Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-11-23

he passed the company quarters he noted
that several men were leaping from their
broad galleries, some just pulling on a
blouse, others in their shirt sleeves, but
all fastening towards the stables, where
dim lights could be seen fitting about
like will-o-the-wisps. One of these
troopers came bounding to his side and
would have passed him in the race. He
recognized the athletic form even in the
darkness and hailed him:
That yc .Sergt. Leary3 What's gone
wrong?"
''It's thin blackguards from below.
sir. Who else could il be?"
Those people at the ranchg'
THE very ones, sir. No one else would
harm Sergt Gwynne Sure we ought
to have wound 'em up the one night we
had chance, sir"
Breathless, almost. they reached the
stables. The horses were all snorting and
plunging about in their stalls. showing
every indication of excitement and
alarm From the stables of the adjoin-
ing companies other men had come with
lanterns, and group of perhaps half a
dozen troopers was gathered about the
form of cavalry sergeant who was seat
ed, limp and exhausted. at the western
doorway One soldier was bathing his
face with a sponge: the first sergeant OF
the troop was bending over and trying
to feel the pulse.
"Stand back, you menI" he said, au-
thoritatively. as he caught sight of the
lieutenant's shoulder straps. Leave a
lantern here Now. Gwynne, here's
Lieut.. Perry Can you tell him who it
was:
Gwynne feebly strove to rise. but Perry
checked him.
don't attempt to move. painted the young
officer Tell me what you know about
it. Sergt. Hosmer"
Nothing but this. sir. was in the
office when Trumpeter Petersen ran in
and said they were killing Sergt. Gwynne
| sent him for the captain and grabbed
my revolver and ran here as hard as
could. He was lying just outside the
door when got here, and not another
soul in sight. Sergt Ross. Of + troop
and Sergt. Pagan. of b. came with their
| iiOiii UOois out
they had not even heard the trouble"
Where was the stable guard
Inside. sir, and he's there now. He
heard the scuffie, he says. and ran to
give the alarm and to protect the SER
geant, but the men scattered when he
came, and he saw none of them"
Tell him to come here Let some of
these men go in and quiet the horses.
The captain will be here in a minute
and he will want to see that stableman.
Who is it,
Kelly. sir"
BY this time DIR. Quin came lumber
ing heavily up the slope to the stable
door. His manner was veIy quiet and
very grave as he bent over the injured
man and carefully studied his face by
the light of the sergeants lamp, The
doctor spoke gently:
You know me, sergeant:-Dr. Quin.
Can you tell me what struck you: Are
you hurt elsewhere than in the head?"
Gwynne made no reply for moment,
then family answered:
Stunned. mainly, and one or two
kicks after | was knocked down"
Then came a deeper voice. quiet but
authoritative, and the group that had
begun to close in again about the doctor
and his patient fell back as Capt. Stryker
strobe into their midst.
'Sergt. Hosmer, send all these men of
the troop back to their quarters at once,
and permit no more to come out. Is he
much hurt, DOCTOR"
Somewhat stunned, he saws I've
made no examination yet"
The captain looked about him. Ex-
cept one sergeant holding lantern, the
other troopers. obedient to his order,
we're slowly fading back into the dark
ness on their way to the barracks. Only
the doctor, Mr.. Perry. and the sergeant
remained by the side of the injured
man. Then came the question:
"Who did this, Gwynne?"
No answer. A deeper shade of pain
and trouble seemed to pass over the
sergeant's face. He made an effort to
speak, hesitated, and at last replied;
Il cannot say. sir"
you know. do you mott
Again panied silence and embarrass
ment. At last the sergeant leaned slow
ly forward and spoke:
Captain, the men were masked, the
voices disguised. l could not see the
dress in the darkness. / was struck or
the head almost the instant got outside
the door, and it would be impossible fol
me TO identify one of them"
do you think it was the same gane
you had the trouble with at DunravenT
"I-could not say, sir"
do you suspect any of our own mem
"l-would not say that, sir"
where is the stable guard:" asked
Stryker. "Send him here"
And presently Trooper Kelly-a wir,
little freshman. with twinkling eye AM
an expression Of mingled devilment AM
imperturbability in bis face-came fortl
from the stable door and stood attention
Where were you when this assault
took place, Kelly?"
AT the far ED of the stables, sir,
replied Kelly. With prompt and conf
dent tone.
Then of course you saw and know
nothing of it,"
Not a wor-rad, sir"
why did you let gang from tina
English ranch come here and beat YOU
sergeant before your very eyes,
Kelly Redeemed at the very idea
I'D ha' died first, sir! Sure they,
niver dared And then Kelly stoppe,
short. His Celtic pride had been touch
ed to the quick, and had it not proves
} too much for even Irish wit?
How did they get the sergeant out O
the stable at this hour of the night"
} Sure they called him out. sir"
And the sergeant happened to b
down there by the door at the timer"
mo. sir; he was in his room beyant-
up there by the forage"
That's a long distance from this door
| Kelly; and if he could hear it in hi
, room you could hear it farther away"
Il wasn't farther away thin, sir; wa
down here when they axed for him"
, Then why didn't you open the doc
and see who was making such racket
| shouting for Sergt. Gwynne after taps!