The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1891-03-12

! NOAIIe INTO OuE room j moment.
want to speak to you, said Perry, after
a moments reflection
They passed along the broad gangway
between the rows of sleepy horses, some
lying down in their stalls, others still
aioot and munching at their hay. The
stable guard stood at his post and faced
them as they turned into the dark and
narrow passage leading into Gwynne's
little sanctuary. The lamps along the
ilHe Of stalls burned low and dim, and,
the ports being lowered, gave no gleam
without the walls. Once more, however,
a bright light shone from the window Of
the stable sergeant's room-brighter than
before, could they only know it. for this
time there was no intervening shade.
After his brief inspection of the lieuten-
ants face, Gwynne had left it drawn.
The sergeant set his lantern on Il
wooden desk, and respectfully waited
for his superior to speak. Perry looked
him we'll over a moment, and then be-
gan:
did you tell Capt. Stryker the partic-
ulars OF your rough treatment down
there at the ranch?''
1.-The rough treatment-yes, SIR"
''WOuld you mind telling me where
you were taken?-where you saw Dr.
Quin:'
The sergeant hesitated one moment, a
troubled look on his face His one
available eye studied his lieutenant's 8
features attentively. Something in the
frank, kind blue eyes-possibly some
sudden recollection. too-seemed to reas-
sure him.
''It was to Mr.. Cowan's little house,
sir. He interposed to save me from a
worse beating at the hands of three
brutes who were employed there and had
some grudge against this garrison OF
which | was ignorant. They attacked
me without a word of warning. 1t was
he, too, who called in DR.. Quin."
"Have you-did you see any of the
people at Dunraven besides this young
man?''
Il saw his mother, sir. She is a nurse
there, and has been in the family for
years, l am told"
Perry was silent a moment Then he
spoke again:
Have you heard any furthrer threats
among the men here since the arrest of
Sergt. Leary?'
'Gwynne hesitated, coloring painfully:
"It is something hate.to speak of, sir.
The talk has not alarmed me in the
| least"
81 know that, sergeant. All the same
we want to prevent a recurrence of that
performance, and it was that, mainly
that brought me over here. | saw some
men stealing out of NJ troops quarters
awhile ago. and lost them in the dark
ness. l thought they might be coming
over here, and-got here first"
Gwynne's face lighted up. 1t touched
him to know his officers were on the
lookout for his safety.
II have heard nothing, sir. The men
would hardly be apt to speak to me or
the subject, since the affair of the other
night What fear is simply this-that
there is an element here in the regiment
that is determined to get down there tc
the ranch and have satisfaction for the
assault that was made on you and you,
party. They need horses in order to get
there and back between midnight anc
|
plan. They failed here; now they may
trv the stables Of some other troop or the
quartermaster's Shall l warn the sen
try that there are providers out to
night?"
'Not yet. They will hardly make The
attempt while your light is burning here
What I'm concerned about just now il
this: We all know that there is deel
sympathy for Leary in the command
and it is not improbable that among thu
Irishmen there is corresponding feeling
against you. I don't like your being
here alone just now, for they know yol
are almost the only witness agains
| him.
II have thought of that, Sir" answered
Gwynne, gravely, "but want nothing
that looks like protection. The captain
has spoken of the matter to me, and h.
agreed, sir, that it would do more harm
than good. There is one thing I woul'
ask-if may trouble the lieutenant
"What is it, sergeant?"
|. "Ihave little packet, containing som
papers and trinket or two, that / woul.
like very much to have kept safely, and
if anything should happen to me, t
have you, sir, and Capt. Stryker open it
and-the letters there will explain every
thing that is to be done"
Certainly. I will take care of it fo
you-if not too valuable
"Iwould rather know it was with you
sir. than stow it in the quartermaster'
safe" was Gwynne's answer, as b
> | II, ot% %Io
} Of his bunk, and, after rummaging
moment, drew forth a parcel tied AM
sealed. This he handed to the lieutenant
"Now will go back and notify tn
/ officer Of the guard of what. hav
seen," said Perry; land want Nolan
saddled, over at my quarters right afte
morning stables. VIII you see to it?"
''I will, sir. and thank you for you
, kindness"
} All was darkness, all silence and peac
; as Perry retraced his steps and wen
back to the garrison, carrying the littl
packet in his hand. He went direct t
the guard house, and found Mr.. Graham
sulky over being disturbed in his snooz
by the sentry's challenge.
''What the devil are you owlin
around this time of night forT' was tn
not unnatural question. 81 thought
was the officer of the day, and nearl
broke my neck in hurrying out here"
, But Perry's brief recital of the fac
that he had seen some men stealing ou
of the quarters of n troop in their stock
ing feet or moccasins put an end to Gra
hams complaints. Hastily summonin
the sergeant of the guard, he started ou
to make the rounds of his sentries, Will
Perry carried his packet home, locked
in his desk, and then returned to tn
veranda to await developments.
: Sergt. Gwynne, meantime, havin
lighted his young officer to the stabl
i door, stood there few moments, lool
ing over the silent garrison and listenin
, to the retreating footsteps. The sentr
came pacing along the front of the st;
4 -,