Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-10-27

the first Impulse was TO getaway ousof
your sight. and obeyed it simply be-
cause of the unpleasant experiences ]
had been having with your fellow caval-
rymen. I did not want to have to an
swer questions. See? was ashamed
of it, but too late to turn back"
Perry nodded. Il understand it
now he said.
''Well. what want TO ask is about
Sergt. Gwynne. Did you meet him be-
fore you got back
ssYss-a mile or so on: from the post. p"
'You stopped and talked with him,
didn't your
'.Ye-for several minutes"
Mrs. Covan's needlework had fallen in
her lap. She was seated near the window,
and had been busily sewing. Now she
was looking up, eager and intent.
You've known him long time,
haven't you:
'Yes-ever since he joined. He's one
of the best sergeants ever knew"
'You would hardly think him guilty
of any dishonesty, would your
Mrs. Cowan was rising from her chair;
the needlework had fallen TO the door.
Dishonesty. Not By a-good deal"'
was the reply that babe fair 10 be even
more impulsive, and was checked only
in Difference TO the presence OF woman.
ssWell, neither would /. from what
I've seen of him; and vet BIZ. Mairland's
seal ring was found on him last night"
My God. OF course he could explain
It in some way
He couldn't-or wouldn't. He sim
ply stood there. white as sheep except
where those bruises made him green and
blue. He had denied the charge fatty
when accused; and vet there it was in
his chest. | never saw any man so taken
aback as Capt. S,ryker; he said be would
have sworn TO his innocence.
$50 would Il-so do, by Jupiter. It's
some foul plot:-it' s.
But he got no further. To his own
amaze, 10 the utter bewilderment OF Or
Quin, Mrs. Cowan precipitated herself
upon her patient, seized the hand that
lay nearest her on the coverlet, and
burst forth into half articnla,e, sobbing,
indignant words. mingled with kisses
showered passionateiy on that astonish-
ed hand.
"Oh, bless him for the words. Oh,
God bless you. Dir. Perry! Oh.
the fools. the lunatics. A
thief, indeed. The iaea of his
being accused. Oh. God wha;
would his mother IN heaven say to this:
AS though he had not borne
far too much already, It's his
Own-his own ring, l tell you. Who
else should wear.it? Vino dare
take it from him now? On, the
infamy of it am
Ir. her wild excitement, i'll her inco-
herent praise and lamentation and wrath
and indignation, her voice. her sobs,
rang through the room and out along
the broad corridor Even in their amaze
the two men heard hurried step APP
preaching, limping, halting, painful
step, yet rapid and impulsive. Quin, ab-
sorbed in his contemplation of the ex-
cited woman, paid no attention; Perry's
eager eyes were strained upon the door
way, where, the very next instant, with
pallid features and startled mien, Gladys
Maitland appeared and stood staring in
upon the spectacle of Mrs. Cowan kiss
ing and sobbing over Perry's hand. AL
ready he had OWNED the truth, and
strove 10 warn the tear blinded woman
of her presence; but Mrs. Cowan's ex-
element had increased 20 the verge Of
hysteria; she WAS laughing and crying
Low by turns, blessing her soldier patient
for his faith in the accused sergeant, and
then breaking forth anew in Indignant:
expletive. "Who are his accusers? Who
dare say thief to him. Not one
is fit to look him in the face! Twas the
very ring his mother gave him,
his own! his own
And then the doctor seized her and
turned her so that she must see Gladys
Gladys, wild eyed. painting, staring, tot
toring forward from the doorway. One
sharp CRY from the woman's lips. one
spring towards the Keeling form, and
she had caught the girl in her arms.
GLADYS, Gladys, my little pet! my
own baby girl. Look up and thank Godl
I've tried to keep my promise and his
secret until he released me. I've tried
hard, but it all useless; / can't, | can't
Oh, Gladys, sweetheart, your mothers
smiling down on us this day. Who do
you think has come back to us. safe and
strong and well and brave? Who but
your own brother, your own Archie,
Gladys