The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1891-01-08

this night you may confidently look 7or
another visit. / say that to you also,
Mr.. Maitland. and you owe 1t to cur for.
bearancs that there has been no blood |
shed here tonight"
Old Maitland's tremulous tones were
heard but second In reply when he was |
interrupted by q coarse voice from the |
crowd OF ranchmen, by this time In
creased to nearly dozen men. Some
Of them werc gathering about Perry a
he sat In the saddle, and an applauding
echo followed the loud interruption:
'Give the swell lift, Tummy: twill
teach him better manners"
Almost instantly Perry felt his right
foot grasped and a powerful form was
bending at the stirrup. he had heard
Of the trick before. Many a time has
the London cad unhorsed the English
trooper, taken unawares, by hurting him
with sudden lift from below. But Perry
was quick and active as q cat. Seat and
saddle, too, were in his favor. He SIM
ply threw his weight ON the left foot and
his bride hand upon the pommel, let the
right leg swing over ths horses back un-
til released from the br:awny hand, then
back 1t came as he settled again in the
saddle, his powerful thighs gripping like
a wise; at the same instant, and before
his assailant could duck to earth and slip
out Of the way, he had whipped out the
heavy Colts revolver and brought its
butt with stunning crash down on the
ranchman's defenseless head.
There was instant rush and commotion
In vain old Maitland feebly piped his
protests from the veranda; In vain the
overseer seized and held back one or two
. Of the men and furiously called off the
rest. Aided by the darkness which
yelled them, the others made a simuita-
neous rush upon the young officer and
sought to drag him from his plunging
horse. Perry held his pistol high in air,
threatened with the butt the nearest as
sailant, yet loath to use further force.
He was still in the broad glare of the
parlor lights-a conspicuous mark; eager
hands had grasped his bride rein at the
very bit, and he could not break away;
and then missiles began to fly about his
devoted head, and unless he opened fire
be was helpless. While two men firmly
held Nolan by the curb, half a dozen
others were hurting from the ambush Of
darkness scattering volley Of wooden
billets and chunks of coal. He could
easily have shot down the men who held
him.
It was sore temptation, for already he
hoI or cp1 OF hxy
projectiles; but just as the manager
sprang forward and with vigorous cuffs
| induced the men to loose their hold on
his rein, there came three horsemen
charging full tilt back into the crowd,
scattering the assailants right and left;
and. this time unrebuked, Sergt. Leary
leaped from the saddle and, with rage
of fierce delight, pitched headlong into
battle with the biggest ranchman in his
way. And this was not all; for behind
them at rapid trot came other troopers,
and In moment the open space was
thronged with eager, wondering com.
rades-full half of Stryker's company
In whose overwhelming presence all
thought of promiscuous combat seemed
to leave the ranchmen. They slipped
away Ia the darkness, leaving to their
employers the embarrassment Of &C
counting for their attack.
Leary was still fuming with wrath and
raging for further battle and shouting
into the darkness fierce invective at the
vanished head of his opponent. Ht
turned on the overseer himself, and but
for Perry's stern and sudden prohibition
would have had a round with him, but
was forced to content himself with the
information conveyed to all within hear
ing that he'd flight any tin min" tht
ranch contained if they'd only come ou
where the lieutenant couldn't stop him
The troopers were making eager inquiry
as to the cause of all the trouble, and
fearing further difficulty, Perry prompt
" ordered the entire party to "fall in.
Silence and discipline we're restored In 4
moment, and as the platoon formed rani
be inquired of sergeant how they cam'
to be there. The reply was that it hat
grown so dark on the prairie that furthe
search seemed useless, Capt. Stryker ant
signals from the Cheyennes up the val
ley towards the post, and these men VIII
had been beyond Dunraven on the north
ern prairie were coming back along tn
Monee trail when they saw the light
and heard voices over at the lower shore
There they found Leary, who was excl
!, ed about something, and before they ha
Z time to ask he suddenly shouted, They I
> killin' the lieutenant. Come on, boys!
- and galloped off with his own party; 6
= they followed. Perry quietly ordere
them to leave corporal and four me
:. with him, and told the senior sergear
= TO march the others back to the post; b
n would follow in five minutes. Then
|. turned to the manager.
vi "You will have to put up with N
keeping some of my men with me,
o view of all the circumstances" he sai'
! coldly "But after this exhibition
d lawlessness on the part Of your people
!. do not propose 10 take any chances.
e want to say to you that it is my bell
II that some of those rufians you enpls
{: can tell what has become OF our missiI
D. man, and that you will do well to inve
ar tigate tonight. AS to you. Mr.. Ma
-e land" he said, turning to the old gent
IT man, who had sunk into low ea
.r chair, '.much as I regret having d
I turbed your privacy and-that OF the
d ladies Of your household, you will q
a NIT now that justice to my men and
the service demands that should rept
V my suspicious and my reception here
r the commanding officer at Fort Ros
ter"
h There was no reply.
= "I wish you good night, sir" 8.
~ Perry; but his eyes wandered in to
= lighted parlor in search of very diff
:. ent face and fornl-and still there v
,a no answer.
n The manager came back upon the