Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-07-31


now. It's such a pity that
- Englishwomen grow coarse
~ and stout and rcd faced SO
very soon after they are married" The
speaker was Mrs. Belknap, and her soft
voice was tuned to a pitch of almost
pathetic regret. They were talking of
Miss Maitland, who had just been as
sisted to her saddle by the colonel, and
now, followed by the faithful Griggs
and escorted by Capt. Stryker, was rid
ing away bomeward after brief call al
the post. Fort Rossiter, once so hum.
drum and placid and stupid" as the
ladies termed it, had been the vortex OF
sensations for a whole fortnight, and
one excitement had trodden on the heels
of another with such rapidity that people
were growing weary.
Perhaps the happiest man in garrison
was Capt. Stryker; he had refused to be-
lieve in the guilt of Sergt. Gwynne when
Capt. Wayne came to him to say that
there were men in his troop who openly
accused the sergeant of having that cher
ished seal ring secreted in his chest. So
confident was he that he had gone with
the captain and Mr.. Farnham to the
stables and there told Gwynne of the
charge against him. Gwynne flushed
holly, denied the truth of the story, but
hesitated when asked if he would allow
his chest to be searched. This was quick
Iy noted by Wayne and Farnham, and
the search was insisted upon. Gwynne
then said there were few items in that
chest which he allowed no one to see; he
pledged his soldier word that they were
nothing but a paper or two, some little
photographs and book. These he asked
permission to remove first; then they
might search. But Wayne sternly re-
fused. The sergeant turned very white,
set his lips, and hesitated still, until his
own captain spoke; then he surrendered
his KEY.
Wayne and Farnham bent over the
chest while the troop first sergeant rapid
ly turned over the clothing, books, ETC.,
with trembling hands. There was little
compartment at one side, in which were
lying some small items-a pocket COM
pass, pencil case, some keys, a locket
and a neck chain, and, among these,
something wrapped in tissue paper. This
was handed to Capt. Wayne, who I'M
rolled the paper, and-there was massive
seal ring. A crest was cut in the stone,
and, taking it to the light, Wayne was
able to make out the motto, "Quod sur
sum volo videre." 1t was the ring Matt
land had lost.
Stryker looked wonderingly at his SER
geant, who stood there as though petri-
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, aid, after awhile,
hoarsely muttered, 81 know nothing
about it. Inever placed it there"
"Do you mean to tell me you never saw
it before?" asked Wayne, sternly. And
Gwynne was silent.
''Is this the first time you ever saw it,
I say?" repeated the captain angrily.
mo, sir; I 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
STRIKERS appeal and guarantee saved the
sergeant from confinement in the guard
house.
The next sensation was the sight of
TAP C1rir, hool- 10 Tho rDocf llyo
mad and betting unceremoniously into
the colonel's gate. Then Stryker was
sent for, and the three officers held an
excited conversation. Then the orderly
went alta run over to the quarters, and
in five minutes Sergt. Gwynne, erect as
ever and dressed with scrupulous care,
looking anything but like guilty man,
was seen crossing the parade towards his
coloners house. The men swarmed out
on the porches as the tidings went from
lip to lip, and some of the Irish troopers
in 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 ay-:
ing around the garrison that Sergt.
Gwynne wss 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 more did not resppear
at Rossiter.
But when the story flashed from house
to house about the garrison that Sergt.
Gwyppe was not Sergt. Gwynne at all,
but Mr.. Archibald Wyndham Quin Matt
land, late Of her majesty's til Lancers,
the only surviving son OF the invalid
owner of Dunravan Ranch and ether
valuable properties; the amaze amount
ed to stupefaction. 1t was known that
old Mr.. Maitland lay desperately weak
and i'll the day that Quin the. doctor
case 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
ioyed father, but, like most stories, they
were purely the offspring Of Imagination,
for at thzs interview only three were
present: GLADYS led her brother to the