Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-12-18
DUNRAVEN RANCH
A Story of American Frontier
Life.
By Capt CHARLES KING, U.SA
author of"The Colonies Daughter Prom
the Ranks" THE Deserter," Etc
Copyrighted 1873 by J. b Iippincott Company.
Philadelphia, and published by special arrange
ment through the American Press Association
CHAPTER XVIII.

V'sIl5llDI
~EM ES. certainly very pretty
now. It's such pity that
EA Englishwomen grow coarse
and stout and red faced so
very soon after they are married" The
speaker was Mrs. Belknap, and her soft
voice was tuned to a pitch of almost
pathetic regret. They were talking of
Mise Maitland, who had Just been as
sisted to her saddle by the colonel, and
now, followed by the faithful Griggs
and escorted by Capt. Suyker, was rid
ing away homeward after trief call at
the post. Fort Rossiter, once so hum
drum and placid and STUPID" as the
ladies termed it. had been the vortex OF
sensations for whole fortnight, and
one excitement had trodden on the heels
OF another with such rapidity that people
were growing weary.
Perhaps the happiest man in garrison
was Capt. Stryker; he had refused to be-
lieve in the guilt of Sergt. GwS me when
Capt. Wayne came to him TO say that
there were men in his troop who openly
accused the sergeant of having that cher
ished seal ring secreted in his chest. SO
confident was he that he had gone with
the captain and Mr.. Farnham to the
stables and there told Gwynne of the
charge against him. Gwynue flushed
hotly, denied the truth of the story, but
hesitated when asked if he would allow
his chest TO be searched. This was quick
ly noted by Wayne and Farnham, and
the search was insisted upon. Gwynne
then said there were few items in that
chest which lac allowed no one to see; he
pledged his soldier word that they were
nothing but paper or two, some little
photographs and a book. These he asked
permission To remove first; then they
might search. But Wayne sternly re-
fused. The sergeant turned very white,
set his lips, and hesitated still, until his
own captain spoke; then he surrendered
his KEY.
Wayne and Farnham bent over the
chest while the troop first sergeant rapid.
~ turned over the clothing, books, etc,
with trembling hands. There was little
compartment at one side, in which were
lying some small items-a pocket COM
pass, pencil case, some keys, a locket
and neck chain, and, among these,
something wrapped in tissue paper. This
was handed 10 Capt. WAYNE, who I'M
rolled the paper .and-there was massive
seal ring. \ crest was cut in the stone,
and, taking it to the light, Wayne was
able TO make out the motto, "Quod sur
sum volo videre." 1t was the ring Matt.
land had lost.
Stryker looked wonderingly at MS ser
geant, who stood there as though petri-
fed with amaze and CONSERVATION, pale
as death, and unable 10 say a word.
Asked 10 explain the matte l. he could
only shake his head, and, alter awhile,
hoarsely muttered. Il know nothing
about it. | never placed it there"
DO you mean to tell me you never saw
it before:' asked Wayne, stcrnly. And
Gwynne was silent.
us this the first time you ever saw it, |
| say:' repeated the captain angrily.
mo. sir; / have seen it before" was |
the answer.
Then you must have known twas |
stolen, AMI you have connived at its con- !
cealment.' was Wayne's triumphant /
and on the report of his Off
GERS Col. Brainard had no al tentative but
to order Gwynne's close arrest. Only
sappeal and guarantee saved the
sergeant from confinement in the guard
house.
The next sensation was the sight of |
Or. Quin galloping back to the post like
mad and boiling uncerem pniously into
the colonels gate. Then Stryker was
sent for, and the three officers held an
excited conversation. Then the orderly
went at n run over to the quarters, and
IN five minutes Sergt. Gwynne, erect as
ever and dressed with scrupulous care.
looking anything but like guilty man,
was seen crossing the parad. towards his
,olone- 3 house. The men sWarmed out
~ the porches as the tidinCs went from
up to lip, and some Of the Irish troopers
m Wayne's company were remarked as
being oddly existed. Just what took
place during that interview none could
tell, but IN ten minutes the news was hy-
ing around the garrison that Sergt.
iwynue was released from arrest, and
IN less than half an hour, to the wonder
nent Of everybody. he was seen riding
away towards Dunraven with DIR. Quin,
and for two days more did not reappear
e Rossiter.
But when the story flashed from house
o house about the garrison that Serst.
iwynne was not Sergt. Gv snne at all,
1ut Mr.. Archibald Wyndhau Gain Matt
and, late of her majesty's til Lancers,
he only surviving son of the invalid
'wner of Dunravan Ranch and other
properties, the amaze amount
ID TO stupefactiOn. IL was known that
Did Mr.. Maitland lay desperately weak
md i'll the day that Quin the doctor
anne riding back. All manner of stories
we're told regarding the affecting ma
ure of the interview il which the
ong lost son was restored To his over
Dyed father, but, like most stories, they
we're purely the offspring of imagination,
or at that interview only three were
present; Gladys led her brother to the
Dom and closed che door, while good
Mrs. Cowan stood weeping for JOY down
he long corridor, and DR.. Quin blinked
his eyes and fused and fdgeted and
trode around Perry's room with his
lands in his pockets, exploding every
low and then into sudden comment on
he romantic nature Of the situation and
he idiocy Of some people there at Ros-
liter. Joy does not kill" he said;
Maitland would have beer a dead man
" the end of the week but for this: il
will give him new lease OF life"
And it did. Though the fame was
eeble and Pickering. it wan famed by a
oy unutterable- The boz whom the
tricken father believed his stubborn
ride and condemnation had driven to
espair and suicide was restored to him
a the prime Of manly strength. all ten
erness. all forgiveness. and Maitland's