Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1889-10-19

NIsh conjecture - 10 what these thingo
,ould mean. The first notes Of "assem-
,Iy Of the trumpeters"-generally known
v 'sfirst call'-roused him from his sleep,
md BY the time the men marched out to
the stables he had had his plunge bath,a
rigorous rub and Q chance to think over
his plans before following In their tracks,
dressed for his ride. Tho astonishment
81 Lieut. Parkc, the Junior Of tho troop.
was something almost too deep for words
when Perry came bounding to his side.
''what on earth brings you out. Nedy"
was his only effort.
"Uoing for . gallop-down the Monee;
that's all. haven't had q frcshener for
D week"
"Gadi we get exercise enough at
drill, one would think, and our
horses too. Ohr'- And Mr.. Parkc
stopped suddenly. kfiashed across him
that perhaps Perry was going riding
with lady friend and the hour was her
selection. II 20, twas no business Of
his, and remarks were uncalled for.
When he mounted and rode away from
tho stable Mr.. Parke was outside at the
picket rope, and busily occupied In his
duties, supervising the fastening Of tho
fresh. spirited horses at the line. for the
troop commander was Q man intolerant
Of disorder OF any kind, and nothing
more offended his eye than the sight Of
two or three Of his charges loose and
pluuging and kicking up and down tho
stable yard. On the other hand, there
was no one exploit that seemed TO give
tl,u Mi al k>osSn~ AAef.kA
nothing that made the perpetrator big
ger hero In his own eyes or the object of
greater envy among his fellows--and as
consequence every device Of which
equine ingenuity was master was called
into play, regularly q the morning came
around. to break loose either from the
controlling hand Of the trooper or from
the taut and straining picket rope. Tho
first care Of the ofYicer In charge Of the
troop sergeants was. therefore, to see
that all the horses were securely lashed
and knotted. Not until he had examined
every halter shank" was Mr.. Parke at
leisure TO look around, but when he did
his comrade had disappeared from view.
And over this broad level. horizon
bounded, not q moving object could be
seen. Far away, in little groups Of three
or four, black dots Of grazing cattle
marked the plain, and over In the
"breaks" Of the Mones, just beyond tho
fringing cottonwoods, two or three
herds Of Indian ponies were sleepily
cropping their morning meal, watched
by the little black imp Of boy whose
dirty red blanket made tho only patch Of
color against the southern landscape.
Later In the day, when the sun mounted
high In the heavens and the brisk west
erly winds sent tho clouds sailing swift
across the skies, all the broad prairie
seemed In motion, for then hugo shad-
ows swept its face with measured speed,
and distant cattle and neighboring pony
herd appeared as though calmly and
contentedly riding on broad platform,
Natures own Conservation car" taking
leisurely journey towards the fur away
Pacific.
But the sun was only just up as MIR.
Parke came back from his inspection Of
the halter fastenings and paused TO look
scroas the low valley. Far down to the
southeast the rays seemed glinting on
some bright objects clustered together
within short range Of the shadowy
fringe, and the lieutenant shaded his
eyes with his gauntlet and looked fixed
" thitherward as he stood at the stable
door.
'Some new timing down at that Eng
lish ranch they talk Of. suppose" was
his explanation Of the phenomenon. and
then "wonder why Perry hasn't ridden
to cultivate the acquaintance Of those
people before this. He was always the
first man In the --th to find out who our
neighbors were."
Pondering over this question, II oc-
CURED to Mr.. Parke that Perry had said
he was going down tho Monee that morn
ing; but nowhere was there a speck in
sight that looked like Looping horseman.
To be sure, tho trail bore close to the low
bluffs that bounded the valley on the
north by the time ono had ridden mile
or so out from the post. He was prob
ably hidden by this shoulder Of the prai-
rie, and would continue to be until ho
reached the bend, five miles below. No
use watching for him then. Besides, no
might not yet have started. Mr.. Parke
recalled the fact that he half suspected
awhile ago that Ned was going to ride
an early ante-breakfast ride-with .
lady friend. Mrs. Belknap had her own
horse, and was an accomplished equcs-
trienne; Mrs. Lawrence rode fairly well,
and was always glad to 60, when some
body could give her saddle and a reli-
able mount. There were others. too,
among the ladies Of the infantry garrison
who were no novices q cheval. Mr..
Parke had no intention whatever Of pry-
ing into the matter. 1t was simply as
something the officer in charge Of stable
duty was entitled to know that he turned
suddenly and called;
"Sergt. Gwynne!"
He heard the name passed down the
dark interior Of the stable by the men
sweeping out the stalls, and the prompt
and CHEEKY reply. The next instant q
tall young trooper stepped forth into the
blaze Of early sunlight, his right hand
raised in salute, and stood erect and mo.
tionless by the lieutenants side.
"Did Mr.. Perry take an extra horse
sergeantr'
"No, SIR
II thought possibly he meant to take
Roland. He's the best lady's horse in thu
troop, is no notT'
"Yes, sir; but Roland Is at the line
now"
VERY well, then. That's all. I pre-
sumo he has just ridden down to Dun
raven" And Mr.. Parke turned to lool
once more at tho glinting objects dowr
the distant valley. II was a moment o.
two before he was aware Of the fact tina
the sergeant still stood there, instead O
returning to his duties.
81 said that was all, sergeant; you car