The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1889-12-28
faint speck just visible in the waning
twilight. far away southeastward be.
yond the Monee.
CHAPTER vi.

<-S~s.ssH, (, S
@ES WlLIGHT still hovcred
INN}9NN over the broad expanso
WIN of prairio when Lieut..
M Perry and his little party,
F after n brisk canter down
the valley, reached the
barbed inclosure of Dunraven, and the
young commander led unhesitatinglv to
tho gateway on the northern. line. A
sergeant of his troop and two private
soldiers We're his escort at tho moment: n
third man, by direction of Col. Brainard,
had been sent ut tho gallop in pursuit of
tho distant speck which the orderly had
pronounced to be DR.. Quin, and the in.
structions which this messenger bore
were to the effect that the post surgeon
should ride by tho most direct route and
join Lieut.. Perry at the north cato of the
ranch
In the few minutes which elapsed be-
tween the announcement of the doctors
departure on his solitary and unexpected
ride and the arrival of the little mounted
escort, Perry had time to tell the colonel
something of the situation down the
Monee and to mako Il rough sketch of
the inclosurc and the distant buildings.
The direction taken by the doctor, up to
the moment when the black spcck dis
appeared from view in tho waning light.
would bo very apt to lead him, if he rode
far enough, to some point on the wire
fcncc which spanned tho western limit
OF Dunraven; but that point would be at
least five or six miles south of the valley
Possibly there was no gateway north of
that-ccrtainly no trail was visible ON
the prairie; but tho more Mr.. Perry
thought of tho matter as ho rode away
the more was he satisfied that somc-
where far down that western line there
was an entrance where DIR. Quin, at
least, had tho "opcn sesame"
Pcrry's orders were, in case nothing
was seen or heard of Scrgt Gwynnc
while OH the way thithcr, to enter tho in
closure and make inquiries at the ranch
itself Meantime, the Cheyenne scouts
had been hastily summoned from their
lodges along tho Monco just above the
post and sent scurrying forth upon the
prairie to trail tho horses foot prints and
so work back rs far as possible before
darkness intcrposed. Capt. Strykcr, too,
and dozen of his best men, had mount
ed and ridden forth in long. scattered
line across tho eastern plain; and these
| parties were all five miles out from the
| post before nightfall fairly hid them from
| view
Ono thing tho sergeant had to tell Mr..
Perry which confirmed him in the belief
that tho sooner they got to Dunravcn tho
quicker they would bo at tho scene OF
their comrades mishap, whatever that
might prove to be Ho had had no time
himself to visit the stables and examine
the wounds on the horses flank, but a
they rodo away from Rossitcr he turned
in the saddle and called the non-co
stoned officer to hi. side.
"What sort of wound is 1t, sergeant
that mado tho horse bleed so-bullct O
knife?"
ut doesn't look like cithcr sir. Their,
arc several Of them, Jagged scratches il
tho shoulder and along tho flank, lik,
thorns Or nails"-
"Or barbcd wirc!" suggested the lieu
tenant suddenly.
"Ycs, sir, like as not; though VIC hadn'
thought of that, not knowing of any
fences hcrcabouts."
"Youll see fcnco enough presently
That's whero we'll find Sergt. Gwynnc
too Let your horses out little.
want to get there before dark, If posi-
| blc."
1t was dark in the timber, however, a.
they rode through and rcined up at tht
gateway. 1t would be half IN hour al
the very least, thought Perry. before til.
| doctor could join them, if he came at all
1t was by no means certain that the mes
senger had ovcrtakcn him, and, even il
he had, was 1t probable that tho doctor
would bo in great haste to come? Hi
mysterious movements of the morning
his undoubted connection with the nigh
signals from the ranch, the fact that ht
had given his commanding officer NJ
inkling whatever Of these outside inter
ests of his, all tended to make Perry dis
trustful OF their post surgeon. ucwoult
not speak of 1t to a soul, or hint at tn,
possibility OF such thing, until he hat
evidence that was indisputable, but thu
young officer was sorely perplcxcd b,
these indications Of some secret and un
lawful enterprise on the part of thci
new comrade, and he doubted his sym
| pathy in the mission on which they hae
been hurried forth.
Dismounting to examine tho gate Will,
still pondering this matter over in hi
mind, Perry found it locked as securel,
as he had left it in tho morning. TIL,
sergeant and his men dismounted, too
at q low spoken word from their officer
and stood at tho heads Of their pantin;
horses, looking in silent surprise at tn
strong and impervious barrier tha
crossed their track.
Tho gate is locked and the fence i'm
passable, sergeant" said Mr. Perry
"We cannot get our horses through O.
over unless We hack down post or two
You can't cut such wire as this with any
tool we've got. Ill leave Nolan her,
with you and go on to the ranch on foot
it lies about half mile to tho SOUTH
the doctor comes, he can follow me- 1
l do not come or send back in half al
hour from this you three come after me
for Ill need you.
With that, slowly and carefully, ant
not without muttcr4d malediction OF
the singing barbs, Mr.. Perry wrigglce
through between tho middle wires ant
|