Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-11-02

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 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 make a rough sketch of
the Enclosure and the distant buildings.
The direction taken by the doctor, up to
the moment when the black speck dis
appeared from view in the waning light,
would be very apt to lead him, if 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
was an entrance where DR.. Quin, at
least, had the open sesame"
Pery-s orders we're, in case nothing
was seen or heard Of Sergt. Gwynne
while on the way thither, TO enter the in
closure and make inquiries at the ranch
itself Meantime, the Cheyenne scouts
had been hastily summoned from their
lodges along the Monee just above the
post and sent scurrying forth upon the
prairie to trail the horses foot prints and
so work back as far as possible before
darkness iuterposed. Capt StSker 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 five 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 be- He had had no time
himself to visit the stables and examine
the wounds on the horses flank, but as
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?"
1T doesn't look like either. sir. There
are several Of them, Jagged scratches IN
the shoulder and along the flank, Ike
thorns or nails
"Or barbed wire?" suggested the lieu
tenant suddenly.
Yes, sir, like as not; though we hadn't
thought Of that, not knowing of any
fences hereabouts."
you'll see fence enough presently.
That's where we'll find Sergt. Gwynne,
too. Let your horses out a little.
want to get there before dark, if posi-
BILE"
1t was dark in the timber, however, as
they rode through and refined up at the
gateway. 1t would he half an hour at
the very least, thought Perry. before the
doctor could join them, if he came at all.
II was by no means certain that the mes
senger had overtaken him, and, even if
he had, was 1t probable that the doctor
would be in great haste to come? His
mysterious movements Of the morning,
his undoubted connection with the night
signals from the ranch, the fact that he
had given his commanding officer nc
inkhng whatever of these outside inter
ests of his, all tended to make Perry dis
trustful of their post surgeon. He would
not speak Of it to a soul. OF hint at the
possibility OF such thing, until he hac
evidence that was indisputable, but tht
young officer was sorely perplexed 10y
these indications Of some secret and un
lawful enterprise on the part of theil
new cOmrade, and he doubted his sym
patty in the mission on which they hac
been hurried forth
Dismounting 10 examine the gate while
still bordering this matter over in hi
mind, Perry found it locked as securely
as he had left it in the morning. Tn,
sergeant and his men dismounted, too
at low spoken word from their officer
and stood at the heads Of their pantin,
horses, looking in silent surprise at tn,
strong and impervious barrier tina
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
it lies about half mile to the south. !
the doctor comes, he can follow me. /
/ do not come OF send back in half al
hour from this you three come after me
for I'll need you"
With that, slowly and ,carefully, an,
not without a muttered malediction OF
the singing barbs, Mr.. Perry wriggle,
through between the middle wires AM
finally stood within the inclosure, read
justing his waist belt and holster. Thel
he took his revolver from its leather
case, carefully tried the hammer an,
cylinder, saw that each chamber wa
loaded, and turned once more 10 the ser
geant.
Your pistols all rightY'
Gan right, sir; fresh loaded when W,
started"
II don't know that they'll be necessar,
at all. sergeant; but this is a queer place
from what I've heard and the little Nv,
seen. Keep your eyes and ears open
Capt. Stryker and some of the men ma,
come down into the valley if they fin,
no trace of Gwynne up on the prairie
Watch for the doctor, too"
Then. through the deepening twilight
he strobe, following the trail that le
southwark up the slopes. Five minute,
brisk walk along the springy tur
brought him to the crest and in view @
the lights at the ranch buildings, stil
some six or seven hundred yards away
All through the eastern sky the stars wer
peeping forth, and even through tn
] CLEAN Of the twilight in the west tw
brilliant planets shone like molten gold
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