The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1890-02-27

Iishman. al have done my best to 70
strain my men; do you look out foi
youra You have allowed them 10 insult
me and mine, and you may thank your
stars that discipline prevailed with my
people, though you have nothing Of ths
kind here"
"YouT men have cut down our fences,
BY your order, presume, " said the man
ager. coolly. "and tie lucky for them
they got out Of the way when they did
We have q right to protect our property
and eject intruders, and"-
II came here to inquire for q missing
mana right even an Englishman can.
not deny Us on these prairiea We had
excellent reason to believe him injured,
and thought. not knowing you for the
lnhospitable gang you are, that he might
have been carried in here for treatment;
there was no other place. Your pro.
prietor tells me he q not here. Aftei
what I've. seen. Of your people, I have
reason to b still more anxious about
him. Scant mercy q single trooper
would have had at their banda Now
ask you, Do you know or have you heard
Of o cavalry soldier being seen around
here during the dayr'
Perry was standing holding his horse
by the curb as he spoke, facing the par.
Tor windows and confronting the angrJ
group Of ranchmen. Within, though
nearer the window than he had left him.
was the bent form Of the owner Of Dun
rayon loansn0 ~, ut. .onn .rI .n,..,.k
ly impatiently striving to make himself
heard as he came forward Before the
manager could answer, he was compel.
led to turn about and rebuke his men
two Of whom were especially truculeni
and menaoing. Finally he spoke:
s"I have heard nothing, but ten yot
frankly that u any Of your men have
been prowling around here It's more thar
probable some one has got hurt HAl
there been any trouble today, menT he
asked.
"By God. there will be II this rancI
Isn't cleared In Eve minutes" was tn,
only answer.
"Don't make an ass Of yourself, Hoke,'
growled the manager. "They are going
quick enough" 81
''I am going" said Perry, swinging
lightly into saddle; land mind you this
sir; go with well warranted suspicion
that some Of these bullies Of yours have
been responsible for the non-appearanct
Of my stable sergeant n he e not fount
this night you may confidently look foi
another visit I say that to you also
Mr.. Maitland, and you owe It to our for
bearance that there has been no blood.
shed here tonight"
Old Maitland's tromulous tones wert
heard but second in reply when he wai
interrupted by a coarse voice from the
crowd Of ranchmen, by this time In
creased to nearly q dozen men. Some
Of them were gathering about Perry as
he sat In the saddle, and an applauding
echo followed the loud interruption:
"Give the swell q lift, Tummy; twill
teach him better manners."
Almost instantly Perry felt his right
foot grasped and a powerful form was
bending at the stirrup. He had heard
Of the trick before. Many q time has
the London cad endorsed the English
trooper, taken unawares, by hurting him
with sudden lift from below. But Perry
was quick and active as q cat. Seat and
saddle, too, were in his favor. He sim.
ply threw his weight on the left foot and
his bride hand upon the pommel, let the
right leg swing over the horses back un.
til released from the brawny hand, then
back Il came as he settled again In the
saddle, bis powerful thighs gripping like
q wise. at the same instant, and before
his assailant could duck to earth and slip
gut Of the way, he had whipped out the
heavy Colts revolver and brought its
Init with stunning crash down on the
ranchman's defenseless head.
There was instant rush and commotion.
In vain old Maitland feebly piped his
protests from the veranda; IN vain the
overseer seized and held back one or two
Of the men and furiously called of the
rest Aided BY the darkness which
yelled them, the others made Q simulta.
neous rush upon the young officer and
sought TO drag him from his plunging
horSa Perry held his pistol high in air,
threatened with the butt the nearest as.
sailant, yet loath to use further force.
he was still In the broad glare Of the
parlor lights-a conspicuous mark eager
hands had gTasped his bride rein at the
very bit, and he could not break away;
and then missiles began to fly about his
devoted head, and unless he opened fire
he was helpless. While two men firmly
held Nolan BY the curb, half dozen
others were hurting from the ambush Of
darkness scattering VoIley Of wooden
billets md ehunkS Of coal. he could
easily have shot down the men who held
him. r Dr.
u was sore temptation, for already he
had been struck and stung BY unseen
projectiles; but Just a. the manager
sprang forward and with vigorous cuffs
induced the men to loose their hold on
his rein, there came three horsemen
charging full tit back into the crowd,
scattering the assailants right and left;
and, this time unrcbuked, eergk Leary
. Ieaped from the saddle and, with q rage
inf aerce delight, pitched headlong into
battle with the biggest ranchmAn In his
way. And this was not all; for behind
them at q rapid trot came other troopers.
and In o moment the open space was
thronged with eager, wondering com.
rades-full half Of Suykor's company
In whose overwhelming presence all
thought Of promiscuous combat seemed
to leave the ranchmen. They slipped
away In the darkness, leaving 10 their
employer the embarrassment Of 90.
counting for their attack.