The Dickinson press., 1889-12-21

N IN OSJO1N i i NUN l. IL i
examined the two or three that were
most clearly defined upon the trail, then
gave a long whistle as means of cx-
pressing his feelings and giving play to
his astonishment.
Johnny Bull holds himself too high
and mighty to have anything to do Will.
lis blarsted Yankees, it seems, except
when he wants his horses shod. These
shoes were set at the post blacksmith
shop, or I'm duffer," was the lieuten.
ants verbal comment. "Now, how was
it done without the quartermaster's
knowing it? That's the cavalry shoe!"
Pondering over this unlocked for rcve-
lation, Mr.. Perry once more mounted
and turned his disappointed steed again
down stream. At last, full half mile
farther on, he saw that a wire fence ran
southwark again across the prairie, as
though marking the eastern boundary
of the homestead inclosurc, and con-
jecturing that there was probably n trail
along that fence and an opening through,
even if the southeastward line should be
found fenced still farther, he sent Nolan
through the Monee to the open bank on
the northern side, cantcred along until
the trail turned abruptly southwark,
and, following it, found himself once
more at the fence just where the heavy
corner post stood deeply inbedded in
the soil. Sure enough, here ran another
fence straight up the gentle slope to the
south, a trail along its eastern side, and
Il broad cattle gap, dusty and tramped
with the hoofs of thousand steers, was
left in the fence that, prolonged down
stream, spanncd tho northern boundary.
Inside the homestead lot all was virgin
| turf.
Following the southwark trail, Perry
rode briskly up the long incline. 1t was
east of this fence he had seen the cattle
herds and their mounted watchers. He
was far beyond the ranch buildings, but
felt sure that once we'll up on the prairie
he could have an uninterrupted view of
them and doubtless meet some of tho
ranch people and satisfy himself what
there was in the stories of their churlish
and repcllent demcanor. The sun was
climbing higher all this time, and he,
eager in pursuit of his reconnaissance,
gave little heed to ilccting minutes. If
fair means could accomplish it, he and
Nolan We're bound to have acquaintance
with Dunraven Ranch.
Ten minutes easy lope brought him
we'll up on the prairie. Therc-westward
now-was the mysterious clump of brown
buildings, just as far away as when he
stood, bailled and disappointed, by the
gateway on the Monec. Here, leading
away towards the distant buildings, was
Il bride path. Here in the fence was Il
gap just such as he had entered on the
stream, and that gap was barred and
guarded by the counterpart of the first
gate and firmly secured by q paddock
that was the others twin. Mr.. Perry's
comment ut this point Of his explora.
tions was brief and characteristic, if not
Objectionable. lie gavo vent to the same
low whistle, half surprise, half vexation.
that had comfortcd his soul before, but
supplemented the whistle with the
unnecessary remark: "Wcll, I'll be
damned."
Even Nolan entered his protest against
such incredible cXclusiveness. Thrustinp
his lean head far over the topmost wires
as before, he signalcd long and shrill-
a neigh that would have caught the eal
of any horse within milc-and then
all alert, he waited for an answer. II
came floating on the rising wind, n re,
sponsivc call, n signal as eager and con.
iident us his own, and Nolan and No
lan's rider whirledquickly around to sec
the source from whence it rose. Foul
hundred yards away, just stappcaring ovel
n little knoll in the prairie, and moving
towards them from the direction of ,
distant clump of grazing cattle, anothe
horse and rider came trotting into hail
ing distance; and Perry, his bright blue
eyes dilating, and Nolan, his dainty, sen
sitive cars pricked forward, turnct
promptly to meet and greet the new ar
rivals.
For fifty yards or SO tho stranger rode
confidently and at rapid trot. Perry
smilingly watched the outturned toes
the bobbing, "bent over" seat, and all
gular elbows that seemed SO strange ant
out of place on the broad Texan plain
He could almost see the "crop" in the
free hand, and was smiling to himself
at the idea of n "crop" to open wire
gates, when he became aware of tho
fact that the strangers mien had chang
ed; confidence was giving place to hes
itancy, and he was evidently checking
a IL L. ~
his weight back on tho cantlc, while hif
feet, thrust through to the very heels ir
the cleaning steel stirrups, were braccC
in front of the powerful shoulders of tho
bay. The horse wanted to come, tho
rider plainly wanted to stop. Another
moment, and Perry could see that the
stranger wore eyeglasses and had just
succeeded in bridging them on his nose
and was glaring at him with his CHR
high in air. They were within two hun
drc1 yards of each other by this time
and to Pcrry's astonish1ncnt, tho next
thing the stranger did was to touch
sharply his horse with barbed heel
whirl him spitcfully about, and go bob
bing off across the prairie at lively can
ter, standing up in his stirrups, and be
striding his stecl as though his object
were not so much a ride as game Of leap
frog.
twas evident that he had caught sight
Of Perry when Nolan neighcd, had rid
den ut once to meet him, expecting te
find some one connected with the ranch
and had veered off in disgust the mo
ment he was able to recognize the uni
form and horse equipments Of the United
States cavalry.
, CHAPTER ".
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