The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1890-01-22

of the young fellows manner. "Mr.
Maitland has asked to see you; and it
would crafty him if you would ride
down in the morning"
Even in the darkness Perry feared that
all would see the flush that lea ped to his
face. Summoned to Dunraven Ranch,
by her father, with a possibility of see
ing her! 1t was almost too sweet! too
thrilling! He could give no reply for a
moment, and an awkward silence fell on
the group until he chokingly answered
81 shall be glad to go. What timer
Better ride down early. Never mind
breakfast Miss Maitland will be glad
to give you a cup of coffee, fancy
And Perry felt as though the fence had
taken to waltzing He made no answer,
striving to regain his composure, and
then the talk went on 1t was Stry ker
who was talking now:
HAS the ring been found. doctor?'
mo! That is a most singular thing,
and one that worries the old gentleman
great deal. It had a history; it be-
longed to Mrs. Maitland's father. who
was from Ireland-indeed, Ireland was
her country. as it was my fathers and
that ring she had reset for her son Archie
AID gave it to him when he entered serv.
ice with the Lancers 1t was sent home
with his watch and other property from
South Africa-for he died there-and old
Maitland always wore it afterwards
Archie was the last of three sons: and it
broke his heart.
"And the ring was lost the night OF
Perry's adventure there?" asked the col
onel.
Yes. Mr.. Perry remembers having
seen it on his hand when the old gentle
man first came down to receive him. It
was missed afterwards, and could easily
have slipped off at any time, for his fin
gers were withered with age and ill
health. They have searched everywhere,
and could find nothing of it. 1t could
easily have rolled off the veranda on to
the grass during his excitement at the
time of the row, and somebody may have
picked it up-either among the ranch
men or among the troopers.
81 naUe TO think UnaG any of our men
would take it," said the colonel after a
pause.
Il do not think any of them would,
with the idea of selling it, said Stry ker;
but here is a case where it was picked
up, possibly, as one of the spoils offs war.
have had inquiry made througheutthe
troop, but with no result so far Doyou
go down again tonight, doctor?' 4o53s4
mot if can avoid it. lam going now
to try and sleep, and will not ride down
till daybreak unless signaled for Good
night, colonel; good night, all.
Unless signaled for! [nstinctively
Perry edged closer to Lawrence, who had
stood silent listener to the conversation.
and Lawrence turned and saw him and
knew the thought that must be upper
most in his mind There was a moment
of perfect silence, and then Lawrence
spoke:
Does anybody know what the signal
Isl!
Certainly said Col Bralnard
promptly He has explained the whole
thing to me. Those were signals for him
that we saw the night you were all on
my gallery 1t was an arrangement de-
vised by their old nurse-she who came
up with the carriage for Miss Maitland
the other day. She had regular old
fashioned headlight and reflector. and,
when Mr.. Maitland was so ill as to need
a doctor, used to notify Quin in that
WaV He sometimes fai1nd t0 COO if oDI