The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1891-01-15

but there was one sa,.ag Coc,ssx,.<su ~s.ss
his Wait 10 Dunravon that hs coald not
bear 20 speak Of. especially a. tAose
words Of Mira Lawrence REQUIRED again
and again 70 his memory. He had noe
said one word-he did nos want 10 tall
Of Gladys Maitland
And 90 it happened that rerrc, too,
was awake and astir when the footsteps
Of the cavalry sergeant were heard On
their way to Capt Ssryker's quartcrs.
Listening. he noted that tho soldier had
halted at tho colonel's, held brief con-
versation with that officer, and thon
turned back across tho parade Instant
ly divining that news had come of 6err<
Gwynne. Perry seized his forage cap and
hurried In pursuit He overlook the
trooper just beyond the guard house and
went with him eagerly TO the stables. A
moment more, and he was banding over
a soldiers bedside In little room nd Join
ing the forage shed and by the light Of q
dim stable lantern looking down into the
bruised and battered fexsures Of the non-
commissioned officer. whom he had pro-
nounced Of all others at Rossitc. the
most respected and highly thought Of by
the cavalry garrison.
Sergeant, Tn very sorry 10 see you
50 badly mauled." said Perry. "Hcw on
earth did It happeny'
Gwynne turned his head painfully until
the one unbandaged eye could look about
and see that nope of the stable guard
were within hearing, then back again and
up into the sympathetic face Of his young
superior.
"Leutenapt, must taI. you and the
captain; and yet IL is u matter I pro-
foundiy wish to keep a. secret as pos
sible-the story Of my days adventure.
mean"
"You need not tell mo at oil II you do
pot wish to- said Perry; though
think 1t is due to yourself that the cap
tain should know how 1t was you were
gone all day and that your horse and you
both came back in such condition"
81 understand, sir. fully" answered
Gwynne, respectfully. II shall tell the
captain the whole story, II he 90 desire.
Meantime, can only ask that no one
else be told. II the men In the troop had
an inkling Of the true story there would
be endless trouble; and 90 have tried to
account for it by saying my horse and
had an ugly fall while running q coyote
through the timber. We did see a CO.
vote, down near the ranch on the Monee,
and did have an ugly fall: was set
upon by three Of those ranchmen and
badly handled"
"Yes, damn themI' said Perry, ex.
citedly and wrathfully. "r've had TN
experience with them myself tonight,
while we were searching for you
$50 much the more reason. sir, why
my mishap should not be told among tbe
men. The two affairs combined would
be more than they would stand There
are enough Irishmen here In our troop
alone to 60 down and wipe that ranch
out Of existence: and fear trouble a. it
stands"
whether there will be trouble or not
will depend very much on the future
conduct Of the proprietor md manager
down there OF course we cannot tol-
crate for an instant the idea of their
maintaining gang Of rufnans there who
are allowed to assault officers or men
who happen to ride around that neigh
borhood. You were not inside their
limits. were your
Eyes. SIR" said tho sergeant, pain
fully. II was; had tied my horse out
side and ventured In to get q nearer
look at the buildings"
What time did 1t happenY'
This morning, sir; not more than an
hour and half after you spoke TO me In
the valley"
Indeed! Then you must have lain
there all dayl Why, Gwynne. this will
never do. I'll go and get the surgeon
and have him look you all over. You
must have been brutally mauled. and
must be utterly exhausted"
Don't 60, sir" said the sergeant,
eagerly stretching forth hand cit
It isn't as you think, SIR. I have been
kindly cared for. They're not all ruff
fans down there. and the men who as.
saulted me will be fully punished. I've
been quite as well narsed and fed and
branded and bandaged as though I'd
been carried right to hospital Indeed,
don't need anything but rest. III be
all right in day."
'But think Or. Quin ought to see
you and satisfy us you are not injured.
BE satisfied. sir. The doctor has seen
me-"
"Why, but how?-wheres He was here
all day. and only went away as sunset.
He joined me at Dunraven about
o'clock, and hadn't returned when
came In. Did he find you and bring
you backr
0wynne hesitated painfully again:
"The doctor saw me this evening
down near where was hurt: but I go'
back here without his help. sir. Lieu
tenant" said the soldier, suddenly
"there are one or two things connected
with this days work that cannot tell.
Come what may, / must not speak o'
them. even to the captain.
Perry was silent q moment Then hs
kindly answered:
II do not think any one here will
press you to tell what you consider Il
might be ungrateful or dishonorable n
| you to reveal I win do what / can Il
see that your wishes are respected And
now, If you are sure ] can do nothing
for you, good night, sergeant" And the
young officer held out his hand.
"Good night. sir. = answered Gwynne
He hesitated one moment. Il was tn,
first time since he entered the service
| nearly five years before, that an of6cel
| offered him his hand It was q new ane
strange sensation. It might not be "goot
discipline" to take advantage OF it. bu
there were other reasons Gwynn.
looked up In the frank blue eyes Of hi
Lieutenant and read something there tha
told new story. Out came . hand q,
slender and shapely as that Of the yount
officer, and the two were silently ast
firmly clasped.
"How can / question him7" said PER-,
to himself as he walked slowly home
t y A.