Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1890-02-08

' y
over unless we hack down post or two
You can't cut such wire as this with any
tool we've got III leave Nolan here
with yoa and go on to the ranch on foot
it lies about half a mile TO the south. Il
the doctor comes, he can follow me. Il
/ do rot come or send back in half al
hour from this you three come after me
for Ill need you,
With that, slowly and carefully, and
not without muttered malediction OF
the singing barbs, Mr.. Perry wriggled
through between the middle wires anC
finally stood within the Enclosure, read
Iusting his waist belt and holster. Then
lie took his revolver from its leather
case. carefully tried the hammer ano
cylinder, saw that each chamber was
loaded, and turned once more to the ser
geant.
Your pistols all right"
"AIl right, sir; fresh loaded when we
started"
II don't know that They'll be necessary
at all, sergeant; but this is a queer place
from what I've heard and the little I've
seen. Keep your eyes and ears open
Capt. Stryker and some OF the men may
come down into the valley if they find
no trace Of Gwynne up on the prairie
Watch for the doctor, too"
Then, through the deepening twilight
he strobe, following the trail that led
southwark up the slopes. Five minutes
brisk walk along the springy turf
tza-,o-I,+ L;v,, ~ tI,o o-4ogt o,,1 II, Wow, NJ
the lights at the ranch buildings, still
some six or seven hundred yards away
All through the eastern sky the stars were
peeping forth, and even through the
CLEAN Of the twilight in the west two
brilliant planets shone like molten gold
All was silence and peace on every hand
and, but for those guiding, glimmering
lights at the south. all would have told
Of dcsoiation Behind him in the valley
waited his faithful men, Far beyond the
fIOnee. out OH the northern prairie, he
knew that comrades were securing the
face of the earth in search Of their miss
ing brother Up the stream, somewhere
behind them. the Cheyennes were pa,
tiently trailing the hoof tracks as long
as light should last; he knew that search
must be at an end by this time, and that
some Of their number at least, would be
riding down to join his men. Whoever
found the sergeant was to fire three shots
in air; the signal could be heard a long
way in that intense Stiffness, and that
signal was to recall the searching par
ties. Every step brought him deeper
into the darkness of the night Jet
nearer and nearer those twinkiing lights
ahead
Already he could distinguish those in
the main building. the homestead, from
those more distant still, in the store
rooms and Office. Far over among tie
stables and ccrrals he heard the deep
bayiug Of hounds, and he wondered if it
was to be his luck to encounter any en-
tcrpriaing watch dogs. An English ball
terrier would be s. lively entertainer
thought he. with instructive melton TO-
wards the fian Of h;s holster; and it
would be a wonder l. a ranch that SUI
rounded itself with Gfty miles Of 6arbed
Wi:s fencing were not further enyironed
By pack Of watch dogs Of the most ap-
proved and belHgerent breed Once
having passed the distant barrier Of chat
gaze on the M0nee, however, his way
was rtuimpeded, and, to all appearance,
utterly unmarked; ne had arrived with
in fifty yards OF the foremost building.
the homestead, before he was brought to
halt Then he stopped short, sur
Dr;sed, half credulOus, and all attention,
listening to the concord Of sweet
sounds" that came floating from the
open easement somewhere along the east
front Of the big gloomy house.
Zone part Of the story verified, by
JOvei It's a piano-and we'll played.
too"
Full minute he stood there listening.
Perry was a dancer, whose nim5le feet
moved blithely to any measured, rhyth-
mical strains, and soldier whose soul
was stirred by martial music, but with
Chopin and Mendeissohn, Bach and
Rubenstein he had but slight acquaint-
ance. That any one should be playing
a piano here on the borders of the LIano
Estacado was in Itself sufficient cause
for wonderment, that the invisible per
former was playing-and playing with
exquisite taste and feeling -one Of the
loveIiest of the 'Ldeder ohne WOTte,
the Spring Song, was fact that con-
veyed no added establishment to his soul,
he never knew it until one sweet night
long after.
However, matters more pressing than
music demanded Mr. Perrys attention
Just here. He had reached DUnTaven,
after all Neither dog nor man had
challenged. Once within those barbed
and frowning barriers, all the encircIing
objects spoke Of security and rest Far
away towards the corrals he heard the
sound of voices in jolly conversation; a
rich. meIodious laugh rang out on the
cool evening air; he heard some one
shouting genial good night to somebody
else, AID then the slam Of distant door.
Presently a light popped out from a
window in what he believed to be a
storehouse, and all was still again. Even
the piano had ceased Now was his
time, thought Perry; and so, boldly
mounting the steps, he stood upon a
dark portico and strobe to the black
shadow in the wall before him where he
knew the main doorway must be, 1t
was his intention to knock or ring. Up
stairs dim lights were shining through
the open windows, but on this front OF
the ground floor all was darkness. His
gauntleted hand felt all the face of the
door in search of a knob or knocker. but
nothing of the kind was there; neither
was there such thing on either door
most. Just as be decided to hammer