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

cavalry sergeant hurriedly passing his
front gate. The main searching parties
had long since come home, unsuccessful;
Lieut.. Perry had returned and malo re-
port that the people at Dunraven denied
having seen or heard anything of
Gwynne, that both proprietor and mana
ger had treated his visit as an affront
and that he had had much difficulty in
preventing fracas between his mon and
a gang of rough fellows employed at the
ranch, that Mr.. Maitland had fallen
back in a swoon, and that he had left
him to the care of DR.. Quin, who ar
rived soon after the occurrence.
The colonel had been greatly interested
and somewhat excited over the details of
Perry's adventure as that young gentle
man finally gave them, for at first he
was apparently averse to saying much
about it. Little by little, however, all
his conversation with Maitland and Even
was drawn out, and the particulars of
his hostile reception. The colonel agreed
with him that there was grave reason to
suspect some of the ranch people Of
knowing far more of Sergt. Gwynne's
disappearance than they would tell; and
finally, seeing Perry's indisposition to
talk further, and noting his preoccupa-
ton and apparent depression of spirits,
he concluded that between fatigue and
rasped nerves the young fellow would be
glad to go to bed, SO he said, kindly:
"Well, 1 won't keep you, Perry, you're
tired out I'll sit up and see the doctor
when he gets back and have talk with
him, then decide what steps we will take
in the morning. I'll send a party down
the valley at daybreak, anyway. May
offer you some whisky or bottle of
becr?''
"ThanlS you, colonel, believe not to-
night. A bath and nap will set me all
right, and I'll be ready to start out first
thing in the morning. Good night, SIR"
But Col. Brainard could not go to sleep.
The garrison had "turned in," all except
the guard and Capt. Stryker. That officer
had returned an hour after dark, and,
getting fresh horse, had started out
again, going down the south side of
the Monee to search the timber with
lanterns, the Cheyenne scouts having
reported that Gwynne's horse had come
up that way. He had been missed by
Mr.. Perry, who galloped up the trail to
catch the platoon before it reached the
post. and the colonel, now that he had
heard the iieutcnant's story, was impa-
tiently awaiting his return. Up to with
in few minutes of midnight. however,
neither Stryker nor the doctor had come;
dim lights were burning in both their
quarters and at the guard house. Every
where else the garrison seemed slirouded
in darkness. Catching sightof the yellow
chevrons as they fitted through the flood
of light that poured from his open door
way, the colonel instantly OWNED that
this must be sergeant of Stryker'stroop
going in search of his captain, and
promptly hailed him:
"What is it, sergeant? Any news::"
Eyes, sir. answered the soldier, halt
ing short. "sergt. Gwynne's come
back. was going to the captains to
report"
"IIow did he get back? Isn't he in
jured?"
"He says he's had fall, sir, and has
been badly shaken up, but he walked in. "
"Why, that's singular! Did he see
none Of the searching parties?-see none