Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-05-15

go. Sorry, you know, and all that, but
the owner won't have it.
"Well. then there's nothing to do for
It but say good day to you I'm going
hack. Possibly I'll see some of your
people up at Rossiter when they come to
get horse shod."
"a horse shodl Why. man alive, we
shoe all our horses hereI"
"Well, that fellow who rode out of
your north gate and went uptowards the
fort about an hour or so ago had his
horse shod at a cavalry forge, or I'm a
duffer"
A quick change came over the En-
glishman's face; flush of surprise and
anger shot up to his forehead he
wheeled about and gazed eagerly, lower
ingly. back towards the far away build
ings.
"How do you know there was
What fellow did you seer" he sharply
asked.
"Oh, | don't know who he was" an
swered Perry, coolly He avoided me
just as pointedly as you did-galloped
across the Monee and out on the prairie
to dodge me: but he came out of that
gate on the stream. locked it after him,
and went on up to the fort, and his horse
had cavalry shoes. Good day to you
my Britannia friend Come and see us
when you get tired of prison life" And,
with a grin, Mir. Perry turned and rode
rapidly away leaving the other horse
man in a brown study
Once fairly across the Monee he am
bled placidly along, thinking of the odd
situation of affairs at this great prairie
reservation, and almost rrgretting that
he had paid the ranch the honor of a
call Reaching the point where the
wagon tracks crossed the stream to the
gateway in the boundary fence, he
refined in Nolan and looked through n
vista in the cottonwoodS. There was the
Englishman. d:smourRed. STOPPING over
the ground and evidently examining
tho hoof prints at the gate. Perry
chuckled at the sight, then whistling
for Bruce, who had strayed off through
the timber, he resumed his jaunty wcS
to the post
In the events of the morning there
were several things to give him abun-
dant cause for thought, if not for lively
curiosity, but he had not yet reached
the sum total of surprises in store for
him. He WAS still two miles out from
the fort, and riding slowly along the
bottom, when he became aware of q
trooper coming towards him on the trail.
The sunbeams were glinting on the pol
iShed ornaments of his forage cap and
on the bright yellow chevrons of his
snugly fitting blouse. Tall and slender
and erect was the coming horseman, a
model of soldierly grace and carriage,
and as he drew nearer and his hand
went up to the cap visor i'll salute a
gesture from his young superior brought
an instant pressure on the rein, and
horse and man became an animated
statue. 1t was wonderfully sudden
yet easy check of steed in rapid mo-
ton. and Mr. Perry. capital rider him.
self, could not withhold his admiration.
Where did you learn that sudden
halt, sergeant" he asked. Il never saw
anything so quick except the Mexican
training; but that strains a horse and
throws him on his launches"
at is not uncommon abroad, sir" was
the quiet answer. 81 saw it first in the
English cavalry; and it is easy to teach
the horse"
81 must get you to show me the knack
some day. I've noticed it two or three
times, and would like to learn it. What
stopped you for is this: You've been
stable sergeant ever since we got here,
have you not?",
"Yes, sir"
Then If anybody besides members Of
the troop had horses shod at our forge
you would be pretty apt to know it,"
81 know that no one has, SIR" And a
flush was rising to the young sergeant's
face and panied look lowering about
his bright blue eyes. Yet his manner
was self restrained and full of respect.
Don't think I'm intimating anything
to the contrary, Sergt. Gwynne. No
soldier in the regiment more entirely
holds the confidence of his captain-of
all the ofieers-than you. was not
thinking of that. But somebody down
there at that big ranch below us has had
his horse shod by cavalry farrier-it
may. have been done while the Eleventh
were here-and, while knew you would
not allow it at our forge, thought il
possible that it might be done in your
absence"
ats the first time I've been out Of
sight of the stables since we came to the
post, sir, and the captain gave me per-
mission to ride down the valley this
morning May ask the lieutenant why
he thinks some ranchman is getting his
shoeing done here at the postT'
I've been down there this morning,
and met man coming up. He avoided
me, and rode over to the south side, and
so excited my curiosity; and as they
keep that whole place inclosed in wire
fence, and he had evidently come out of
the north gate. was struck by the
sight Of the hoof prints; they we're per-
fectly fresh there ON the trail. and plain
as day There's no installing the shoe,
you know BY the way. he rode up to
the fort, and probably entered at your
side OF the garrison; did you see him7"
mo, sir, and, except for breakfast
lust after reveille-I have been at stables