The Dickinson press., 1889-12-21

This thought gave spur to his speed,
and Nolan, responsive to his masters
mood, leaped forward along the winding
trail once more. Tho point was soon
reached and turned, and the first object
that caught Perry's eye was long row
of stakes stretching from the cotton
woods straight to the south up the gem
tie slope to tho prairie, and indicating be-
yond all question the presence there of
stout and high and impossible wire fence.
There are few things tho cavalryman
| holds in nleaner estimate.
THAT marks the western limit"
thought Perry to himself, land doubt
less reaches miles away to the south,
from what hear. Now, where does ono
enter?"
A little farther on he camo upon IL
trail leading from the low bluffs to his
left hand. 1t crossed tho winding bride
path on which he rode, though some of
the hoof tracks seemed to join, and wheel
tracks too. He had marked that between
the fort and the point no sign of wheel
appeared; it was loof trail and noth-
ing more. Now light and little trav.
eled wagon track came in from the north,
and while one branch seemed to cross the
Monee and to ascend the opposite slopes
close along the wire fence. the other
joined him and went on down the stream.
This he decided to follow
A ride of 4 few hundred yards brought
him to 4 point where a shoulder of bluff
twisted the trail we'll in towards the
stream, and he, thinking to cross and re-
connoiter on the other shore, turned No
Ian in that way, and was suddenly
brought up standing by the heaviest and
most forbidlins wire fence he had ever
seen. Yes, there it stretched away
through the cottonwoods, straight as
die, back to the angle whence started
the southwark course he first had noted,
and, looking down stream, far as the eye
could reach, he marked it.
"Well," thought Perry, "Ivo often
heard an Enslishman's house was his
castle, but who would have thought of
stalking and wiring in half county
half a Texas county-in this hoggish
way: How far down is the entrance,
anyhow"
Following the trail, he rode down
stream n full half mile, and still there
seemed no break. Nowhere on the other
shore was there sign of bride path lead
ing up the slopes. Turning to his left in
some impatiencc, he sent Nolan at rapid
lope across tho intervening "bottom," 4"
and soon reached tho bluffs, which rose
perhaps forty or fifty feet above tho
stream Once on the crest, tho prairie
stretched before him northward, level as
a floor, until it met the sky; but it was
southwark he longed to look, and thither
quickly turned. Yes, there it lay-Dun-
raven Ranch, in nll its lonely majesty.
From where he gazed the nearest build
ing stood Il good long mile away. That
it was the homestead he divincd Mt once,
for a broad veranda ran around the
lower story, and white curtains were
visible at the dormcr windows of the
upper floor. Back of it and on the eastern
flank wcrc other buildings, massive look
ing, single storicd affairs, evidently
stables, storehouses and corrals. There
was tall windmill thcre-an odd sight
in so remote u region-and a big water
tank.
Perry wondered how it ever got there.
Then at the southwest angle was build
ing that looked like an office of some
kind. He could sec horses tethered there,
and what seemed. to DO human figures
moving about. Beyond it all, to the
east and south, were herds of grazing
cattle, and here and there i'll the dim dis
tance Il horscInan moved over tho prai
rie. This reminded him of the stranger
who had given him the slip; and he
gazcd westward in search of him.
Far up the valley, between him ant
the distant post, he could plainly see I;
black object just descending the slopes
from the southern prairie to the stream
Not another was in sight that his prac
ticcd eye did not know to be cattle
That, then, was his horscman, once more
going fort-wards in the valley, after hav
ing made three or four mile tlctour te
avoid him. "Now, what sort of Chris
tan is that fcllow:' thought Perry, al
he gazcd at the distant speck. "Goinl
to the fort, too. BY thunder! Ill fine
out who he is, anyhow Now I'm goine
to the ranch"
Down the slopes he rode. Down tho
winding trail once more lie trot;cd, peer
ing through every gap among the cot
tonwoods, slaking Nolan's thirst at Lit
tie pool in the stream, and then, after
another long half mile, he came to
sudden turn to the right. The roat
} dipped and twisted through the stream
bed, rose to the other side, wound through
J the cottonwoods and then out on thu
, open turf. HuZza. There it stretched
up the slopes straig for the south
straight through a broad gap bctweer
two heavy gate posts standing on tho
stake line of that rigid fence. Nolar
broke into a brisk canter and gave /;
neigh of salutation; Perry eyes giistencc
with anticipation as he bent over hi
chargers neck, keenly searching the ode
looking structure growing on his visio1
} as they neared the fence. Then, little
by little, Nolan's eager stride shortened
and grew choppy. Another moment
and horse and rider reincd up short il
disappointment. Between the gate post
} swung a barrier of cobwcb lightncss
slender and airy as spider ever wove, bu
bristling with barbs, stiff as 'bullfinch'
d1io uAy leiolHS DIS steel. OHc Slanc'
showed Perry that this inhospitablc gat'
was firmly locked.
For moment he sat in saddle, study
ing the situation, while Nolan poked hi
head over tho topmost strand of wir,
and keeping at respectful distance from
, the glittering barbs gazed wistfully ovel
the inclosel prairie in search of coinrad'
quadruped who could tell him wha
manner of place this was. Meantime
his rider was intently eyins the heavy
paddock that was secured ON the inne
side of the gate. 1t was square in shape
massive aud bulky-something utterly
unlike anything he had ever seen among
the quartermaster's stores. Dismount
ing and holding Nolan well back from
the aggressive fence with one hand
he gingerly passed the other through til,
spike fringed aperture and turned tn,