The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1889-12-28

lue StOllu rank OF bearded faces IOr the
friends he knew. Officer after officer
he passed in review until he came tc
Stryker's troop, posted on the right Of
the cavalry, and there, with neigh Of
recognition, he fearlessly trotted up to
the captains outstretched hand. Another
minute and two men fell out and made q
temporary gap in the rank; through this
sergeant file closer extended his white
glove, relieved the captain of his charge
and led the painting stced away.
Tho men retook their places; the cap
tain again resumed his position in front
of the center of his company, dropped
the point OF his saber to the ground and
settled back into parade rest;" the band
went on laundering down tho line,
countermarched and came back to its
post on tho right, making the wclkin
ring with the triumphant strains OF
Northern Route" tho trumpets pealed
tho retreat" the adjutant stalked his
three yards to the front, faced tiercely
to the left and shouted his resonant Or
ders down the line, three hundred mar
tial forms sprang to attention, and the
Furnished arms came to the Garry
with simultaneous crash, ranks were
opened with old timo precision, the
parade presented" to the colonel with
all duo fornality, the manual was ex-
ecuted just as punctiliously as though
nothing unusual had happened; first SER
geants reported, orders were published,
parade formally dismissed; the line of
officers marched solidly to the front,
halted, and mado its simultaneous salute
to tho colonel, who slowly raised and
lowered his white glovcd hand in rccog-
milton; and then, and not till then, was
any one allowed to speak of what was
uppermost in every mind-that Scrgt.
Gwynne's horse had come in without
him, and that the animals right flank
was streaming with blood.
Ten minutes later Lieut.. Perry, in rid
ing dress, came hurrying down to the
colonel's quarters, where two or three
officers were now gathered at tho gate.
The ladies had put aside the albums, and
with anxious faces were scanning the lit
tlo group as though striving to gauge
from their gestures and expression the
extent of the calamity or tho possible de-
gree of danger. But Mrs. Lawrence
looked fairly startled when her hus.
bands voice was heard for tho first time
above the general hum of consultation
"Col. Brainard, Mr.. Perry is coming,
see, and presume thero is no time to be
lost You have asked if none of lis who
were stationed here ever visited the
ranch, and tho answer was no. May
suggest that DIR. Quin could perhaps tell
something of its inhabitants"
"Whcre is tho doctor?" asked the col
onel, turning suddenly. "Orderly. 80
and give my compliments to tho post
surgeon and say wish to sec him here
n moment. An ready, Perry? You have
made quick work of it."
"All ready, sir. At least, will he
the moment my horse gets here There
go the men running to the stables now. A"
Capt. Strykcr will send sergeant
and four men to report to you, and you
are to go direct to Dunravcn Ranch.
The rest of the troop, with the Chey-
ennes, will scout the prairie to the east
and south. Twill soon be too dark to
trail, but three of the Indians arc going
back on the horses track as far as they
can. The adjutant is writing note to
the proprietor of the ranch-I don't know
his name"-
"His name is Maitland, sir"
"1s it? Have you been thcrc!"
"Ive been around one end Of 1t, out
side, but nowhere near the buildings.
It's all fenced in, sir, and the gates kept
locked"
"What an incomprehensible proceed
ing for Texasl Wait moment whilc
speak to Mr.. Farnham; he's writing here
at my desk. Gentlemen, como in on the
porch and sit down, will you not?"
But they excused themselves and
hastcncd away to remove their full dress
Capt. Lawrence had no need to call his
wife. She bado her companion good
evening, thanked tho colonel with q
smiling glance for the pleasure the pho
tographs had given her, and added a
word of earnest hope that they might
find tho sergeant uninjured. Then she
joined her husband, and together they
walked quickly away. Mrs. Belknap and
Mr.. Perry were left for the moment alone.
"Can you walk home with mc?" she
asked, in her low, modulated tones, the
great. heavily lashed, swimming dark
eyes searching his face ~ have not
seen you since they broke in upon our
talk last evening, and there is something
| want to ask YOU"
"I'm sorry, Mrs. Bclknap, but I'm on
duty, you see, was the young fellows
answer as he gave tug to tho strap OF
his cartridge belt Cant you ask me
hcre?"
GLOW can I"-and the eyes were full
of pathetic disappointrncnt-"when they
may come out any moment? You did
not finish telling mo about-about the
tassel last night. believe you were glad
when they interrupted US. Were you
not?"
"Nonsense, Mrs. Bcknap! was hav.
ing too good time-lots of fun"
eyes" was the reproachful answer,
eA'Ae A.o "hoo ~ W 1o-to } SOu-lueAC AuLl.
And now you arc going away again
after promising to comcin this evening.
II have to go, Mrs. Belknap. Why,
want to 80. Haven't you heard wha,
has happened-about sergt. Gwynnc?"
"oh, yes, it is your duty, of course
but how unlucky" And the pretty face
was dropping with its weight of disap
pointment and sadness. She leaned
against the railing near his gauntlet Gov
cred hand, tho dark eyes pensively down
cast, tho dark lashes sweeping her soft
flushing check. "And tomorrow you
are on guard" she presently continued.
eyes, unless some one has to go on fol
me-in case we are not back in the morn
ing in time"
"Then it's good-by, 1 suppose" she
said, lifting her eyes once more to his
"After tomorrow there will bo little
chance of seeing you Mrs Page viii
be here by that time"
Mr.. Perry looked at his fair com
panion with a glance that told Of mucl
perturbation of spirit. Mrs. Page was
an old and cherished friend of Mrs
d. Al l. 4