The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1890-01-04

there loomed forth from the darkness
into the broad glare of the astrals at the
hanging portieres the figure of tall,
gray haired, spectacled, slimly built and
fragile looking Englishman, erect as
pride and high spirit could hold
man against the ravages of
age and rheumatism; sharp, stern
and imperious of mood, as every glance
and every feature plainly told; vehement
and passionate, unless twitching lips and
frowning brows and angry, swapping
eyes belied him; man who had suffered
much, unless the deep lines and shadows
under eyes and mouth meant nothing
but advancing years; man who entered
full of wrath and resentment at this in
vasion of his privacy-this forcing of his
guarded lines; and yet-a gentleman,
unless Ned Perry's instincts were all Of
little worth.
The young soldier had been standing
by center table, coolly scanning the
pictures on the walls, and determining
to present rather exaggerated picture
of nonchalance as reward for the hostile
language of the proprietor of Dunravcn.
He expected to hear an outburst of in
vectivo when that gentleman reached tho
room; but no sooner had lie passed the
portiere than he halted short, and Mr..
Perry, turning suddenly, was amazed at
the pale. startled, yet yearning look in
his quivering face.
The moment the young man confront
ed him there came as sudden change,
1t was with evident effort that he con-
trollcd himself, and then, after brief
searching study of Perry's face, accosted
him, coldly and with sarcastic emphasis:
"To what circumstance do owe the
honor Of this intrusion?"
II regret you SO consider 1t. Mr.. Matt
land, as ! believe you to be- The old
gentleman bowed with stately dignity.
"One Of our men, sergeant, rode down
this way quite early this morning and
failed to return. His horse came back
bleeding at sunset, and we feared some
accident or trouble. Searching parties
are out all over the prairies, and the
colonel ordered me to inquire here"
Does your colonel take us for ban
ditti here, and ascribe your desertions
and accidents to our machinations2"
Far from 1t, sir, but rather as hos
pitable refuge to which the injured man
had been conveyed" answered Perry,
with quiet smile, determined to thaw
the hauteur of Dunraven's lord if cour-
tesy of manner could effect 1t.
''He is utterly mistaken, then," an
swered the Englishman, land resent
! resent, sir. this forcing Of my gates
after the explicit understanding we had
last year, AS soldier l presume you
had to obey your orders; but l beg you
to tell your colonel that his order was an
affront to me personally, in view of what
has passed between u.s."
Nothing has passed between you,
Mr.. Maitland" answered Perry, little
tartly now. I'VE have reached Fort
Rossiter only within the last fortnight,
and know nothing whatever of your
understandings with previous command
ers Permit me to ask you one question
und will retire. Have you heard any.
thing of our sergeant?"
Nothing, sir. would hardly be apt to
hear, for my people here are enjoined to
keep strictly to our limits, and all we
ask of our neighbors is that they keep to
theirs. l presume you have destroyed
my fences, sir, in order to effect an en-
trance"
Upon my word, Mr.. Maitland, you
make me rather regret that I did not;
but had tho decency to respect what /
had happened to hear of your wishes,
and SO left my horse and my men out
side and footed 1t a good half mile in the
dark"-
"Ahl that sounds very like it'll" replied
Mr.. Maitland, with writhing lips, for at
this moment there came the dull thun-
der of rapidly advancing hoof beats, and
before either man could speak again
three troopers with q led horse-all four
steeds painting from their half mile race
-reined up in front of the eastern por-
tico in the full glare of the lights, and
the sergeant's voice was heard eagerly
hailing his lieutenant.
"Mrluck again!" groaned Perry. "I
told them to come in half an hour if they
didn't hear from me, and of course they
cane."