Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-10-13


zSW Perry and his little party
~ after brisk canter dow
the valley, reached tn
barbed inclosure of Dunraven, and TIN
young commander led uphesitatingiy t,
the gateway on the northern line. 4
sergeant Of his troop and two privat
soldiers were his escort at the moment;
third man, by direction of Col. Brainard
had been sent at the gallop in pursuit O
the distant speck which the orderly hat
pronounced to be DR.. Quin, and the in
structions which this messenger bore
We're to the effect that the post surgeon
should ride by the most direct route ant
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 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"
Perry's orders were in case nothing
was seen or heard of Sergt. Gwynne
closure and make inquiries at the ranch
Itself. Meantime. the Cheyenne scouts
had been hastily summoned from their
loGges along the Monee just above the
post and sent scurrying forth upon the
prairie to trail the horses foot prints and
30 work back as far as possible before
darkness interposed Capt. Stryker, too,
and a 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 nishtfall 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?'
lit doesn't look like either, sir. There
are several of them, Jagged scratches in
the shoulder and along the flank. like
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. Ii would be half an hour at
the very least. thought Perry, before the
doctor could join them, if he came at all.
1t was by no means certain that the mes
senger had overtaken him, and. even if
he had, was it 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 no
linking whatever Of these outside inter
ests of his. all tended TO make Perry dis
truStful of their post surgeon. Hewould
not speak of ii to soul, or hint at the
possibility OF such thing, until he had
evidence that was indisputable, but the
young officer was sorely perplexed by
these indications of some secret and I'M
lawful enterprise on the part OF their
new comrade, and he doubted his SYM
patty in the mission on which they had
been hurried forth.
Dismounting TO examine the gate while
stil bordering this matter over In his
mind, Perry found it locked as securely
Is be had left it in the morning. The
sergeant and his men dismounted, too,
at low spoken word from their officer,
and stood at the heads of their painting
horses, looking in silent surprise at the
strong and impervious barrier that
crossed their track.
THE gate is locked and the fence inn
passable, sergeant said Mr.. Perry.
1--WE cannot get our horses through or
over unless we mack down post or two.
You can't cut such wire as this with any
tool We've got I'll leave Nolan here
with you and go on TO the ranch on foot;
it lies about half mile TO the south If
the doctor comes, he can follow me. II
] do not come or send back in half an
hour from this you three come after me,
for III need you"
With that, slowly and carefully, and
not without q muttered maleGiction on