Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1889-11-21

ulm lights were burning in boil their
quarters and at the guard house. Every
where else the garrison seemed shrouded
IN darkness. Catching sight of the yellow
chevrons as they fitted through the flood
OF light that poured from his open door
way, the colonel instantly OWNED that
tins u be a sergeant of Stryker'st roop
gong IN search of his captain. and
promptly hailed him:
What is it, sergeant? ANY news?n
Yes, sir, answered the soldier, halt
ing short. "Sergt. Gwynne's come
back. was going to the captains to
report"
How did he get back? Isn't he in
iured?'
He says he's had a fall, sir, and has
beer badly shaken up, but he walked in.
why, that's singular! Did he see
none of the searching parties?-see none
of their lights"
Il can't make out, sir. He's a little
queer-doesn't want to talk, sir. He
asked if his horse got in all right, and
went and examined the scratches. and
seemed troubled about them; but he
doesn't say anything"
Has he gone to the hospitalT'
mo, sir; he'll sleep in his usual bunk
at the stables tonight. He il only
bruised and sore, he says. His face Is
cut and scratched and bound up in his
handkerchief
Very well, said the colonel. after a
moments thought. 1.-THE captain win
look into the matter when he gets back.
You take your horse and ride down the
south side of the valley and find the
Cheyenne scouts. Capt. Stryker is with
them. Tell him the sergeant is home,
safe"
Very well, sir" And the trooper
saluted, faced about, and disappeared
in the darkness; while the colonel arose,
and, putting thoughtfuliy at his cigar,
began pacing slowly up and down the
piazza. He wished Stryker were home:
he wished Capt. Lawrence were officer
of the day, and, 50, liable to come out
his quarters again; he had heard Just
enough about that odd English ranch to
make him feel disturbed and i'll at ease.
There had evidently been hostility be-
tween his predecessor and the proprie-
tor of Dunrayen, and very probably
had been bad blood between the
men of the Eleventh cavalry and the IN
of the ranch: else why should
here have been so u%nprovoked an as
,ault upon the lieutenant this night?
Then there We're other things that gave
him disquiet. Several officers had gath
red upon the piazza during the early
,vening; they were mainly of his own
egiment, but Capt. Belknap and two of
he infantry subalterns were there; Law
ence did not come. OF course the talk
vas about the incident of the evening,
nd, later, the rumors about Dunraven.
III this was new to the cavalrymen.
hey had heard, as yet, nothing at all,
were not a little taken aback by the
embarrassment and ominous si
of the three infantrymen, when
ne colonel turned suddenly on Belknap
it'll the question
by the way, captain, | had no time
, ask Lawrence, and it really did not !
ccur to me until after he had gone. but /
did he mean by saying that Dir. j
uin could tell us something about the I
at D~unraven?'
Belknap turned red and looked I'M |
,m%fortably at his two comrades, as
appealing to them for aid. The '
,unger officers, however, would say a
thing at all, and the colonel promptly S
W that he had stumbled on some piece O
garrison gossip.
Never mind" he said, with a kindly y
ugh. II don't want to drag any stories .
by the roots. Tho doctor can doubt II
IS explain it all in good season" I
well, Col. Brainard," answered Bel h
zap, bulkily, "to tell the truth, | really v
MT know anything about it, and l {,
MT know any one who does, though /,
heard some woman talk about the q
st. The relations between DIR. Quin h
d some of the officers of the Eleventh n
re rather strained, and he is a some w
rat reserved and secretive man. The IN
,ries were set afloat here last fall, and n
had to hear more or less of them I'M in
the Eleventh went away this spring. di
e know only that DR.. Quin has been br
and the rest of MS haven't. %