Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-06-05

an hour on the homeward ride before he |
bethought him of Mrs. Lawrence's re-
marks about the signal lights. One
thing led to another in his recollection OF
her talk. The doctor answered the sig
mails, no one else; the doctor and no one
else was received at Dunraven; the doc
tor had declined to answer any questions
about the people at the ranch; had been
silent and mysterious, yet frequent In
his visits. And then, more than all,
what was that Mrs. Lawrence said or in
timated that Mrs. Quin, "such lovely
woman, too" had taken her children and
left him early that spring, and all on &C
count of somebody or something con-
nected with Dunraven Ranch? Good
heavens! 1t could not be "Gladys."
And yet
Instead Of taking bath and going to
bed, Mr.. Perry poked his head into
Parke's bachelor chamber as he reached
the little cottage they shared in common.
No Gladys disturbed the juniors Dreams
apparently, for he was breathing regu-
larly, sleeping the sleep of the just; and
so, finding no one to talk to and being in
no mood to go to bed at an hour so COM
paratively early when he had so much to
think about, Perry filled a pipe and
perched himself in a big chair by the
window seat, intending to think it all
over again. He was beginning to hate
that doctor; he would have chafed at the
idea of any bachelors being before him
in an acquaintance with Gladys Maitland,
but a married man knowing her so well
as to make his wife jealous and himself
Indifferent to that fact-knowing her so
we'll as to drive "such lovely woman,
too" into taking her children and quit
ting the marital roof-that was too much
of bad thing. and Perry was sore dis
comf1ted. He got up, impatient and rest
less, passed out to the little piazza In
front of his quarters, and began pacing
up and down, the glow from his corncob
pipe making a fiery trail in the darkness.
He would have been glad to go back to
the colonel and keep watch with him;
but there was one thing connected with
his visit to Dunraven that he could not
bear to speak of, especially as those
words of Mrs. Lawrence required again
and again to his memory. He had not
said one word-he did not want to tell
of Gladys Maitland.
And so it happened that Perry, too,
was awake and astir when the footsteps
of the cavalry sergeant were heard on
their way to Capt STRIKERS quarters.
Listening, he noted that the soldier had
l.. ~, l,NI1 iof
versation with that officer, and then
turned back across the parade. Instant
lv divining that news had come of Sergt.
Gwynne, Perry seized his forage cap and
hurried in pursuit. He overlook the
trooper just beyond the guard house and
went with him eagerly to the stables. A
moment more, and he was bending over
a soldiers bedside in little room adjoin-
ing the forage shed and by the light of a
dim stable lantern looking down into the
bruised and battered features of the non
commissioned officer, whom he had pro-
nounced of all others at Rossiter the
most respected and highly thought of by
the cavalry garrison.
Sergeant, I'm very sorry to see you
SO badly mauled." said Perry. How on
earth did it happen?
! Gwynne turned his head painfully until
| the one unbandaged eye could look about
and see that none of the stable guard
were within hearing. then back again and
up into the sympathetic face of his young
| superior
Lieutenant, | must tell you and the
captain; and yet it is il matter | pro-
foundry wish to keep as secret as pos
sible-the story of my days adventure, !
mean
"You need not tell me at all if you do
not wish to-" said Perry; Though l
think it is due to yourself that the cap
tain should know how it was you were
gone ali day and that your horse and you
both came bach in such condition"
81 understand, sir, fully" answered
Gwynne, respectfully. 81 shall tell the
captain the whole story, if he SO desire.
Meantime, can only ask that no one
else be told If the men in the troop had
an inkling of the true story there would
be endless trouble; and SO l have tried to
account for it by saying my horse and !
had an ugly fall while running coyote
through the timber. We did see a CO.
vote, down near the ranch on the Monee,
and did have an ugly fall: | was set
upon by three of those ranchmen and
badly handled"
"Yes, damn theml" said Perry, ex.
citedly and wrathfully. I've had an
l 10 RI iOhf
while we were searching for you"
so much the more reason, sir, why
my mishap should not be told among the
men. The two affairs combined would
be more than they would stand. There
are enough Irishmen here in our troop
alone to go down and wipe that ranch
0ut Of existence; and fear trouble as it
staIsds.
whether there will be trouble or not
viii depend very much On the future
conduct of the proprietor and manager
down there. Of course we cannot toll
crate for an instant the idea of their
maintaining a gang of rufians there who
are allowed to assault officers or men
who happen to ride around that neigh
borhood You were not inside their
limits. were your"
Eyes, sir" said the sergeant, pain
fully, II was; had tied my horse out
side and ventured in to get nearer
look at the buildings"
What time did it happen?
This morning, sir; not more than an
hour and half after you spoke to me in
the valley"
Indeed! Then you must have lain
there all dayl Why, Gwynne. this will
lnarnr do I'll 90 and get the slIrCeOn