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

That night. Just alter tattoo roll call
when Little group of officers was gath
cred at the colonels gate, they were sud
denly joined by DR.. Quin. who came
from the direction Of TIE stable where he
kept his horse in rear Of his own quar-
tiers Col. Drainard greeted him warmly
and inquired after his patient at Dun
raven Every one noted how grave and
subGued was the tone in which the doc
tor answered;
"He is very sick man, colonel, and
it is hard to say what will he the result
of this seizure"
"You may want to go down again,
doctor, if that be the case-before SICK
call tomorrow. mean: and you had
better take one Of my horses. I'll tell
my man to have one in readiness.
"You are very kind sir. | think old
Brian will do all the work needed. But
i would like to go down at reveille, as
we have no men in hospital at all now
And, by the way, is Mr. Perry herc?"
81 am here, answered Perry coldly
lie was leaning against the railing,
rather away from the group, listening
intently. yet unwilling to meet or hold
conversation with the man he conceived
TO be SO inimical to his every hope and
interest.
"Mr. Perry" said the doctor, pleas
ently, and utterly ignoring the GOODNESS
OF the young fellows manner, Mr.
Maitland has asked to see you; and it
would crafty him if you would ride
down in the morning"
Even in the darkness Perry feared that
ell would see the flush that lea ped to his
face Summoned to Dunraven Ranch,
by her father, with possibility Of SEQ
ing herl 1t was almost too sweet! too
thrilling! He could give no reply for a
moment, and an awkward silence fell on
the group until be chokingly answered,
II shall be glad to so What timer"
"Better ride down early. Never mind
breakfast. Miss Maitland will be glad
to give you cup of coffee, | fancy"
And Perry felt as though the fence had
taken to waltzing. He made no answer,
striving to regain his composure, and
then the talk went on. 1t was Stryker
VINO was ltllhluS EOW'
HAS the ring been found, doctor%
mol That is a most singular thing,
and one that worries the old gentleman
a great deal 1t had a history; it be-
longed to Mrs. Maitland's father, who
was from Ireland-indeed, Ireland was
her country, as it was my father's-and
that ring she had reset for her son Archie
AID gave it to him when he entered serv-
ice with tho Lancers 1t was sent home
with his watch and other property from
South Africa-for he died there-and old
Maitland always wore it afterwards,
Archie was the last OF three sons; and ii
broke his heart"
"And the ring was lost the night Of
Perry's adventure there?" asked the col
oneL
"Ycs. Mr. Perry remembers having
seen it on his hand when the old gentle
man first came down to receive him. 1t
was missed afterwards, and could easily
have slipped off at any time, for his fin
gers were withered with age and Ill
health. They have searched everywhere
and could find nothing of it. 1t could
easily have rolled off the veranda on &c
the grass during his eNSEement at the
time of the row, and somebody may have
picked it up-either among the ranch
men or among the troopers"
81 hate to think that any of our men
would take it," said the colonel after q
pause.
81 do not think any of them would,
with the idea of selling it," said Strykeri
'but here is case where it was picked
up, possibly, as one of the spoils of war.
Ihave had inquiry made throughout the
troop, but with no result SO far. Do you
go down again tonight, doctor?"
''Not if can avoid it. am going now
to try and sleep, and will not ride down
till daybreak unless sign&!ed for Good
night, colonel; good night, all"
Unless signaled forl Instinctively
Perry edged closer to Lawrence, who had
stood a silent listener to the conversation
and Lawrence turned and saw him and
knew the thought that must be upper
most in his mind. There was moment
of perfect silence, and then Lawrence
spoke:
Does anybody know what the signal
is?'
Certainly" said Col. Brainard,
promptly. HE has explained the whole
thing to me. Those were signals for him
that we saw the night you were all or
my gallery. 1t was an arrangement de.
vised by their old nurse-she who came
up with the carriage for Miss Maitland
the other day. She had a regular old
fashioned headlight and reflector, and
when Mr.. Maitland was SO i'll as to need
doctor, used to notify Quin in that
way. He sometimes failed to see it, and
have given orders today that the guard
should wake him when it is seen here
after"
Then that was what those mysterious
night lights meant that we have heard sc
much about during the last three weeks?
asked Mr.. Dana
Certainly" answered Brainard
"What on earth did anybody suppose
they meant Z"
To this there was no response for 8
moment Then Lawrence burst out
laughing.
CHAPTER XVI,
ME0