The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1890-02-15

fed with amaze and CONSERVATION, pale
as death, and unable to say a word.
Asked to explain the matter, he could
only shake his head, and, after awhile,
hoarsely muttered, II know nothing
about it. Inever placed it there"
'Do you mean to tell me you never saw
it beforef" asked Wayne. sternly. And
Gwynne was silent.
"Is this the first time you ever saw it,
say7" repeated the captain angrily.
ono, sir; have seen it BEFORE" was
the answer.
"Then you must have known twas
stolen, and you have connived at its con-
cealment," was Wayne's triumphant
conclusion; and on the report of his Off
GERS Col. Brainard had no alternative but
to order Gwynne's' close arrest Only
Stryker'sappeal and guarantee saved the
sergeant from confinement in the guard
house.
The next sensation was the sight of
DR.. Quin galloping back to the post like
mad and bolting unceremoniously into
the colonel's gate. Then Stryker was
sent for, and the three officers held an
excited conversation. Then the orderly
went ut u run over to the quarters, and
in five minutes Sergt. Gwynnc, erect as
ever and dressed with scrupulous care,
looking anything but like guilty man,
was seen crossing the parade towards his
colonels house. The men swarmed out
Oh the porchcs as the tidings went from
lip to lip and some of the Irish troopers
i'll Wayne's company were remarked as
being oddly excited. Just what took
place during that interview none could
tell, but in ten minutes the news was fly
ing around the garrison that Sergt.
Gwynne was released from arrest, and
in less than half an hour, to the wonder.
ment Of everybody, he was seen riding
away towards Dunraven with DR.. Quin,
and for two days moro did not reappcar
at Rossiter
But when the story flashed from house
to house about the garrison that Sergt.
Gwynne was not Sergt. Gwynne at all,
but Mr.. Archibald Wyndllam Quin Matt
land, late of her majesty's -th Lancers,
the only surviving son of the invalid
owner of Dunravan Ranch and other
valuable properties, the amaze amount
ed to stupefaction. 1t was known that
old Mr.. Maitland 10y desperately weak
and i'll the day that Quin the doctor
came riding back. All manner of stories
were told regarding the affecting ma
ture Of the interview in which the
long lost son was restored to his over
joyed father, but, like most stories, they
were purely the offspring Of Imagination,
for at that interview only three were
present: Gladys led her brother to the
room and closed the door, while good
Mrs. Cowan stood weeping for joy down
the long corridor, and DIR. Quin blinked
his eyes and fused and fdgetcd and
strobe around Perry's room with his
hands in his pockets, exploding every
now and then into sudden comment on
the romantic nature of tho situation and
the idiocy of some people there at Ros-
sitter. "Joy does not kill" lie said;
Maitland would have been dead man
by the end of the week but for this; it
Will give him new lease of life."
And it did. Though the flame was
feeble and Pickering, it was famed by a
joy unutterable. The boy whom the
stricken father believed his stubborn
pride and condemnation had driven to
despair and suicide was restored to him
in the prime of manly strength, all ten
dcrncss. all forgiveness, and Maitland's
whole heart went up in thanksgiving.
He begged that Brainard and stryker
would come to him, that he might thank
them for their faith in his son; he bade
the doctor say to Perry that tho moment
he could be lifted from his bed lie would
come to clasp his hands and bless him
for being a far better friend to his son
than he had been father.
The sergeant's return to tho post was
the signal for general turnout on the
part of the men, all of whom were curl
Gus to see how he would appear now that
his identity was established. Of course,
his late assailants could not join in the
crowd that thronged about him, but they
listened with eagerness to everything
that was told "He was just the same
as ever" said all accounts. He had
never been intimate with any Of then
but always friendly and kind. One thing
went the rounds like lightning
"You'll be getting your discharge now,
sergeant" said Mrs. Reed, the voluble
wife of the leader of tho band, land
taking up your residence at the ranch,
suppose. OF course the British minister
can get it for you in minute"
"Not bit of it, Mrs. Reed" was the
laughing answer. ~ enlisted to serve
Uncle Sam five years, and he's been too
good a friend to me to turn from. !
shall serve out my time with the tn"
If old Maitland could have prevailed, an
application for his sons discharge would
have gone to Washington; but this the
soldier positively forbade. He had eight
months still to serve, and he meant to
carry out his contract to the letter.
Stryker offered him furlough, and
Gwynne thankfully took week, that
he might be by his fathers side and help
nurse him to better health. "By that
time, too, the garrison will have grown
little more accustomed TO it, sir, and
will have less embarrassment in going
on with my work."
Two days before his return to duty
there came q modified sensation in the
shape Of the report that trooper Of
Wayne's company had deserted. He
was man who had borne bad reputa-
ton as turbulent, mischief making
fellow, and when Sergt. Leary heard of
his going he was in state of wild cx-
citement. He begged to be allowed to
see his captain, and to him he confessed
that one of his little party of three had
seen the ring drop from Mr.. Maitlands
finger the night of the first visit to Dun
raven, had managed to pick it up and
carry it away In the confusion, and had
shown 1t to his friend in Wayne's troop
when they got back. Tho latter per-
suaded him to let him take it, as the
lockers of the men who were at Dun
raven were sure, he said, to be searched.
1t was known that he had a grudge