Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-06-26

all fastening towards the stables, where
dim lights could be seen fitting about
like will-o'- the-wisps. One of these
troopers came bounding to his side and
would have passed him in the race. He
recognized the athletic form even in the
darkness and hailed him:
THAT you, Sergt. Leary? What's gone
wrong?"
"It's thin blackguards from below,
sir. Who else could it be-"
"Those people at the ranch?"
1.-THE very ones, sir. No one else would
harm Sergt. Gwynne. Sure we ought
to have wound 'em up the one night we
had chance, sir"
BreathlesS, almost, they reached the
stables. The horses were all snorting and
plunging about in their stalls, showing
every indication of excitement and
alarm. From the stables of the adjoin-
ing companies other men had come with
lanterns, and group of perhaps half a
dozen troopers was gathered about the
form of a cavalry sergeant who was seat
ed, limp and exhausted, at the western
doorway. One soldier was bathing his
face with q sponge; the first sergeant of
the troop was bending over and trying
to feel the pulse.
"Stand back, you men, he said, au-
thoritatively, as he caught sight of the
lieutenant's shoulder straps. Leave q
lantern here. Now, Gwynne, here's
Lieut.. Perry. Can you tell him who it
| was?"
Gwynne feebly strove to rise, but Perry
checked him.
''Sit down! The doctor is coming;
don't attempt to move" painted the young
officer. Tell me what you know about
it, Sergt. Hosmer."
| Nothing but this, sir. was III the
Office when Trumpeter Petersen ran in
and said they were killing Sergt. Gwynne.
| sent him for the captain and grabbed
my revolver and ran here as hard as
could. He was lying just outside the
door when got here, and not another
soul in sight. Sergt Ross, of F troop,
,nd Sergt. Pagan, of B, came with their
lanterns from the stables next door; but
they had not even heard the trouble"
" mere was the 6CaOie guaru9
Inside, sir. and he's there now. He
heard the scuffle, he says, and ran to
give the alarm and to protect the SER
geant, but the men scattered when he
came, and he saw none of them"
Tell him TO come here Let some of
these men go in and quiet the horses.
The captain will be here in a minute,
and he will want to see that stableman.
Who is it,
Kelly, sir"
BY this time DR.. Quin came lumber
ing heavily up the slope to the stable
door. His manner was very quiet and
very grave as he bent over the injured
man and carefully studied his face by
the light of the sergeant's lamp The
doctor spoke gently:
You know me, sergeant?-Dr. Quin.
Can you tell me what struck you? Are
you hurt elsewhere than in the head?"
Gwynne made no reply for a moment,
then family answered.:
Stunned, mainly, and one or two
kicks after was knocked down."
Then came deeper voice, quiet but
authoritative. and the group that had
begun to close in again about the doctor
and his patient fell back as Capt. Stryker
strobe into their midst.
"Sergt. I1osmer, send all these men of
the troop back to their quarters at once,
and permit no more to come out. Is he
much hurt, DOCTOR"
Somewhat stunned, he says. I've
made no examination yet"
The captain looked about him. Ex-
cept one sergeant holding a lantern, the
other troopers, obedient to his order,
were slowly fading back into the dark.
ness on their way to the barracks. Only
the doctor, Mr.. Perry, and the sergeant
remained by the side of the injured
man. Then came the question:
who did this, Gwynne?"
No answer. A deeper shade of pain
and trouble seemed to pass over the
sergeants face. He made an effort to
speak, hesitated, and at last replied:
81 cannot say, sir.
You know, do you not?"
Again panied silence and embarrass-
ment. At last the sergeant leaned slow
~ FORWARD ana spoke:
Captain, the men were masked, the
voices disguised. l could not see the
dress in the darkness. truck on
the head almost the inst outside
the door, and it would be, ,sible for
me to identify one of them
do you think it was the same gang
you had the trouble with at DunravenY'
"I-could not say, sir"
''Do you suspect any of our own men?"
"I-would not say that, SIR"
"Where is the stable guard?" asked
Stryker. "Send him here"
And presently Trooper Kelly-s wiry
little Irishman, with a twinkling eye and
an expression Of mingled deviIment and
imperturbability in bis face-came forth
from the stable door and stood attention.
"Where were you when this assault
took place, Kelly?"
"At the far end of the stables, SIR"
replied Kelly, with prompt and conf
dent tone.
'Then of course you saw and know
nothing of it."
'Not wor-rad, sir"
why dld you let gang from that |
English ranch come here and beat your
sergeant before your very eyes?''
Kelly Redeemed at the very idea.
"Pd ha' died first, siri Sure they'd !
niver dared And then Kelly stopped |
short. His Celtic pride had been touch
ed to the quick, and had it not proved |
too much for even Irish wit?
"How did they get the sergeant out of |
the stable at this hour of the night"
"Sure they called him out, sir"