The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1890-01-29

have reused the first sergeant and order
ed ''check" roll call as means of de-
termining at once who the night prowl
ers might be-: but Capt. Wayne had his
pecuIiarities, and one of them was an
unalterable and deeply rooted objection
to any interference on the part of other
officers in the management of his men
Perrys first thought, too, was of the sta
bles and Sergt. Gwynne Were they
feeling spread outside their own com
pany? No time was to be lost He turn,
ed his face eastward to where the dark
outlines of the stables could be dimly
traced against the sky, and FASTENED,
stumbling at times over stray tin cans
and other discarded rubbish until he
crossed the intervening swale and reach
ed the low bluff along which the crude,
implanted structures were ranged. All
was darkness here towards the northern
end, and the one sentry who had exter.
nal charge of the entire line was slowly
pacing his post; Perry could see his form,
dimly outlined, as he breasted the slope,
and it determined him to keep on in the
hollow until he got to point opposite
the stables of his own troop. If there
was to be any devilment it might be well
to see whether this soldier, too, would
turn out to be in league with the con-
spirators Listening intently as he hur-
ried along, but hearing nothing, Perry
soon found himself at the pathway lead
ing to his own domain, and the next
minute was gazing in surprise at light
burning dimly in the window of the lit
tie room occupied by Sergt Gwynne;
there was not glimmer elsewhere along
the line
Striding up to the window, he tapped
lightly. and Gwynne's voice sternly
challenged from within, Who's there?'
Lieut.. Perry, sergeant. Come around
and open the stable door for me-"
lone moment, sir" was the. answer
and he heard the sergeant bounding, ap-
parently, off his bed. Then hand drew
aside the shade, and Gwynne's face ap-
peared at the window, while small Ian
tern was held so as to throw it's rays on
the face without, 'All right, sir" he
continued Il thought could not be
deceived in the voice."
Perry walked around to the front again
taking another survey of the sleeping
garrison as he did SO. and listening once
more for footsteps; but all was still
Presently the little panel in the big door
was unlocked from within. and the lieu
tenant bent low and entered, finding
Gwynne, lantern in hand, standing in his
uncompromising attitude of attention
at the entrance.
Everything been quiet here tonight
he asked, as he Strengthened up.
"Perfectly so, sir. -
Come into your room moment:
want to speak to you" said Perry, after
a moments reflection.
They passed along the broad gangway
between the rows of sleepy horses, some
lying down in their stalls, others still
afoot and munching at their hay The
stable guard stood at his post and faced
them as they turned into the dark AND
narrow passage leading into Gwynne's
little sanctuary The lamps along the
line of stalls burned low and dim, and
the ports being lowered, gave no CLEAN
without the walls Once more, however
a bright light shone from the window OF
the stable sergeant's room-brighter than
before, could they only know it. for this
time there was no intervening shade
After his brief inspection of the lieuten-
ants face. GWynne had left il drawn.