Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-07-03
TConitnued frem Last Week.
DUNRAVEN RANCH
A Story of American Frontier
Life.
By Capt. CHARLES KING, o. s. A,
Author OF The CoLoneps Daughter" From
the Ranks" "7he Descrter," Etc.
Copyrighted 1888 by J. B. Lppincott Company,
Philadelphia, and published by special arrange
ment through the American Press Association
CHAPTER XIII

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q: Z: !. !: !:
&J NOTWITHSTANDING the
81 s.,. fact that there was an at
a6&E mosphere of suppressed
AZ ES excitement over the gar
NM Vi rison this May day morn
o ing, Mrs. Belknap's hunt
came off according to plan, and the three
heroines Of the previous run rode forth
with but slight change Of escort Cart
Striker felt constrained to remain in
garrison; he had quiet investigation to
make, and was observed to be in close
conversation with DR.. Quin as the gay
party assembled in front Of Col. Brai-
nard's quarters. Mr.. Perry appeared in
his captains stead, and very politely re-
quested the honor of being escort to Mrs.
Lawrence, who accepted, yet looked a
trife embarrassed as she did so. Indeed,
not until she had stolen an appealing
glance at her husband and heard his
cordial 'By all means, dear; Perry can
guide YOU far better than l, and perhaps
you'll win another mask" did she thank
fully say Eyes" Dana rode with Mrs
BeIknap, as before, and it was the colo
mel himself who suggested to Stryker
that Mr. Perry should accompany Mrs.
Lawrence this day, and that he, the
colonel, should ride with Mrs. Sprague
Perry had eagerly lent himself to the
proposition: he figured that now he could
have an uninterrupted chat with Mrs.
Lawrence and hear what she had to tell
about Dunraven. Just before starting
he sought Capt. Lawrence, laughingly
told him the terms of their agreement,
and begged that he would relax his
marital injunction and permit her to give
him such details as she happened to be
in possession OF. Indeed, Capt Law
renee" he said, Il asl; from no idle curl
osity. | have been to the ranch, as you
now know, and have good reason for
| asking" To his surprise, the captain
| replied substantially that, while he had
regretted Mrs. Lawrence's impulsive rev.
Citations, he had thought it all over and
decided that the best way out was that
Perry should be told the whole story and
be able to see how very little there was
to it. He had decided, therefore, to tell
him himself; land this evening, Perry,
if you will dine with us informally, we'll
talk it over afterwards. Meantime.
prefer Mrs. Lawrence's name should not
be mentioned in connection with any
| story there may be afloat: SO oblige me
by saying nothing to her on the subject. -
I, 60
something of a surprise; but there was
still another and even greater one. That
very morning, just before guard mount,
and while he was dressing, Perry shout
ed, Come in" responsive to knock at
his sitting room door, and in came Capt.
Stryker. The object of his early call
was explained in very few words.
Perry" said he, 81 have been over to
see Sergt. Gwynne this morning, and the
doctor walked back from the hospital
with me and told me of your threatened
disagreement of last night. If it had not
been for that sudden call to the stables
fancy there might have been a quarrel.
Now. think you know I'm one of the
last men to let an officer Of my regiment
especially my troop-be placed in a
false position, and-you can afford to
leave this matter in my hands, can you
not:"
Certainly, Capt. Stryker."
Then l want you to say nothing to
Quin on the subject, and to treat him,
as far as possible. as though nothing had
happened. His relations with the lady s
father and family were, and are, such
that she ought to treat him with respect
and Difference, and to accept his advice
even though it be given in a style that
Carlyle, his favorite author, is mainly
responsible for"
There was absolutely nothing in-in
that. Well, captain" stammered poor
Ned, IL don't know how to say what 1
want to say" He wanted to say there
was nothing in that interview which
could possibly be criticised, but it sud-
denly occurred to him that on the con-
trary there was q good deal. Then he
| desired to assure the captain that, so far
as he was concerned, there wasn't a sus-
picion of wrong doing; but-heavens
and earth!-that was equivalent to say
ing the lady was doingan that was open
to remark, and nothing would ever in
duce him to ''give away woman" as
he would have expressed it. Perry stam-
mered and Redeemed all the more, and
at last gave it up in despair, Stryker
sitting there the while with quiet grin
on his bronzed face and mechanically
slashing his boot legs with a riding
switch.
ST think understand the situation,
Perry, and there's no great harm done.
Only, let the matter drop-so far as the
doctor Is concerned, I mean; do not
presume to obtrude advice upon you as
to anything else"
And, though he had meditated diff
ferent course, and had fully intended
hunting up Dana and sending him with
note to call upon the doctor for an
explanation" he was glad to have a
man of Stryker's standing cry halt. All
the same he was sore incensed against
Dr.. Quin-mainly because of the jeal-
Gus pain he suffered at the knowledge of
his being so welcomed by Gladys Matt
land when he saw fit to visit the ranch;
and this pain gnawed all the more an
grily now at thought Of the embar-
rassing-even experimentation in