Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-05-22

~ Perry and his little party,
F& after brisk canter down
the valley, reached the
barbed Enclosure of Dunraven, and the
young commander led uDhesitatingly to
the gateway on the northern line. A
sergeant of his troop and two private
soldiers were his escort at the moment; a
third man, by direction of Col. Brainard,
had been sent at the gallop in pursuit of
the distant speck which the orderly had
pronounced to be Dr. Quin, and the in
structions which this messenger bore
were to the effect that the post surgeon
should ride by the most direct route and
join Lieut.. Perry at the north gate of the
ranch.
In the few minutes which elapsed be-
tween the announcement of the doctor g
departure on his solitary and unexpected
ride and the arrival of the little mounted
escort, Perry had time to tell the colonel
something of the situation down the
Monee and to make rough sketch of
the Enclosure and the distant buildings.
The direction taken by the doctor, up to
the moment when the black speck dis
appeared from view in the waning light
would be very apt to lead him, if he rode
far enough, to some point on the wire
fence which SPAWNED the western limit
of Dunraven; but that point would he at
least five or six miles south of the valley
Possibly there was no gateway north of
that-certainly no trail was visible on
the prairie; but the more Fir Perry
thought of the matter as he rode away
the more was he satisfied that some
where far down that western line there
was an entrance where DR.. Quin. at
least. had the "open sesame.
Perry's ord,rs were, In case nothing
was seen or heard of Scrgt. Gwynne
while on the way thither, to enter the in
closure and make inquiries at the ranch
itself Meantime, the Cheyenne scouts
had been hastily summoned from their
lodges along the Monee just above the
post and sent scurrying forth upon the
prairie to trail the horses foot prints and
so work back as far as possible befors
darkness intcrposed. Capt. Stryker. too.
and a dozen of his best men, had mount
ed and ridden forth in long. scattered
line across the eastern plain; and these
parties were all five miles out from the
post before nightfaIl fairly hid them from
view
One thing the sergeant had to tell Mr..
Perry which confirmed him in the belief
that the sooner they got to Dunravrn the
quicker they would be at the scene of
their comrades mishap, whatever that
might prove to he lie had had no time
himself to visit the stables and examine
the wounds on the horses flank. but as
they role away from Rossiter he turned
in the saddle and called the non-commis
stoned officer to his side
"What sort of wound is it sergeant
that made the hovSe bleed so-bullet OF
knife?'
1T doesn't look like either, sir There
are several of them, Jagged scratches in
the shoulder and along the flank. like
thorns or nails
"Or barbed wire?" suggested the lieu
tenant suddenly
YES, sir, like as not; though we hadn't
thought of that. not knowing of any
fences hercabouts.
you'll see fence enough presently
That's where we'll find Sergt. Gwynne
too Let your horses out little
want to get there before dark. if posi-
BILE"
1t was dark in the timber, however, as
they rode through and refined up at the
gateway. 1t would be half an hour al
the very least. thought Perry. before the
doctor could join them, if he came at all
1t was by no means certain that the mes
senger had overtaken him, and, even if
he had, was it probable that the doctor
would be in great haste to come? His
mysterious movements of the morning,
his undoubted connection with the night
signals from the ranch, the fact that he
had given his commanding officer no
inkling whatever of these outside inter
ests. of his, all tended to make Perry dis
trustful of their post surgeon. Hewould
not speak of it to soul, or hint at the
possibility OF such thing, until he had
evidence that was indisputable, but the
young officer was sorely perplexed by
these indications of some secret and un-
lawful enterprise on the part of their
new comrade, and he doubted his SYM
pathy in the mission on which they had
been hurried forth
Dismounting to examine the gate while
still bordering this matter over in his
mind, Perry found it locked as securely
as he had left it in the morning. The
sergeant and his men dismounted, too
at low spoken word from their officer,
and stood at the heads of their painting
horses, looking in silent surprise at the
strong and impervious barrier that
crossed their track
1.-The gate is locked and the fence Inn
passable. sergeant" said Mr.. Perry.
1--WE cannot get our horses through on
over unless we hack down post or two.
You can't cut such wire as this with any
tool we've got I'll leave Nolan here
with you and go on to the ranch on foot;
it lies about half mile to the south. II
the doctor comes. he can follow me. If
do not come or send back in half an
hour from this you three come after me.
for I'll need YOU"
With that, slowly and carefully, and
not without a muttered malediction on
the singing barbs, Mr.. Perry wriggled
through between the middle wires and
finally stood within the Enclosure, read
iusting bis waist belt and holster. Then