Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1889-11-23

saulted and badly beaten, this was some.
thing that few could overlook, and the
latent jealousy against the "cockney
sergeant blazcd into n feeling OF deep
resentment. Garrison sympathy was
with Leary and his fellows.
Thursday came, and Sergt. Gwynue
returned to light duty, though his face
was still bruised and discolored and he
wore a patch over one eye. He resumed
charge Of the stables In the afternoon,
after brief conversation with his cap
tain, and was experimenting tho 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 90 well. Perry stopped him
and carefully and critically examined
his knees, feeling 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, he rose and be-
slowed 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 Perrys . attention at once.
Feeling all right again, sergeantT' he
asked, thinking to recall the non com
missioned officer to his senses.
almost, sir. I'm a trine stiff yet.
A,,,tt;p1 ,yrnu,v ,,,;tb NaI,,, ~
"Nothing. ! gave him rather tough
run tho other day---had to risk the prai.
rie dog holes-and, though felt no jar
then, I've watched carefully ever since
to see that he was not wrenched. lwish
you would keep an eye on him too, will
your
There was no answer Perry had been
looking over Nolan's launches as he
spoke. and once more turned to the ser
geant. To his astonishment, Gwynne's
lips were twitching and quivering, his
hands, ordinarily held in the rigid pose
Of the English service--extended along
the thigh--were clinching and working
nervously, and something suspiciously
like tear was creeping out from under
the patch. Before Perry could recover
from his surprise the sergeant suddenly
regained his self control, hastily raised
his hand In salute, saying something
half articulate in reply, and turned
sharply away, leaving his lieutenant
gazing after him In much perplexity.
That night, just after tattoo roll call,
when little group Of officers was gath
cred at the colonels gate, they were sud-
denly joined by DR.. Quin, who came
from the direction of the stable where he
kept his horse in rear of his own quar-
ters. Col. Brainard greeted him warmly
and inquired after his patient at Dun
raven. Every one noted how grave and
subdued was the tone in which the doc
tor answered.:
"He is n very sick man, colonel, and
1t is hard to say what will be the result
Of this seizure"
"You may want to go down again,
doctor, II that be the case-before sick
call tomorrow, | mean; and you had
better take one Of my horses. I'll tell
my man to have one in readiness"
you are very kind. sir. think old
Brian will do all the work needed. But
would like to go down at reveille, as
we have no men in hospital at all now.
And, by the way, is Mr. Perry here?'
~ am here" answered Perry coldly.
He was leaning against the railing,
rather away from the group, listening
intently, yet unwilling to meet or hold
conversation with the man he conceived
to be SO inimical to his every hope and
interest.
"Mr. Perry" said the doctor, pleas
antly, and utterly ignoring the GOODNESS
Of the young fellows manner, "Mr.
Maitland has asked to see you; and it
would crafty him if you would ride
down in the morning."
Even In the darkness Perry feared that
all would see the flush that lea ped to his
face. Summoned to Dunraven Ranch,
by her father, with possibility of see
ing herl 1t was almost too sweet! too
thrilling! He could give no reply for u
moment, and an awkward silence fell on
the group until he chokingly answered
II shall be glad to 60. What timer"
Better ride down early. Never mind
breakfast. Miss Maitland will be glad
to give you cup of coffee, fancy"
And Perry felt as though the fence had
taken to waltzing He made no answer,
striving to regain his composure, and
then the talk went on. 1t was Stryker
who was talking now:
"Has the ring been found. doctor?"
mo! That is most singular thing,
and one that worries the old gentleman
great deal. 1t had history; it be-
longed TO Mrs. Maitlands father, who
was from Ireland-indeed, Ireland was
her country, as it was my father's-and
that ring she had reset for her son Archie
and gave it to him when he entered serv-
ice with the Lancers. 1t was sent home
with his watch and other property from
South Africa--for he died there-and old
Maitland always wore it afterwards.
Archie was the last of three sons; and it
broke his heart"
"And the ring was lost the night of
Perrys adventure there?' asked the col.
onel.
"Yes. Mr., Perry remembers having
seen it on his hand when the old gentle
man first came down To receive him. 1t
was missed afterwards, and could easily
have slipped off at any time, for his fin
| gers were withered with age and i'll
health. They have searched everywhere,
and could find nothing of it. 1t could
easily have rolled off the veranda on to
the grass during his excitement at the
time of the row, and somebody may have
picked it up-either among the ranch
men or among the troopers"
81 hate to think that any Of our men
would take it," said the colonel after a
| pause.
81 do not think any Of them would,
with the idea of selling it," said Stryker;
"but here Is a case where it was picked
up, possibly, as one of the spoils of war.