Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-12-11

you were takens-where you saw DR..
2uin /"
Tn I, serg sant hesitated one moment, q
trout led book on his face. His one
avail ibie eye studied his lieutenant's
featu res attentively. Something in the
franl, kicd blue eyes-possibiy some
sudd N recollection. too-seemed to reas-
sure iim-
III was to Mr.. Cowan's little house,
sir. He interposed to save me from a
worss beating at the hands Of three
brute who were employed there and had
some grudge against this garrison Of
which l was ignorant They attacked
me ithout word of warning. 1t was
he, too, who called in Dr. Quin.r
"Have you-did you see any Of the
people at Dunraven besides this young
mani
II saw his mother. sir She Is nurse
there, and has been in the family for
years. am told"
Perry was silent moment Then he
spoke again:
Have you heard any further threats
amor the men here since the arrest of
Sergt LearyY'
Gwynne hesitated, coloring painfully:
1T is something hate to speak of, sir.
The ak has not alarmed me in the
least
Il <now that, sergeant All the same
we W ant to prevent recurrence of that
perfo nance. and it was that, mainly.
that rought me over here. saw some
men stealing out of NJ troops quarters
awlils ago, and lost them In the dark
ness. l thought they might be coming
over here, and-got here first"
Gwynne's face lighted up, 1t touched
him o know his officers were on the
looko 1t for his safety.
Il have heard nothing, sir. The men
woulo hardly be apt to speak to me on
the ST bject, since the affair of the other
night What fear is simply this-that
there is an element here in the regiment
that l. determined to get down there to
the ranch and have satisfaction for the
assault that was made on you and your
party. They need horses in order to get
there and back between midnight and
reveil !e, and are doubtless Matching some
plan. They failed here; now they may
try the stables Of some other troop or the
quartsrmaster's Shall warn the SEN
try that there are providers out to-
night"
Not yet. They will hardly make the
attempt while your light is burning here.
What I'm concerned about Just now is
this: We all know that there Is deep
sympathy for Leary in the command,
and ii is not improbable that among the
Irishmen there is corresponding feeling
against you. l don't like your being
here alone just now, for they know you
are almost the only witness against
him."
Il have thought of that, sir" answered
Gwynne, gravely, but want nothing
that looks like protection. The captain
has spoken of the matter TO me, and he
agreed, sir, that it would do more harm
than good. There is one thing would
ask-if | may trouble the lieutenant"
Nv lat is it, sergeant"
'Ihlvea little packet. containing some
papers and a trinket or two, that would
like very much to have kept safely, and.
If anything should happen to me, to
have on, sir, and Capt. Stry ker open it.
and-the letters there will explain every
thing hat is TO be done"
Gee tainly. will take care Of it for
you-if not too valuable"
Il would rather know it was with YOU.
sir, than stow it in the quartermasters
safe" was Gwynne's answer, as he
opened a little wooden chest at the foot
OF his bunk, and, after rummaging a
moment, drew forth a parcel tied and
sealed. This he handed to the lieutenant.
"No'v | will go back and notify the
officer of the guard of what have
seen" said Perry; land want Nolan.
saddled, over at my quarters right after
mornir 8 stables. VIII YOU see TO it,"
Il will. sir. and thank you for your
kindness"
All vas darkness, all silence and peace
as Perry retraced his steps and went
back &c the garrison, carrying the little
packet in his hand. he went direct to
the guard house, and found Mr. Graham
sulky over being disturbed in his snooze
by the sentry's challenge.
what the devil are Won owing
around this time of night for?" was the
not unnatural question. II thought it
was the officer of the day. and nearly
broke my neck in hurrying out here"
But Perry's brief recital Of the fact
that he had seen some men stealing out
Of the quarters Of NJ troop in their stock
ing feet or moccasins put an end to Ora
hams complaints. Hastily summoning
the sere cant of the guard, he started out
to make the rounds OF his sentries, while
Perry Carried his packet home, locked it
in his iesk, and then returned to the
verands to await developments.
Sergt Gwynne, meantime, having
lighted his young officer to the stable
door, stood there few moments, look
ing over the silent garrison and listening
to the rotreating footsteps. The sentry
came pacing along the front of the sta
bles, anC brought his carbine down from
the Shot lder as he dimly sighted the tall
figure; put, recognizing the stable ser
geant as he came nearer, the ready chal-
lenge di I'd on his lips
II the ught I heard somebody moving
around down here, sergeant. 1t was
you, then, was it,"
81 haze been moving around-inside
but made no noise. Have you heard
footsteps or voices"
both, thought; but it's as black as
your hat on this beat tonight. | can't
see my land afore my face"
KEEP your ears open, then; there are
men ou1 from one Of the quarters, at
least, and no telling what they are up TO.
Who's ia charge at the quartermaster's
stables?"
'Sergt. Reilly, of the infantry; someof
the fellows were over having a little
game with him before tattoo. and /
heard him tell EN- to come again when
they had more money to lose. He and
his helper there were laughing at the
way they cleaned out the cavalry when
they were locking up at taps The boys
fetched over a bottle Of whisky with
EN-
Who were they:
''Oh. there was Flanagan and Murphy,
Of NJ troop. and Corporal Donovan and
on- or TWO others They hadn't been
drinkin'