Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-06-12

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81;
ZSA T JUST what hour -"
1s post surgeon returned
- e "a to Fort Rossiter that
~SSeEa SA night no one seemed to
" know He was present
at sick call, and imperturbable as ever,
on the following morning, and the few
officers who were at headquarters after
guard mounting were able to affirm that
the colonel had been courteous as usual
in his greeting to the medical officer, and
that nothings whatever had been said
about his being away SO late the previ-
Gus evening. Capt. Stryker came home
soon after midnight, had a brief talk
with his colonel, and went over to the
stables to inquire into Gwynne's condi-
ton before he went to bed. Parke came
into Perry's room after morning stables,
and told him, as he was yawning and
stretching in bed, that the captain had
had quite a long talk with Gwynne that
morning, and that something was up
he didn't know what Later in the
day Perry was sent for by Col. Brainard
and found the commanding officer in
consultation with Capt. Stryker and two
other troop commanders.
At their request he repeated the story
of his adventure at Dunrayen, beginning
with his instructions to the men he left
at the gate, and ending with old Matt
lands swooning; and about an hour after
he had finished he saw the adjutant with
a small escort ride away down the valley,
and rightly conjectured that the colonel
had sent letter IL Dunraven inqulril9
into the cause of the assaults Oh two
members Of his command battalion.
drill kept him occupied ali the morning;
n garrison court convened III nOOn anC
sat until skirnish drill began at 3 p. m.
and so it happened that nOt until near
parade did he find moments time to
himself He longed te bee Mrs. Law
renee and question her as to the nature
of the "Dunraven stories" she had men,
toned. for what had been a matter of
Indifference to him then had suddenly
become of vivid interest. There were
ladies sitting on the Lawrences' gallery,
he could plainly see, as the cavalry Off
GERS came tramping in from afternoon
stables. but he could not hope to ask or
hear anything about a matter so near
his heart in the presence Of so many
sympathetic and interested listeners. He
kept away towards his own gate, there
fore, until he saw that there, leaning on
the gate post, and apparently awaiting
him, stood DR.. Quin.
Perry would gladly have avoided the
doctor, the antagonism he was beginning
to feel for him was of character that
would hardly brook concealment. Cor
dial and joyous in manner as he was to
almost every man, woman and child he
met, it was all the more noticeable that
to the very few whom he held in dislike
or distrust his bearing was cold and re-
pellent in the last degree. Something
told him the doctor was there to speak
to him about their chance meeting at
Dunraven. He did not want to speak to
him at all, just now. Yet how could he
hope to have these matters explained
without meeting and talk? While
the officers strolled over and stopped,
most of them, in front of the group of
ladies at Lawrence's, Perry stalked
straight across the parade and the boun-
dairy road, with biz blue eyes fixed on
the doctors face.
The latter was studying him as he
came, and doubtless read that expression
of GOODNESS and distrust; possibly he re-
sented it. At all events. something
prompted him to speak in q tone less
cordial than he had ever employed to-
wards Perry-"a youngster whom l
thoroughly approve Of" as he said be-
fore he had known him a week. Still
leaning on the gate post. and resting his
head on his hand, the doctor began:
"Mr. Perry, have been to see you
twice today, but could not find you, and
WANTED to speak with you on a matter
Of some Importance"
You could have found ME on drill or
the court, if anything immediate was
needed. have been nowhere else, ex-
cept to stables, said Perry, shortly.
at was a personal matter-a some
what embarrassing one-and thought
best to see you alone"
'Well, here l am, DIR. Quin; drive
ahead and let us have it"
al wanted to ask you If, while you
were at the ranch last night, you saw
anything of large signet ring, with
crest and motto engraved on the stone"
81 did not, unless you mean the one
Mr.. Maitland wore"
1.-THE very onei You noticed that, did
your"
81 noticed he had something of the
kind on his left hand when he came
down"
"And twas nowhere to be found after
you went away. You may remember
you were chatting and slapping that hand,
and / thought you might have accident
ally removed it at that time"
The reflection is not pleasant one,
DR.. Quin," said Perry. with an, angry
light in the blue eyes.
Pardon me, Mr.. Perry; put it awk-
wardly, but mean no reflection what
ever. Miss Maitland mentioned your eff
forts to restore the old gentleman to con-
seriousness, and together we searched the