The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1890-03-06

fore, until be saw that there, leaning on
the gate post, and apparently awaiting
him, stood DR.. Quin.
Perry would gladly have avoided the
doctor, the antagonism he was beginning
10 feel for him was Of o character that
would hardly brook concealment Cor
dial and joyous in manner as he was to
almost every man, woman and child he
met, It was all the more noticeable that
to the very few whom he held In dislike
or distrnst his bearing was cold and re-
pellent In the last degree. Something
told him the doctor was there to speak
TO him about their chance meeting at
Dunraven. he did not want to speak to
him At all, Just now. Yet how could he
hope to have these matters explained
without meeting and . TALK While
the officers strolled over and stopped,
most Of them, In front Of the group Of
ladies' at LawTence's, Perry stalked
straight across the parade and the boun
dairy road. with his blue eyes fxed on
the doctors face.
The latter was studying him as be
came, and doubtless read that expression
Of GOODNESS and distrust; possibly he re-
sented It. At all events, something
prompted him to speak in q tone less
cordial than he had ever employed to-
wards PerTy-"a youngster whom ]
thoroughly approve Of" as he said be-
fore he had known him o week. Still
leaning on the gate post, and resting his
head on his hand, the doctor began;
"Mr. Perry, have been to see you
twice today, but could not find you, and
I wanted to speak with you on q matter
Of some Importance"
"You could have found me on drill OF
the court, II anything immediate was
needed Ihave been nowhere else, ex.
cept to stables, said Perry, shortly.
at was q personal matter-a some
what embarrassing one-and I thought
best to sec you alone"
"Well. here l am, Dr.. Quin; drive
ahead and let US have It,"
~ wanted to ask you II, while you
were at the ranch last night, you saw
anything Of large signet ring, with
crest and motto engraved on the stone
~ did not, unless you mean the one
Mr.. Maitland wore"
1.-THE very onei You noticed that, did
you2"
81 noticed he had something Of the
kind on his left hand when be came
down"
"And It was nowhere to be found after
you went away. You may remember
you were chatting and slapping that hand,
and l thought you might have accident
ally removed Il at that time"
"The reflection Is not a pleasant one,
DR.. Quin," said Perry, with an angry
light in the blue eyes.
Pardon me, Mr.. Perry; put II awk
wardly, but l mean no reflection what
ever. Miss Maitland mentioned your ef.
forts to restore the old gentleman 10 con
sciousness, and together we searched the
sofa and the floor after we had put him
safely to bed and discovered the loss Of
the ring. It Is one to which he attaches
peculiar value, and its loss has preyei
upon him. While know very well you
could not have the ring, was asked tc
ascertain II you remembered seeing II,
and 90 establish the truth Of Mr.. Matt
lands belief that it was on his finger
when he went to that room"
"It was; but do not recollect It's be.
ing on his hand after he was carried to
the sofa. It would surely have attracted
my attention while chatting It."
1.-THE parlor. hall and piazza have been
swept and searched, am told by this
note" and the doctor indicated little
missive he. held in his hand, whereat
Perry's face did not brighten, "and with
no success l was asked to inquire Of
you, and II II has annoyed you, as l in.
fer by your manner, pray let that be
my apology. Then am to say you saw
1t when Mr.. Maitland entered the room,
but not again"
Precisely; unless you choose to add
to your correspondent that the next
time am associated with missing prop
erty at Dunraven would prefer to be
questioned direct, and not through q
third party"
A quiet smile shone for an instant on
the doctors grave face:
81 fear that have not accomplished
my mission very automatically, Mr.
Perry, and am sorry to have vexed you
The colonel tells me, by the way, that
ought to say to you that the reason !
was 90 long In reaching your party last
night was that was detained attending
to another case-one Of our own men.
Good evening, SIR" And, raising his
forage cap, the doctor walked slowly
and with dignity away, leaving Perry
too surprised to speak.
1.-THE colonel told him to tell mel" was
Perry's wondering soliloquy at last
"Then suppose he must have told the
chief some story to account for his being
away" II was pretty evident from the
young fellows manner as he entered the
house that the story was not one which
struck him a. being entitled to conf.
dence or consideration.
On the table in his little sitting room
lay dainty note. It was not the first
he had received under that superscrip-
ton, and he had not been slow to open
and read them II anything, the cloud
upon his forehead seemed to deepen at
sight Of H. BE picked Il up, looked i'm.
patiently at the address, hesitated mo-
ment, tossed 10 back on his desk and went
into the inner room. he would not read
Il now; Il was almost parade time: he
had to battle and change his dress, for
after parade he was to dine at the quarters
Of an infantry friend, and Capt. and
MrA Lawrence were 10 be Of the party.
Already It was noted that when any Of the
few infantry people at the post gave q
little tea or dinner atwhich only eight
or ten were gathered together, the Bel.
knana mara NOT In vfkad IN the aar,,a avov,