Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-12-14


inaudible, that came floating along the
corridor, were those Of Gladys. When
Mrs. Cowan spoke to him on some or
binary topic. he impatiently babe her
hush-he could not bear to be disturbed
and, far from being hurt at his petu-
lance, Mrs. Cowan smiled softly as she
turned away.
Then Quin came back, and, after
fdgeting around moment, abruptly ad-
dressed his patient:
Perry. do you remember that morn
ing you rode down here right after re-
veille and met me on the trail-or at
least would have met me If l hadn't
lodged and gone over to the other side
of the valley?"
Certainly do, DOCTOR"
81 may as well explain that singular
performance first. You may have heard
that didn't get along amicably with
your predecessors of the Eleventh. Their
colonel was ass enough to totally miscon-
strue the purpose of my visits here, and
Twas ass enough to make no explana-
ton. The Maitlands went away; was
not called for again while the Eleventh
remained; and therefore said no more.
about it. Mr.. Maitland returned unex-
pectedly soon after you came. and the
first knew of it was the signal lights
telling me he was there, i'll, and that
was wanted. 1t was the night of the
coloners dinner party. 1 couldn't ex-
plain then, and decided to go at once
and explain afterward. When | met
you all Of a Sudden the next morning.
the first impulse was to get away out of
your sight, and | obeyed it simply be-
cause of the unpleasant experiences l
had been having with your fellow caval-
rymen. did not want to have to an
swer questions. See? | was ashamed
Of it, but too late to turn back"
Perry nodded Il understand it
now" he said
"Well, what want to ask is about
Sergt. Gwynne. Did you meet him be-
fore you got back"
"Yes-a mile or SO out from the post"
"You stopped and talked with him
didn't your"
"Yes-for several minutes"
Mrs. Cowan's needlework had fallen in
her lap. She was seated near the window,
and had been busily sewing. Now she
was looking up, eager and intent.
You've known him a long time.
haven't your"
"Yes-ever since he joined He's one
OF the best sergeants / ever knew"
You would hardly think him guilty
of any dishonesty, would your"
Mrs. Cowan was rising from her chair;
the needlework had fallen to the floor.
Dishonesty! Not by a-good dealt"
was the reply that babe fair to be even
more impulsive, and was checked only
in Difference to the presence of woman
well, neither would |, from what
I've seen of him; and yet Mr. Maitland's
seal ring was found on him last night"
MY God! OF course he could explain
It in some way?"
He couldnt-or wouldn't He sim
ply stood there, white as sheep except
where those bruises made him green and
blue. He had denied the charge fatty
when accused; and vet there it was in
his chest never saw any man so taken
aback As Capt. Stryker; he said he would
have sworn TO his innocence"
so would I!-so do, by Jupiter! It's
some foul plot.-it's"-
But he got no further. To his own
amaze, To the utter bewilderment of DR..
Quin, Mrs. Cowan precipitated herself
upon her patient, seized the hand that
Lay nearest her on the coverlet. and
burst forth into half articulate, sobbing,
indignant words, mingled with kisses
showered passionately on that astonish-
ed hand
"Oh, bless him for the words, Oh,
God bless you, Mr.. Perry Oh,
the fools! the lunatics! e 4
thief. indeed. The idea of his
being accused! Oh, Godl what
would his mother in heaven say TO this?
As though he had not borne
far too much already It's his
own-his own ring, tell you! Who
else should wear it? Who dare
take it from him now? Oh. the
infamy OF 1t all!''
- In her wild excitement, in her inco-
herent praise and lamentation and wrath
and Indignation, her voice. her sobs.
rang through the room and out along
the broad corridor. Even in their amaze
the two men heard hurried step ap-
preaching, a limping. halting. painful
step, vet rapid and impulsive. Quin, alb
sorbed in his contemplation of the ex-
cited woman, paid no attention; Perry's
eager eyes were strained upon the door
way, where, the very next instant, with
pallld features and startled mien, GLADYS
Maitland appeared and stood staring in
upon the spectacle OF Mrs. Cowan kiss
ing and sobbing over Perry's hand. AL
ready he had OWNED the truth, and
strove TO warn the tear blinded woman
Of her presence; but Mrs. Cowan's ex-
element had increased to the verge of
hysteria; she was laughing and crying
now by turns, blessing her soldier patient
for his faith In the accused sergeant, and
then breaking forth anew in indignant
expletive, Who are his accusers? Who
dare say thief TO him? Not one
is tit to look him in the facet Twas the
very ring his mother gave him,
his own! his own
And then the doctor seized her and
turned her so that she must see Gladys
GLADYS. wild eyed, painting, staring, tot
tering forward from the doorway. One
sharp cry from the woman's lips, one
spring towards the Keeling form, and
she had caught the girl in her arms.
GLADYS, Gladys, my little pet! my
own baby girl! Look up and thank God!
I've tried to keep my promise and his
secret until he released me. I've tried
hard, but it's all useless; can't, can't.
oh, Gladys, sweetheart, your mothers
smiling down ON US this day. Who do
you think has come back to us, safe and
strong and well and brave? Who but
your own brother. your own Archie,
Gladys?"