to the Influence of som
vll being. . When descending tho rapid
of the Moh Ping Mr. Ilallett found that
his boatmen bad to propitiate the I'e
Pa, the iplrlts that guard the doflle, bo
fore they could venture on the descent
These jungle iplrlts once bclongod to
human being who bad died a violent
death and not recolved proper funeral
rites. All who aro killed by their agency
bkve to Join tholr unhallowed company.
They direct tigers to the lonely traveler,
docoy him Into peril In the form of soma 1
othor animal or by Imitating the human
voice. More dangerous than the I'e Pk
are the Pee Song Nang, the spirit of
two dissolute Princesses, who, In the
form of beautiful enchantresses, lure
young men to tholr doom. Blackwood'
Magazine,
Ovn!olnf It,
A prominent fault to be found with
New York drawing rooms is the too
great profusion of furniture and brio-a-bruo
crowded into them. It trip you
on the floors, dro) down at you from
the chandelier and cornices, tiutket it
dangerous to stretch your legnor move
your elbow when you sit, and ren
ders it impo.siblo to find a bit of un
occupied wull big enough to lean
against It i a great pleasure, of
course, to have lot of pretty things,
but they need not all boon exhibition
at once. One fashionable woman in
thi city, who can afford to bur al
most anything thut strikes her fancy,
hu a store room in her house filled
with bric-a-brac and furniture. Every
week a dozen or so of these precious
treasure are brought out and ar
ranged about the rooms, and as many
others as have been on duty for a
time aro packed away again. Thus
her parlor lias always a certain expres
sion about it to to speak, widely dif
ferent from the look of a buzar, high
ly fiuhionublo, but exceedingly uu
(estfuL. that a too well tilled room has.
It I undontood llaf the reason for
McGlnty' failure toappaar 1 due to th
soothing Influence xperiencd by on
Wbo is being rocked la U oradi of tat
aj.