Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-10-30

ing dress, came HuIIyihS uoWh W ehe |
colonels quarters, where two or three
officers were now gathered at the gate. |
The ladies had put aside the albums, and |
with anxious faces were scanning the lit |
tie group as though striving to gauge |
from their gestures and expression the
extent Of the calamity or the possible de-
gree Of danger. But Mrs. Lawrence
looked fairly startled when her hus-
bands voice was heard for the first time
above the general hum of consultation:
"Col. Brainard, Mr.. Perry is coming, l
see, and presume there is no time to be
lost You have asked if none Of us who
were stationed here ever visited the
ranch. and the answer was no. May l
suggest that DIR. Quin could perhaps tell
something of its inhabitants"
"Where is the DOCTOR" asked the col
onel, turning suddenly. Orderly, 60
and give my compliments to the post
surgeon and say wish to see him here
a moment. All ready, Perryp You have
made quick work of it."
"All ready, sir. At least, | will be
the moment my horse gets here. There
go the men running to the stables now"
Capt. Stryker will send sergeant
and four men to report to you, and you
are to go direct to Dunraven Ranch.
The rest of the troop, with the Chey-
ennes, will scout the prairie to the east
and south. Twill soon be too dark to
trail, but three of the Indians are going
back on the horses track as far as they
can The adjutant is writing a note TO
the proprietor of the ranch-I don't know
his name
His name is Maitland, SIR"
lis it? Have you been there?"
I've been around one end of it, out
side, but nowhere near the buildings.
It's all fenced in, sir, and the gates kept
! locked"
What an incomprehensibie proceed
ing for Texas! Wait moment while
speak to Mr.. Farnham; he's writing here
at my desk. Gentlemen, come in on the
porch and sit down, will you not?"
But they excused themselves and
FASTENED away to remove their full dress.
Capt. Lawrence had no need to call his
wife. She babe her companion good
evening, thanked the colonel with
smiling glance for the pleasure the pho
tographs had given her, and added a
word of earnest hope that they might
find the sergeant uninjured. Then she
joined her husband, and together they
walked quickly away. Mrs Belknap and
Mr.. Perry were left for the moment alone.
"Can you walk home with me?" she
asked, in her low, modulated tones, the
great, heavily dashed, swimming dark
eyes searching his face. - have not
seen you since they broke in upon our
talk last evening, and there is something
want to ask you"
I'm sorry, Mrs Belknap, but I'm on
duty, you see, was the young fellows
answer as he gave tug to the strap of
his cartridge belt Cant you ask me
here:"
How can T'-and the eyes were full
of pathetic sappoiutment-"when they
may come out any moment? You did
not finish telling me about-about the
tassel last night believe you were glad
when they interrupted us. Were you
uot?"
Nonsense, Mrs. Belknap! Twas hav-
ing too good time-lots of fun"
Yes" was the reproachful answer.
that is what it waste you-mere fun
And now you are going away again,
after promising TO come in this evening
Il have to so, Mrs. Belknap Why,
want To go. Haven't YOU heard what
has happened-about Sergt. Gwynne?"
"Oh, yes, it is your duty, Of course;
but how unluckyv' And the pretty face
was dropping with its weight of disap,
pointment and sadness. She leaned
against the railing near his gauntlet COW
cred hand, the dark eyes pensively down.
cast, the dark lashes sweeping her soft,
flushing cheek. And tomorrow you
are on guard, she presently continued.
YES, unless some one has 10 go on for
me-in case we are not back in the morn.
ing in time"
Then it's good-by, | suppose she
said, lifting her eyes once more TO his.
after tomorrow there will be little
chance of seeing you. Mrs. Page will
be here by that time"
Mr.. Perry looked at his fair com.
panion with glance that told of much
perturbation of spirit. Mrs Page was
an old and cherished friend of Mrs
Belknap $50 the latter had always said
and now she was coming to visit hel
from a station in the Indian territory
Just why her coming should prevent
his seeing Mrs. Belknap or her seeing
him was more than the tall subalterr
could understand. On the brink of ar
objectionable solecism, on the very rag
ged edge of a laundering inquiry, hi
was saved, in her estimation, by tn,
sudden return of the orderly and the re
appearance of the colonel.
I've been to the hospital, sir, and Il
the doctors quarters; he's not there
They say that's him, sir, riding of
yonder." And the orderly pointed to
faint speck just visible in the wanin.
twilight. far away southeastward be
yond the Monee.