The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1891-01-22

at sick call, and imperturbable as ever,
on the following morning, and the few
officers who were at headquarters after
guard mounting were able to affirm that
the colonel had been courteous as usual
IN his greeting to the medical officer, and
that nothing whatever had been said
about his being away 50 late the previ-
GUS evening. Capt. Stryker came homo
soon after midnight, had a brief talk
with his colonel, and went over to the
stables to inquire into Gwynne's condi-
ton before he went to bed. Parke came
into Perry's room after morning stables,
and told him, as he was yawning and
stretching in bed, that the captain had
had quite long talk with Gwynne that
morning, and that something was up"
he didn't know what. Later in the
day Perry was sent for by Col. Brainard
and found the commanding officer in
consultation with Capt. Stryker and two
other troop commanders.
At their request he repeated the story
of his adventure at Dunraven, beginning
with his instructions to the men he left
at the gate. and ending with old Matt
lands swooning; and about an hour after
he had finished he saw the adjutant with
small escort ride away down the valley,
and rightly conjectured that the colonel
had sent letter to Dunraven inquiring
into the cause of the assaults on two
members of his command. Battalion
drill kept him occupied all the morning;
garrison court convened at noon and
sat until skirmish drill began at p. 10.
and so it happened that not until near
parade did he find a moments time to
himself. He longed to see Mrs. Law
renee and question her as to the nature
of the "Dunraven stories" she had men
toned for what had been matter of
Indifference to him then had suddenly
| become of vivid interest. There were
! ladies sitting on the Lawrences' gallery,
| he could plainly see, as the cavalry Off
GERS came tramping in from afternoon
stables, but he could not hope to ask or
hear anything about matter so near
sympathetic and interested listeners. He
kept away towards his own gate, there
fore, until he saw that there, leaning on
the gate post, and apparently awaiting
him, stood DR.. Quin.
Perry would gladly have avoided the
doctor, the antagonism he was beginning
to feel for him was of character that
dial and joyous in manner as he was te
almost every man, woman and child he
met, it was all the more noticeable tina,
to the very few whom he held in dislike
or distrust his bearing was cold and re
pellent in the last degree. Something
told him the doctor was there to SPEAK
| to him about their chance meeting al
Dunraven. He did not want to speak tx
him at all, just now. Yet how could ht
hope to have these matters explained
without meeting and talk? While
the officers strolled over and stopped
most of them, in front of the group O
ladies at Lawrence's, Perry stalket
straight across the parade and the boun
Diary road, with his blue eyes fixed o,
the doctors face.
The latter was studying him as h
came, and doubtless read that expression
of GOODNESS and distrust; possibly he re
sented it. At all events, somethin,
prompted him to speak in a tone les
cordial than he had ever employed to
wards Perry-"a youngster whom
thoroughly approve of" as he said be
fore he had known him a week. Stil
leaning on the gate post, and resting hi
head on his hand, the doctor began:
''Mr. Perry, l have been to see yo'
twice today, but could not find you, an
wanted to speak with you on matte
of some Importance"
"You could have found me on drill Q
the court, if anything immediate wa
needed. I have been nowhere else, eA
/, cept to stables" said Perry, shortly.
''It was a personal matter-a some
vbes embarrassing one-and though
s-est to see you alone.
"Well, here am, DR.. Quin; driv
ahead and let us have it"
~ wanted to ask you if, while 20
were at the ranch last night, you say
anything of large signet ring, with
crest and motto engraved on the stone.
81 did not, unless you mean the on
! Mr.. Maitland wore."
1.-The very one! You noticed that, di
your
81 noticed he had something of th
kind on his left hand when he cam
/ down."
"And 1t was nowhere to be found afte
you went away. You may remembe
you were chatting and slapping that hant
and thought you might have acciden
, ally removed it at that time"
1.-The reflection is not n pleasant ont
DR.. Quin," said Perry, with an angr
light in the blue eyes.
Pardon me, Mr.. Perry; I put it awl
wardly, but l mean no reflection wha
, ever. Miss Maitland mentioned your e
forts to restore the old gentleman to COZ
sciousness, and together we searched Il
sofa and the floor af.r- we i.aa put hi
f safely to bed and discovered the loss (
the ring. 1t is one to which he attach'
peculiar value, and its loss has preye
upon him. While know very well yo