Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-10-06

another long half mile, he came to a
sudden turn to the right. The road
dipped and twisted through the stream
bed, rose to the other side, wound through
the cottonwoods and then out on the
open turf. Huzza! There it stretched
up the slopes straight away for the south,
straight through broad gap between
two heavy gate posts standing on the
stake line Of that rigid fence. Nolan
broke into a brisk canter and gave a
neigh of salutation; Perry's eyes glistened
with anticipation as he bent over his
chargers neck, 1eenly searching the odd
looking structure growing on his vision
as they neared the fence. Then, little
by little, Nolan's eager stride shortened
and grew choppy. Another moment,
and horse and rider refined up short in
disappointment. Between the gate posts
swung barrier Of cobweb hghtness,
slender and airy as spider ever wove, but
bristling with barbs, stiff as ''bullfnch"
and unyielding as steel. One glance
showed Perry that this inhospitable gate
was firmly locked.
For a moment he sat in saddle, study
ing the sitr alton, while Nolan poked his
head over the topmost strand of wire
and keeping at respectful distance from
the glittering barbs gazed wistfully over
the inclosed prairie in search of comrade
quadruped who could tell him what
manner of place this was. Meantime
his rider was intently eying the heavy
paddock that was secured on the inner
side Of the gate. 1t was square in shape,
massive and bull1y-something utterly
unlike anything he had ever seen among
the ouartermasters stores. Dismount-
ing and holding Nolan well back from
the aggressive fence with one hand,
he gingerly passed the other through the
spike fringed aperture and turned the
paddock SO as to get a better view. 1t
was of English make, IS he surmised,
end of strength sufficient to resist any
thing short of trip hammer. Evident
ly no admission was to be gained here, he
reasoned, and yet it was through here that
that horsenen had come but an hour be-
fore. Here were the fresh hoof prints in
the trail, and it was evident that the
rider had dismounted, opened the gate,
led his horse through, closed and fast
ened it, then remounted and ridden
away. Perry was plainsman enough TO
read this from the hoof prints. Studying
them carefully, a look of surprise came
into his face; he bent down and closely
examined the two or three that were
most clearly defined upon the trail, then
gave a long whistle as means OF ex-
pressing his feelings and giving play to
bis establishment.
johnny Bull holds himself too high
and mighty to have anything to do with
us blarsted Yankees, it seems, except
when he wants his horses shod. These
shoes were set at the post blacksmith
shop, or I'm duffer," was the lieuten-
ants verbal comment. "Now, how was
1t done without the quartermasier
knowing it? That's the cavalry shoe.'
Pondering. over this unlocked for reve-
iation, Mr. Perry once more mounted
and turned his disappointed steed again
down stream. AT last, full hall mile
farther on, he saw that wire fence ran
southwark again across the prairie, as
though marking the eastern boundary
of the homestead Enclosure, and con-
occurring that there was probably trail
along that fence and an opening through,
even if the southeastward line should be
found fenced still farther. he sent Nolan
througirthe Monee TO the open bank on
the northern side, cantered along until
the trail turned abruptly southwark,
and, following it, found himself once
more at the fence just where the heavy
corner post stood deeply imbedded IN
the soil. Sure enough, here ran another
fence straight up the gentle slope to the
south, a trail along its eastern side, and
a broad cattle gap, dusty and tramped
with the hoofs of a thousand steers, was
left in the fence that, prolonged down
stream, spanned the northern boundary.
Inside the homestead lot all was virgin
turf
Following the southwark trail, Perry
rode briskly up the long incline. 1t was
east of this fence he had seen the cattle
herds and their mounted watchers. lie
was far beyond the ranch buildings, but
felt sure that once well up on the prairie
he could have an uninterrupted view of
them and doubtless meet some of the
ranch people and satisfy himself what
there was in the stories of their churlish
and repellent demeanor. The sun was
climbing higher all this time, and he,
eager in pursuit of his reconnaissance,
gave little heed TO fleeting minutes. IL
fair means could accomplish it, he and
Nolan were bound TO have acquaintance
with Dunraven Ranch.
Ten minutes easy lope brought him
well up on the prairie. There-westward
now-was the mysterious clump of brown
buildings, Just as far away as when he
stood, baffled and disappointed, by the
gateway on the Monee. Here, leading
away towards the distant buildings, was
bride path. Here in the fence was
gap just such as he had entered on the
stream. and that gap was barred and |
guarded by the counterpart of the first /
gate and firmly secured by paddock |
that was the others twin. MIR. Perrv's /
comment at this point of his explora- /
lions was brief and characteristic, if not !
Objectionable. He gave vent to the same 1
low whistle, half surprise. half vexation. |
that had comforted his soul before. but /
supplemented the whistle with the |
unnecessary remark: well, I'll be |
damned.'
Even Nolan entered his protest against |
such incredible exclusiveness. Thrusting |
his lean head far over the topmost wires, /
as before, he signaled long and shrill- |