The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1890-12-18
.Iie's nat hero now

nitNA&tufAs
"Oh, as TO that, fancy I can do It as
well as anybody. II il simply because
we have to do pretty much as voa fel-
lowss-obey orders. Tho owners orders
are not aimed at you any more than any
body else. He simply wants TO be let
alone He bought this tract and settled
here because he wanted place where
he could have things his own way-sec
people whom he sent for ard nobody
else. Every man in his employ L. ex-
pected to stick TO the ranch 20 long as
he Is on the pay roll, and 10 carry out
his instructions. II he can't. he may
go.'
And your instructions are TO prevent
people getting into the ranchg'
"Oh, hardly that, you know. We don't
interfere. There's never any one to come,
as rule, and, when they do. the fence
| seems to be sufficient
AMPLY, should say; and yet were
to tell you that had business with the
proprietor and needed to ride up to the
ranch, you would open the gate yonder,
| suppose?"
NO; would tell you that the owner
was away, and that in his absence /
transacted all business for him"
well. thank you for the information
given me at all events. May I ask the
name of your misanthropical boss: You
might tell him called"
Several officers called three years
ago, but he begged to he excused"
"And what is the manner
"Mr. Maitiand-is what he is called"
Gan right. Possibly the time may
come when Mr.. Maitland viii be as
ANXIOUS to have the cavalry around him
as he is now to keep it away. But IL
you ever feel like coming up to the fort,
| just ride in and ask for me-"
| -~''I feel like it a dozen times a week,
| you know; but man mustn't quarrel
with his bread and butter. met one OF
| your fellows once on a hunt after strayed
mules, and he asked me in, but couldn't
go. Sorry, you know, and all that. but
the owner won't have it"
.'tWell, then there's nothing to do for
it but say good day to you. I'm going
back. Possibly I'll sec some of your
people up at Rossiter when they come tc
get horse shod."
GA horse shod! Why, man alive. we
shoe all our horses here!'
"Well, that fellow who rode out ol
your north gate and went up towards tn,
fort about an hour or SO ago had hi
horse shod at a cavalry forge, or I'm :
duffer."
A quick change came over the En-
glishman's face; q flush of surprise ant
anger shot up to his forehead; h
wheeled about and gazed eagerly, lower
ingly, back towards the far away build
ings.
ssHow do you know there was
What fellow did you see?' he sharpl
asked.
"Oh, don't know who he was," an
swered Perry, coolly. "He avoided M
just as pointedly as you did-gallope
to dodge me; but he came out of tina
gate on the stream, locked it after him
and went on up to the fort, and his hors
had cavalry shoes. Good day to you
my Britannia friend. Come and see u
when you get tired of prison life Ant
with a grin, Mr.. Perry turned and rod
rapidly away, leaving the other hors'
man in a brown study.
Once fairly across the Monee he an
bled placidly along, thinking of the od
situation of affairs at this great prairi
reservation, and almost regretting thu
he had paid the ranch the honor of
call Reaching the point where tt
wagon tracks crossed the stream to tt
gateway in the boundary fence, /
. reined in Nolan and looked through
! vista IN the cottonwoods. There was IL
. Enelishman, dismounted, STOPPING ovt
the ground and evidently examinin
!. the hoof prints at the gate. PER-
: chuckled at the sight, then whistlir
for Bruce, who had strayed off throue
, ), the timber, he resumed his jnunty Wa
to the post.
= In the events OF the morning the
;, were several things to give him abu
! dant cause for thought, IL not for live
curiosity, but he had not yet reachs
], the sum total of surprises in store f
him. He was still two miles out fro
: the fort, and riding slowly along Il
bottom, when he became aware Of
!. trooper coming towards him on the ira
l. The sunbeams were glinting on the pt
ished ornaments of his forage cap al
on the bright yellow chevrons OF
snugly fitting blouse. Tall and slend
!; : and erect was the coming horseman,
model of soldierly grace and carriae
and as he drew nearer and his hal
:, went up to the cap visor in salute
gesture from his young superior broug
an instant pressure on the rein, a
horse and man became an animat
:. statue. 1t was wonderfully sudd
= yet easy check of steed In rapid n
. ton, and Mr.. Perry, a capital rider hi
self, could not withhold his admiratie
:. "Where did you learn that sudd
halt, sergeant:' lie asked. II never 81
anything SO quick except the Mexic
training; but that strains horse a
throws him on his launches"
"It is not uncommon abroad. sir" W
- the quiet answer. 81 saw it first in {
. English cavalry; and it is easy to tea
= the horse"
= 81 must get you to show me the kna
. some day. I've noticed it two or thu
times, and would like to learn it. WI
stopped you for is this: You've be
stable sergeant ever since we got he
u have you not"
Yes, sir"
d .sThen if anybody besides members
sc the troop had horses shod at our foI
la you would be pretty apt to know itl"
II know that no one has, sir." Ar'
"a flush was rising to the young sergear
re face and a panied look lowering alb
se his bright blue eyes. Yet his manl
Is was self restrained and full of respect
ar Don't think I'm intimafing anythi
Ia to the contrary. Sergt- Gwynne.
Or soldier in the regiment more entir
q holds the confidence of his captain
Is an the officers-than you. was
70 thinking of that. But somebody do
III there at that big ranch below us has
his horse shod by cavalry farrier-
rncv hare been done while the Eleye