The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1890-12-25
CHAPTER v.

81 NAIs.. @"s'a-aa'S:Z1NpAris SS:ZNpAri
,NsSHF HAT evening a group
STW of cavalry officers came
sauntering back from
stables, and as they reached the walk
in front of officers row a dark featured,
black bearded, soldierly looking captain
separated himself from the rest and en-
tered the colenel's yard. The command
ing officer happened to be seated on his
yeranda at the moment, and in close
confabulation with DR.. Quin. Both gen.
tlemen ceased their talk as the captain
entered, and then rose from their seats
ais he stepped upon the veranda floor.
Good evening, Stryker," said the col
onel. cheerily. "Come in and have a
seat. The doctor and were just won-
dering if we could not get you to take
hand at whist tonight"
81 shall be glad to join you, sir, after
parade. have come in to ask permis-
sion to send sergeant and couple OF
men, mounted, down to the Monee. One
Of my best men is missing"
Indeed! Who is that? Send the men,
of course"
"Sergt. Gwynne, sir The first time
lever knew him to miss duty"
,.'''Your stable sergeant, too? That is
unusual How long has he been gomez"
'Since battalion drill this morning. He
was on hand when the men were sad
ding, and asked permission to take his
horse out for exercise and ride down the
valley q few miles. said yes, never
! sdpposing he would be gone after noon
roll cali; and we were astonished when
he failed to appear at stables. Perry says
he met him two miles out"
"The two culpritsr' said the colonel,
laughing. "Poor Perry is down in the
depths again. He rode up to me with
such woebegone look on his face at
| drill this morning that l could hardly
keep from laughing in front of the whole
| line. Even the men were trying hard
not to grin: they knew he had turned
up just in the nick of time to save him.
self an absent What do you suppose
| can have happened to Gwynne:"
81 cannot imagine, sir. and am in
clined to be worried. He would never
willingly overstay q pass; and I fear
some accident has happened"
SIS he good rider?" asked the doctor.
None better in the regiment He is
q model horseman, in fact. and, though
he never alludes to nor admits it, there
is a general feeling among the men that
he has been in the English cavalry ser
vice. OF course, thereis no doubt of his
nationality; he is English to the back
bone, and. fancy, has seen better
days" -:
"What made them think he had been
in the cavalry service abroad?'
"Oh, his perfect knowledge Of trooper
| duties and management Of horses. 1t
took him no time to learn the drill, and
he was sergeant before he had been
with me two years. Then, if you ever
noticed, colonel" said Capt. Stryker, ap-
pealing to his chief. "whenever Gwynne
stands attention he always has the fin
gers of both hands extended and point
ing down along the thigh, close against
it-so." And Stryker illustrated Now.
you never see an American soldier do
that; and never saw it in any but Eng
lish trained soldiers He has quit it
somewhat of late, because the men told
him it showed where he was drilled
we have other English 'nonroms.' you
know--but for Il long ,.nel Hoticr,: tha,
in him. Then he w;is e.liistcd in New
York city. some four years ago. and al!
his things were of English nakc-wha,
he had"
what manner of lookin, fellow h
he?" asked the doctor. Il :hi:k ! would
have noted him had seen him.
"Yes. you EH5E:I isltmen are apt to looi
to one another. said the colonel in re-
ply, "and Gwynne is particularly flint
. specimen. He has your eyes and hair
doctor, nut hasn't had time to grow
, grf:zled and bulky yet. as: You and
. hare One might say that you and th'
,, serseant.were from the same shire.
THAT would help me very little. sine
i was only three years old when the gov
, Eernor emigrated." answered the Doctor
,, Ewith quiet smile "We keep som
!. |. traces of the old sod. suppose. -bu
= I've been a Yankee for forty years. an,
!, have never once set eyes on: Merrie Eng
!. land in all that time. Did the sergean
say where he wanted 10 go: And tll
suestioner looked up sharply.
Nowhere in particula--down til
!; valley was all I remember. though
! that Mr.. Parke said he seemed mucli eS
.ercised over the mamie of that ranch dow
the Monee-I've forgotten wl,a. they ca
Z it. Have you heard it, COLONEL:
Seems to me have, but I've forgo'
ten You have, doctor, haye YOU not?
Heard what. colo:iel:
I The name of that rstpc!i down th
!. Monee- -an Englisil ranch. they tell ns
s isabout seven miles away. =
4 .-Oh. yes.-that ona! The: call it Dun
!, FTaven Raneh. Did the sergeant take an
!. sof the hounds with him. captain: 1t ot
ours 20 rie lie might have been runnin
: Facoyose or a rabbit. and his horse hay
/ Stumbled and fallen with him. There
5 no end OF prairie dog holes down ths
5 t.way.rr
al NO.. the dogs are eli in. wouidn
be surprised II he had gone to the rancl
9 That's an English MAMIE. and they are
a Englishmen down there, hear. Ver
/ possibly that Is the solution. They ma
have tempted him to stay with Engiis