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

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,asT&E HAT evening group
SM'@ of cavalry officers came
! sauntering back from
stables, and rs they reached tho walk
black bearded, soldierly looking captain
separated himself from the rest and en-
tered the colonel's yard. The command
ing officer happened to be seated on his
veranda at the moment, and in close
confabulation with DIR. Quin. Both gem
tlemen ceased their talk as the captain
entered, and then rose from their seats
as lie stepped upon the vcranda floor.
Good evening, Stryker," said the COL
onel, checrily. Come in and have q
seat. The doctor and We're just Won
dering if wo could not get you to take a
hand at whist tonight"
"1 shall be glad to join you, sir, after
parade. l have come in to ask permis-
sion to send Il sergeant and couple Of
men, mounted, down to the Monec One
of my best men is missing"
Indeed! Who is that? Send the men,
Of course"
"Sergt. Gwynne, sir. The first time
ever knew him to miss duty"
"Your stable sergeant, too? That is
unusual. How long has ho been gomez
"Since battalion drill this morning. lie
was on hand when tho men were sad
ding, and asked permission to take his
horse out for exercise and ride down the
valley a few miles. l said yes, never
supposing he would be gone after noon
roll call; and we were astonished when
he failed to appear at stables. Perry says
he met him two miles out.
THE two culprits" said the colonel,
laughing. Poor Perry is down in the
depths again. lie rodo up to me with
such q wocbegone look on his face at
drill this morning that l could hardly
keep from laughing in front of the whole
line. Even the mon were trying hard
not to grin: they knew he had turned
up just in the nick of time to save him
self an absent What do you suppose
can have happened to Gwynnc?"
ii cannot imagine, sir, and am in
clincd to DO worried. He would never
willingly overstay pass; and l fear
some accident has happened"
''ls he good rider?' asked the doctor
None Letter in tho regiment He is
model horscman, in fact, and, though
he never alludes to nor admits it, there
is 4 general feeling among the men that
he has been in the English cavalry SER
vice. OF course, there is no doubt of his
nationality: he is English to the back
bone, and. fancy. has seen better
days"
"What made them think he had been
in the cavalry service abroad?"
"Oh, his perfect knowledge of trooper
duties and management of horses. 1t
took him no time to learn the drill, and
he was sergeant before he had been
with me two years. Then, if you ever
noticed, colonel said Capt. Stryker, ap-
pealing to his chief, whenever Gwynne
stands attention he always has the fin
gers Of both hands extended and point
ing down along the thigh, close against
it-so" And Stryker illustrated. "Now.
you never see an American soldier do
that; and never saw it in any but Eng
lish trained soldiers. He has quit it
somewhat of late, because the men told
him it showed where he was drilled
we have other English 'non-coms.' you
know-but for long tlme noticed that
In him. Then he was enlisted in New
York city, some four years ago, and all
his things wero of English make-what
he had"
What manner Of looking fellow is
he?" asked the doctor II think l would
have noted him had seen him."
"Yes, you Englishnen are apt to look
to one another, said the colonel in re-
ply, land Gwynne is particularly fine
specimen. He has your eyes and hair,
doctor, but hasn't had time to grow
grizzled and bulky yet, as you and /
have. One might say that you and the
sergeant were from the same shire"
THAT would help ME very little, since
was only three years old when the gov
ernor enigratrj! |! ;" answered the doctor,
with a quiet smile 1--WE keep some
traces of the old sod, l suppose, but
I've been Yankee for forty years, and
have never once set eyes on Merrie Eng
land in all that time. Did the sergeant
say where he wanted to goy' And the
questioner looked up sharply.
Nowhere in particular-down the
valley was all. remember, though,
that Mr.. Parke said he seemed much ex-
ercised over the name of that ranch down
the Monee-I've forgotten what they call
it. Have you heard it, colonel"
Seems to 4e have, but I've forgot.
ten. You have, doctor, have you not?'
Heard what, colonel:"
"The name Of that ranch down the
Monce-an English ranch, they tell me,
about seven miles away"
oh, yes!-that one! They call it Dun.
raven Ranch.-Did the sergeant take any
of the hounds with him, captain? 1t oc-
ours to me he might have been running
coyote or rabbit, and his horse have
stumbled and fallen with him. There is
no end Of prairie dog holes down that
way"
NO, the dogs are all in. wouldn',
be surprised if he had gone to the ranch.
That's an English name, and they are all
Englishmen down there, I hear. Very
possibly that is the solution. They may
have tempted him to stay with English
hospitality; though it would astonish me
if he yielded. I'll tell the men to inquire
there first, colonel, and will go and send
them now" And, bowling to his com
r,,,dar Copk ctrr1,o, +,,rnod o,d 1oF,