Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1890-03-22

asIentipl ny NiRtitttpi.t7 w CIR. N'Ef' -
The board walk. hp crossed the road ana
went ont on the broad level Of the pa
rade. Int took care 50 TO direct his steps
as not TO come within mailing distance OF
the guard house Il would be awkward
work explaining the situation to the ser
grant of the guard III case the sentry
we're to see or hear and challenge him.
He edged well over to his left as ne
walked. ami SO it happened that he found
himself, after q while, opposite the
northeast entrance to tie post ana close
to the road on which stood the commits
sary and quarternaster storehouses
There was a sentry posted here, too, and
It would not do to he challenged by lin
anv more than by Number One"
Stopping a moment to listen for the
sentry's football. Perry's ear was at
tractpd by the sound Of a door slowly
and cautiously opened 1t was some
little time before he could tell FROM
which one of the neighboring buildings,
looming there in the darkness, the sound
proceeded Then he heard mufied foot
steps and whispered consultation not
far away. and hurrying on tiptoe in the
direction of the sound he presently
caught sight Of two or three shadowy
forms moving noiseessly along the
porch of the company quarters nearest
him Stryker's troop, that to which he
belonged, was quartered down beyond
the guard house on the lower side Of the
parade, these forms were issuing from
the barracks of Capt Waynes troop
and before Perry could realize the fact
that they were out either in moccasins
or their stocking feet, and presumably
therefore on some unlawful enterprise,
they had disappeared around the corner
of the building. He walked rapidly
thither, turned the corner and they were
nowhere in sight or bearing. Stopping
to listen did not help matters at all. Ie
could not hear a sound, and as for the
shadows Of which he was in pursuit, il
was simply impossible TO tell which di-
rection they had taken. They had van
ished from the face Of the earth and
were lost in the deeper gloom that hung
about the scattered array of wooden
buildings-store houses, fuel sheds and
cook sheds-at the rear CT the post.
Had it been his own troop he could
have reused the first sergeant and order
ed 'check" roll call as a means Of de-
termining at once who the night prowl-
ers might be; but Capt. Wayne had his
peculiarities, and one Of them was an
unalterable and deeply rooted objection
to any interference on the part of other
officers in the management OF his men
Perry's first thought, too, was Of the sta
bles and Sergt. Gwynne. Were they
neditating another foray, and had the
feeling spread outside their own COM
pany? No time was to be lost. lie turn
ed his face eastward to where the DARK
outlines of the stables could be dimly
traced against the sky, and FASTENED.
stumbling at times over stray tin cans
and other discarded rubbish, until he
crossed the Intervening swale and reach
ed the low bluff along which the crude,
implanted structures were ranged. All
was darkness here towards the northern
end, and the one sentry who had cxter-
nal charge of the entire line was slowly
pacing his post; Perry could see his form,
dimly outlined, as lie breasted the slope,
and it determined him to keep on in the
hollow until he got to a point opposite
the stables of his own troop. IF there
was to be any devilment it might be well
to see whether this soldiess ths.4would'
turn out to be in league With the con-
spirators. Listening iatently as he hur-
ried along, but hearing nothing, Perry
soon found himself at the pathway lead
ing to his own domain, and the next
minute was gazing in surprise at a light
burning dilnly in the window Of the lit
tie room occupied by Sergt Gwynne;
there was rot Z glimner elsewhere along
the line.
Str;ding up to the window, he tapped
lightly, and Gwynne's voice sternly
challenged from within, "Who's there:"
Lieut.. Perry, sergeant. Come around
and open the stable door for me"
"One moment, SIR, was the answer,
and he heard the sergeant bounding, ap-
parently, off his bed. Then a hand drew
aside the shade, and Gwynnes face APP
peared at the window, whilea small Ian
TERN WIS llGlI 5O as W lII1OW lLS lays OA
the face without, "All right, sir" he
continued II thought | could not be
deceived in the voice"
Perry walked around to the front again
taking another survey Of the sleeping
garrison as he did so, and listening once
more for footsteps, but all was still
Presently the little panel in the big door
! r.. Il :
tenant bent low and entered, finding
Gwynne, lantern in hand, standing in his
uncompromising attitude Of attention
at the entrance.
Everything been quiet here tonight
he asked, as he Strengthened up.
Perfectly so, sir.
"Come into your room a moment; ]
want to speak to you, said Perry, after
moments reflection.
They passed along the broad gangway
between the rows Of sleepy horses, some
lying down in their stalls. others still
afoot and munching at their hay. Tho
stable guard stood at his post and faced
them as they turned into the dark and
narrow passage leading into Gwynne'a
little sanctuary. The lamps along the
line of stalls burned low and dim, and.
the ports being lowered. gave no CLEAN
without the walls. Once more, however,
a bright light shone from the window OF
the stable sergeant's rooin-brighter than
before, could they only know it, for this
time chere was no intervening shade
After his brief inspection Of the lieuten-
ants face, Gwynne had left it drawn
The sergeant set his lantern On q
wooden desk, and respectfully waited
for his superior to speak Perry looked