Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-05-29


isn't cleared in five minutes" was the
only answer.
Don't make an ass of yourself, Hoke,"
growled the manager. "They are going
quick enough"
81 am going" said Perry, swinging
lightly into saddle; land mind you this,
sir: go with well warranted suspicion
that some of these DULLES of yours have
been responsible for the non-appearance
Of my stable sergeant. If he is not found
this night you may confidently look for
another visit. l 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 tremulous tones were
heard but n second in reply when he was
interrupted by a coarse voice from the
crowd of ranchmen, by this time In
creased to nearly a 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 a 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 a 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 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 ponmel, let the
right leg swing over the horses back I'M
til released from the brawny hand, then
back it came as he settled again in the
saddle, his powerful thighs gripping like
a wise; ut the same instant, and before
his assaiIant could duck to earth and slip
out Of the way, he had whipped out the
heavy Colts revolver and brought its
butt 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
Oyerseer seized and held back one or two
of the men and furiously called off the
rest. Aided by the darkness which
yelled them, the others made simulta-
neous rush upon the young officer and
sought to drag him from his plunging
horse. Perry held his pistol high in air,
threatened with the butt the nearest IS
sailant, yet loath to use further force
He was still in the broad glare of the
parlor lights-a conspicuous mark; eager
hands had graspcd 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 Il dozen
others We're hurting from the ambush of
darkness Il scattering volley of wooden
billets and chunks of coal. He could
easily have shot down the men who held
him.
1t was sore temptation. for already he
had been struck and stung by unseen
projectiles: but just as the manager
sprang forward and with vigorous cuffs
induced the men TO loose their hold on
his rein, there came three hOrSemen
charging full tilt hack into the crowd,
scattering the ASSISTANTS right and left;
and. this time unr,.buked. Sergt. Leary
lcapcd from the saddle and. with a rage
of fierce delight. pitched headlong into
battle with the biggest raDchman iii his
way And this was not ali: for behind
them at a r'pid trot came other troopers
and i'm nluln'nt the open space was
thronSr,i with anger. wondering com
rad,'s-fu!l half Of Strikers company
in who's. overwhelming presence all
thought of promiscu"u' combat seemed
To leave the ranchEI"n. TIey slipped
away in the darkness. iHarinS to their
EMPLOYERS the embarrassment of &C
counting for their attack.
Leary WAS still fum!n:; with wrath and
raging for further battle and shouting
into the darkness; fierce invective at the
vanished head of his opponent. He
turned OH the ovprS'"r himself. and but
for Prrrv's stern All Sudden prohibition
would have h:.,i Il roild with him, but
was forced Iu content himself with the
conveyed to all within hear
in. that he'd light any tin min the 1
ranch contained if they d Only come out
wherr the lieutenant couldn't stop him.
The troopers were making eager inquiry
as to the cause of all the trouble, and,
fearing further difficulty. Perry prompt
" ordered the entire party to fall in"
Silence and discipline were restored In .
moment, and as the platoon formed rank
he inquired of sergeant how they came
to be there. The reply was that it had
grown so dark on the prairie that further
search seemed useless, Capt. Styyker and
most of the men had been drawn off by
signals from the Cheyennes up the val
ley towards the post, and these men who
had been beyond Dunraven on the north
ern prairie were coming back along the |
Monee trail when they saw the lights |
and heard voices over at the lower shore. |
There they found Leary, who was excit-
ed about something, and before they hao
time to ask he suddenly shouted, They're |
KILN the lieutenant. Come on, boysT |
and galloped off with his own party; SO |
they followed Perry quietly ordered |
them to leave a corporal and four men |
with him, and told the senior sergeant |
to march the others back to the post; he |
would follow in five minutes. Then he |
turned to the manager
"You will have to put up with my
keeping some of my men with me, in
view of all the circumstances" he said,
coldly. but after this exhibition Of
on the part of your people
do not propose to take any chances.
want to say to you that it is my belief
that some of those ruffians you employ
can tell what has become of our missing
man, and that you will do well to inves-