Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-12-14

the doctor now; he wanted to see you as
soon as you vaked."
And then ,euin came in and said few
CHEEKY words, and babe him lie still and
worry about nothing. The row was over.
thanks to him, and he and poor Nolan
were the only victims; but it had been a
great shock to Mr.. Maitland and rem
dered his condition critical.
Perry listened in silence, asking no
questions For the time being he could
think Of nothing but Nolan's loss. 1t was
such a cruel fate to be killed by those he
came to save.
All that day he lay there, doing and
thinking alternately. He wondered at
the tendernes 50 and devotion with which
the kind old Englishwoman nursed him
and seemed 20 anticipate his every want.
Quin came in towards evening and
dressed his wound, which now began to
be feverish and painful. He heard his
coloners voice in the hallway. too, and
heard him say to the doctor that some
body at Rossiter was eager to come down
and take care of him. ''Boshr' said the
blunt surge IN; 1--WE far better nurse
here-and q reserve to fall back upon
that will bo worth new life to him"
And. weak and feverish though he was,
Perry's hea t thrilled within him; he
wondered if it could mean Gladys. Two
days more he lay there, the fever skill.
fully contro led by the doctors ministra-
dued by Mrs. Cowan's cooling bandages
and applications. But there was a burn
ing fever ia his heart that utterly re-
fused to go DOWN. He strained his ears
listening for the sound of her voice or
the pit-a-pat of her foot fall in the CORR
dor. At last he mustered courage and
asked for her, and Mrs. Cowan smiled:
Miss Ma tland has been here three
times to inquire how you were; but it
was while you were sleeping, Mr.. Perry,
and she rarely leaves her fathers bed
side. He Ia very i'll, and seems to he
growing weaker every day. l don't
know what we would have done if we
had not found DR.. Quin here; he has
pulled him through two or three bad
seizures during the past year."
where lad you known the doctor be-
fore?" asked Perry. with an eager light
in his eyes.
"Nowhers; but it was as though one
Of his own kith and kin had suddenly
made his appearance here TO welcome
Mr.. Maitlar d. The doctor is first cous-.
Of Mrs. Maitland's; she was from Ire
land, and il was from her family that
the ranch vas named. Lord Dunraven
is of the peerage of Ireland, you know"
added Mrs, Cowan, with the cheerful
confidence Of the Englishwoman that
every person Of any education or stand
ing must be familiar with the pages Of
Debrett.
How should l know anything about
it?' laughed Perry. He felt in merry
mood; another page in his volume Of sus-
picion and dread was being torn away,
and GUMS relations with the household
were turning out to be such as made
him an object of lively interest, not of
jealous dot bt.
Then came the callers from the garri-
son. 1t SET med as though all of a sudden
the blockade had been raised and that no
people were 50 warmly welcomed at
Dunraven rs the very ones who had been
especially prescribed Mr.. Maitland,
weak and i'll as ne was, had asked to be
allowed to see Col. Brainard on the occa-
sion of that officers second visit; Stryker,
Dana, Graham and Parke had all been
allowed to come up and see Perry a few
moments, but Mrs. Cowan was vigilant
and remor eless, would allow them only
brief interview. and, with smiling de-
termination, checked her patient when
he attempted to talk. The third day OF
his imprisonment DIR. Quin came scowl-
ing IN along in the afternoon, manifestly
annoyed al out something, and said few
words in low tone to Mrs. Cowan, and
that usually equable matron fluttered
away down stairs in evident excitement.
Its Mis-. Belknap," explained the
doctor, in answer TO Perry's inguiring
look. "Shs has ridden down here with
Dana and sent her card up to Gladys
who can't bear the sight Of her; l don't
know why intuition, suppose"
Presently Mrs. Cowan reappeared:
Miss Gladys has asked to be excused, as
she does not wish to leave her father at
this moment; and the lady would like to
Il
"Tell her no." said Quin, savagely.
No-here: I'll go myself" And down
went the doughty medical officer, and
straightway the rumbling tones OF his
harsh voice were heard below: the words
were indisi inguishable, but Mrs. Cowan's
face indica5e Ted that there was something
IN the sound that gave her comfort. She
stood at tie window watching the pair
as they rode away.
Miss Gladys shuddered when she had
to shake hands with her that day when
we came away from Mrs. Spragues, :" said
she. IL hope that lady is not a particu-
lar friend q yours, Mr.. Perry"
1--WE have been very good friends in
deed, said he, Loyalty. ITO be sure, /
have hardly known Mrs. Belknap a
month, but both she and the captain
have been very kind to me-" Ali the
same, down in the bottom of his heart,
he did no. wonder at Miss Maitland's
sensations. He was beginning to despair
Of ever see ng her, and yet could get no
explanation that satisfied him
You know she can walk only with
great pain and difficulty even now"
said Mrs. Cowan- Her ankle was very
badly wre 1ched, and she hardly goes
farther than from her own to her faith
er's room You ought to feel compli-
mented that she has been here to your
door three times"
Il feel more like butting my brains
out for being asleep" muttered Perry in
reply. 81 wish you would wake me
next time, Mrs. Cowan. shan't believe
it until see it. or hear her voice at the
door,"
She had excused herself TO Mrs. Bel
KNAPP, and the doctor had denied that
lovely woman her request to be allowed
to come up and see Mr.. Perry; and vet
the very next day, when the big four
mule ambulance from Rossiter came
driving W to the front door, and Mrs.
Sprague and Mrs. Lawrence, escorted
by the co onel and Cant Strvkar an