Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1889-11-02

BIVeE OrlSk CantcT uOWIl
tho valley, reached the
barbed inclosure Of Dunraven, and tho
young commander led urhesitatingly to
the gateway on the northern line. A
sergeant OF his troop and two private
soldiers were his escort at the moment: a
third man, by direction Of Col. Brainard,
had been sent at the gallop In pursuit Of
the distant speck which the orderly had
pronounced to be DIR. Quin, and the in.
structions which this messenger bore
were to the effect that the post surgeon
should ride by the most direct route and
join Lieut.. Perry at the north gate Of the
ranch.
In the few minutes which elapsed he.
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
4onee and to make rough sketch Of
the inclosure and the distant buildings.
The direction taken by the doctor. up to
the moment when the black speck dis
appeared from view In tho waning light,
would be very apt to lead him, il he rode
far enough, to some point on the wire
fence which spanned the 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--certainly no trail was visible on
the prairie; but the more Mr.. Perry
thought OF the matter as he rode away
the more was he satisfied that some
where far down that western line there
sTas an entrance where DIR. Quin. at
least. had the ''open sesame"
Pcrry's orders were, In case nothing
was seen or heard Of Sergt. Gwynne
while on she way thithcr. to enter the in
closure aud make inquiries at the ranch
itself. Meantime. the Cheyenne scouts
had been hastily summoned from their
lodges along tho Monee just above the
post and cent scurrying forth upon the
prairie to trail the horses foot prints and
80 work back rs far as possible before
darkness interposed. Capt. Stryker. too.
and dozen Of his best men, had mount
ed and ridden forth in long, scattered
line across the eastern plain; and these
parties were all Ave miles out from the
post before nightfall fairly hid them from
view.
One thing the sergeant had to tell Mr..
Perry which confirmed him in the belief
that the sooner they got to Dunraven the
quicker they would be at the scene of
their comrades mishap, whatever that
might prove to he. He had had no time
himself to visit the stables and examine
tho uv,As tha h..~ l,,,t
they rode away from Rossiter he turned
In the saddle and called the non-commis.
stoned officer to his side.
"What sort OF wound Is it, sergeant,
that made the horse bleed so--bullet or
knife?"
ut doesn't look like either, sir. There
are several Of them, Jagged scratches in
the shoulder and along the flank, like
thorns or nails
''Or barbed wirc?" suggested the lieu.
tenant suddenly.
Yes, sir, like as not; though we hadn't
& thought of that, not knowing of any
fences hereabouts."
"Youll see fence enough presently.
That's where we'll find Sergt. Gwynne,
too. Let your horses out little. /
want to get there before dark, II posi-
BILE"
II was dark in the timber, hsSwever, as
they rode through and reiDpA up at the
gateway. 1t would be half an hour a,
the very least, thought ptfry, before the
doctor could join them/Nif he came at ALL
1t was by no means certain that the mes
senger had overiakkn him. and, even il
he had, was it probable that the doctor
would lie in great haste to come? Hi,
mysterious movements of the morning
his uhdoubted connection with the night
signals from the ranch. the fact that h,
had given his commanding officer nS
inkling whatever Of these outside inter
ests Of his, all tended TO make Perry dis
trustful Of their post surgeon. liewoult
not speak Of it to a soul. or hint at the
possibility OF such thing, until he had
evidence that was indisputable, but the
young officer was sorely perplexed by
these indications of some secret aHtin
lawful enterprise on the part OF their
new comrade, and lac doubted his sym
pathy In the mission on which they had
been hurried forth
Dismounting TO examine the gate whilt
still pondering this matter over in hi
mind, Perry found it locked as securcl,
as he had left it in the morning. Til,
sergeant and his men dismounted. too
at q low spoken word from their officer
and stood at the heads of their pantn,
horses, looking in silent surprise at til,
+ strong and impervious barrier tha
crossed their track.
"The gate is locked and the fence i'm
passable, sergeant" said Mr.. Perry
I'VE cannot get our horses through O
over unless we hack down a post or two
You can't cut such wire as this with an,
tool we've got. I'll leave Nolan her
with you and go on To the ranch ON foot
u lies about half mile to the south.
the doctor comes, he can follow me.
] do not come or send back in half a
hour from this you three come after me
for Ill need you"
With that, slowly and carefully, an
not without q muttered nIalediction o
the stinging barbs. Mr.. Perry wriggle
through between the middle wires an
finally stood within the inclosure, read
s jusljng his waist belt and holster The
he took his revolver from, its leather
81 case. carefully tried the hammer an
cylinder. saw that each chamber wa
1nadsd. and turned once more TO the ser
y eonnt.
So Z youf pistols all rightY'
IAN right. sir; fresh loaded when W
0tnsted."
~ don't know that they'll be necessar
=. g al, sergeant; but this is queer place
erusn what I've heard and the little is
eoen. Keep your eyes and ears oper
s hp9 stsyker and some Of the men ma