Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1889-10-26

moosl oe soad1es1y erac6 and coxSiaGe,
and - he drew uoarer and ht6 hand
went up to the cap visor IN salute .
gesture from his young supsrios brought
an instant pressure on the rein, and
horse and man became an animated
statue. IL was . wonderfully sudden
yet easy check Of seed In rapid mo-
tiou, and Mr.. Perry. . capital rider him.
self, could not withhold his admiration.
"Whers did you learn that sudden
halt, sergcantf" he askcd. II never cav
anything 20 quick except the Mexican
training; eut that strains u horse and
throws him on his haunches."
ut is not uncommon abroad, SIR" was
the Quiet answer. II saw It first In the
English cavalry; and Il Is easy to teach
the horse"
II must get you to show me the knack
some day. I've noticed 1t two or three
times. and would like to learn II. What
stopped you for d this: You've been
stable sergeant ever incs we got here,
have you moth"
'.Yes, sir"
Then II anybody besides members Of
the trcsp had horses shod at our forgc
you would be pretty spt to know its''
II know that NO one has, sir." And q
flush was rising to the young sergesnt's
face and q panied look lowering about
his bright blue eyeS. Yet his manner
was self restrained and full Of respect.
Don't think I'm intimating anything
to the contrary, Eergt. Owynnc. No
soldier in the regiment more entirely
holds the confidence Of his captain--of
all the officers-tlian you. I was not
thinking OF that. But somebody down
there at that big ranch below us has had
his horse shod BY cavalry farrier---it
may have been done while the Eleventh
were hcre-and, while knew you would
not allow 1t ut our forge, thoaght Il
possible that it might be done In Jour
absence"
''It's the first time Tvo been out Of
sight Of tile stables since we camc to the
post, sir. and the captain gave me per.
mission TO ride down the valley this
morning. May l ask the lieutenant why
he thinks some ranchman Is getting his
shoeing done here ut the postl'
''fve been down there this morning,
and met man coming up. He avoided
me, aud rode over to tho south side, and
SO excited my curiosity; and as they
keep that whole place inclosed in wire
fence, and he had evidently come out Of
the north gate, was struck by the
sight Of the hoof prints; they were per-
fectly fresh there On the trail, and plain
as day. There's no mistaking the shoe,
you know. BY the way, he rode up to
the fort, and probably entered at your
side Of the garrison; did you see himf"
"No, sir, and, except for breakfast -
just after reveille-- have been at stables
all the morning. I was there when the
Lieutenant got his horsc."
"Yes, remember. Then no one rode
in from the valley?"
"No civilian-no ranchman. sir. The
only horsemen I've seen were some
Cheyenne scouts during the last two
hours, and DR.. Quin--just before sick
call"
''Dr. Quin!-the post surgeonl Are
you sure, sergeant"
Certainly. sir. The doctor rode into
the post Just about an hour after the lieu.
tenant left--coning up the valley too.
He went right around to his own stable.
over towards the hospital"
A look Of amaze and stupefaction was
settling ON Perry's face. Now for the
first time he recalled Mrs. Lawrence's
intimations with regard to the doctor
and his connection with tho signal lights
Now for the first time 1t occurred to him
that the secret Of those cavalry hoof
prints at the gate was that no ranchman
but an officer Of the garrison, had been
the means of leaving them there. Now
for the first time 1t flashed upon him that
the Englishman's astonishment and con-
Germ on hearing Of those hoof tracks In
dicated that the story Of a mystery at
Dunraven in Which the doctor was con-
nected amounted to something more
than garrison rumor. Now for kie first
time an explanation occurred TO him OF
the singular conduct Of the horseman
who had lodged him by crossing the
Monee. Never in his young life had he
known the hour when he was ashamed
or afraid to look any man In the eye. II
stung him to think that here at Rossiter.
wearing the uniform of an honorable
profession, enjoying the trust and con-
fidence Of all his fellows. was man
who had some secret enterprise Of which
he dared not speak and Of whose discov-
cry he stood in dread. There could be
little doubt that the elusive stranger was
DR.. Quin, and that there was grave rea-
son for the rumors OF which Mrs. Law
renee had vaguely told him.
For moment lie sat. dazed and irreso-
lutte, Nolan impatiently paving the turf
the while; then, far across the prairie
and down the valley there came floating.
quick and spirited, though faint with
distance, the notes OF the cavalry trum-
pet sounding fright, front into line"
He looked up, startled.
They're out at battalion drill, sir"
said the sergeant. "Tbey marched out
just as left the stables."
''Just my internal luck again." gasped
Perry, as he struck spur to Nolan and
sent him tearing up the slope; ~ might
have known III miss it,
CHAPTER V.