Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1889-11-02


group of ranchmen. Within, though
nearer the window than he had left him,
was tho bent form of the owner Of Dun.
raven, leaning on his cane and apparent.
ly impatiently striving to make himself
heard as he came forward. Before the
manager could answer, he was compel
led to turn about and rebuke his men,
two Of whom were especially truculent
and menacing. Finally he spoke:
II have heard nothing, but I tell you
frankly that II any Of your men have
been prowling around here It's more than
probable some one has got hurt. Has
there been any trouble today, men?" he
asked.
"By God, there will be II this ranch
isn't cleared in five minutes" was the
only answer.
Don't mako an ass Of yourself, Hoke,"
growled the manager. "They are going
quick enough"
II am going" said Perry, swinging
lightly into saddle; "and mind you this,
sir: go with well warranted suspicion
that some Of these bullies of yours have
been responsible for tho non-appearance
OF my stable sergeant. II he Is not found
this night you may confidently look for
another visit. say that to you also,
Mr. Maitland, and you owe IL to our for
bearance that there has been no blood
shed here tonight"
Old Maitland's tremulous tones were
heard but second In reply when he was
interrupted by coarse voice from the
crowd Of ranchmen, by this time in
creased to nearly dozen men. Some
Of them were gathering about Perry as
he sat In the saddle, and an applauding
echo followed the loud interruption:
'Give the swell lift, Tummy; twill
teach him better manners"
Almost instantly Perry felt his right
foot grasped and a powerful form was
bending ut the stirrup. He had heard
of the trick before. Many time has
the London cad unhorsed the English
trooper, taken unawares, by hurling him
with sudden lift from below. But Perry
was quick and active as cat. Seat and
saddle, too, were in his favor. He sim
ply threw his weight on the left foot and
his bride hand upon the pommel, let tho
right leg swing oyer the horses back un-
til released from tho brawny hand, then
back 1t came as he settled again in the
saddle, his powerful thighs gripping like
wise; at the same instant, and before
his assailant could duck to earth and slip
out Of the way, he had whipped out the
heavy Colts revolver and brought its
butt with stunning crash down on the
ranchman's defenseless head.
There was instant rush and commotion.
In vain old Maitlapd feebly piped his
protests from the veranda; in vain the
overseer seized and held back one or two
of the men and furiously called off the
rest Aided by the darkness which
veiled them, the others made simulta-
neous rush upon the young officer and
sought to drag him from his plunging
horse. Perry held his pistol high in air,
threatened with the butt the nearest as
sailant, yet loath to use further force.
He was still in the broad glare Of the
parlor lights-a conspicuous mark; eager
hands had grasped his bride rein at the
very bit, and he could not break away;
and then missiles began to fly about his
devoted head, and unless he opened fire
he was helpless. While two men firmly
held Nolan by tho curb, half dozen
others were hurling from the ambush OF
darkness n scattering volley Of wooden
billets and chunks of coal. He could
easily have shot down the men who held
him.
1t was sore temptation, for already he
had been struck and stung by unseen
projectiles; but just as the manager
sprang forward and with vigorous cuffs
induced the men to loose their hold on
his rein, there came three horsemen
charging full tilt back into the crowd,
scattering the assailants right and left;
and. this time unrebuked, Sergt. Leary
leaped from the saddle and, with a rage
of fierce delight, pitched headlong into
battle with the biggest ranchman in his
way. And this was not all; for behind
them at a rapid trot came other troopers,
and in moment the open space was
thronged with eager, wondering COM
rades-full half Of Stryker's company
in whose overwhelming presence all
thought of promiscuous combat seemed
to leave. the ranchmen. They slipped
away in the darkness, leaving to their
employers the embarrassment Of ac-
counting for their attack.
Leafy was still fuming with wrath and
raging for further battle and shouting
into the darkness fierce invective at the
vanished head Of his opponent. He
turned on tho overseer himself, and but
for Perry's stern and sudden prohibition
would have had a round with him, but
was forced to content himself with the
information conveyed to all within hear
ing that he'd fight any tin min" the
ranch contained if they'd only come out
where the lieutenant couldn't stop him.
The troopers were making eager inquiry
as to the cause of all the trouble, and,
fearing further difficulty, Perry prompt
" ordered the entire party to "fall in"
Silence and discipline were restored in a
moment, and as the platoon formed rank
he inquired Of sergeant how they came
to be there. The reply was that it had
grown SO dark on the prairie that further
search seemed useless, Capt. Stryker and
most of the men had been drawn of by
! signalof from the Cheyennes up the val
ley towards the post, and these men who
had been beyond Dunraven on the north
ern prairie were coming back along the
Monee trail when they saw the lights
and heard voices over at the lower shore.
There they found Leary. who was excit-
ed about something, and before they hao
time to ask he suddenly shouted, They're
killin' the lieutenant. Come on, boys.'
and galloped off with his own party; sc
they followed. Perry quietly ordered
them to leave a corporal and four men
with him, and told the senior sergeant
to march the others back to the post; he
would follow in five minutes. Then he
turned to the manager.
"Yon will baya 70 mt IN with mn