The Dickinson press., 1890-02-08
DUNRAVBN RANCH
A Story of American Frontier
Life.
By Capt CHARLES KING, U.aA,
Author OFT Co,oners Daughter" "From
the Ranks, /" "1he Deserter," Etc.
Copyrighted 1883 by J. B. Lppincott Company,
Philadelphia, and published by special arrange
ment through the American Press Association

Copyrighted 1883 by ]. D. Lppincott Company
Philadelphia, and published by special arrange
ment through the American Press Association.
That night, just after tattoo roll call,
when little group of officers was gath
cred at the colonel's gate, they were sud
denly joined by Dr.. Quin, who came
from the direction of the stable where he
kept his horse in rear of his own quar-
ters Col. Brainard greeted him warmly
and inquired after his patient at Dun
raven. Every one noted how grave and
subdued was the tone in which the doc
tor answered:
"He is very sick man, colonel, and
it is hard to say what will be the result
of this seizure"
"You may want to go down again,
doctor, if that be the case-before sick
call tomorrow. mean; and you had
better take one of my horses. I'll tell
my man to have one in readiness"
"You are very kind, sir. I think old
Brian will do all the work needed. But
would like to so down at reveille, as
we have no men in hospital at all now.
And, by the way, is Mr.. Perry here?"
II am here" answered Perry coldly.
He was leaning against the railing,
rather away from the group, listening
intently. yet unwilling to meet or hold
conversation with the man he conceived
to be so inimical to his every hope and
interest.
"Mr. Perry" said the doctor, pleas
antly. and utterly ignoring the GOODNESS
of the young fellows manner, "Mr.
Maitland has :,sked 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 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,
II 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. It was Stryker
who was talking now:
"Has the ring been found, doctor?"
"No! That is most singular thing;
and one that worries the old gentleman
a great deal. 1t had history; it be-
longed to Mrs. Maitland's father, who
was from Ireland-indeed, Ireland was
her country, as it was my father's-and
that ring she had reset for her son Archie
aad 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 tho night of
Perry's adventure there?" asked the COL
onel.
eyes. Mr.. Perry remembers having
seen it on his hand when tho old gentle
man first came down to receive him. 1t
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"
II hate to think that any of our men
would take it," said the colonel after a
pause.
II do not think any of them would,
with the idea of selling it," said Stryker;
"but here is case where it was picked
up, possibly, as one of the spoils of war.
have had inquiry made throughout the
troop, but with no result SO far. Do you
go down again tonight, doctor?'
"Not 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! Instinctively
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 moment
of perfect silence, and then Lawrence
spoke:
"Does anybody know what the signal
is?"
Certainly" said Col. Brainard,
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
doctor, used to notify Quin in that
way. He sometimes failed to see it, and
l have given orders today that the guard
should wake him when it is seen here
after"
"Then that was what those mysterious
night lights meant that we have heard SO
much about during the last three weeks?''
asked Mr.. Dana.
Certainly" answered Brainard.
"What on earth did anybody suppose
they meant?'
To this there was no response for a
moment. Then Lawrence burst out
laughing.
CHAPTER XVI,
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