The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1900-02-16

are not aimed ut youan more than any.
body rls" lie simply wants to be let
alone. lie bought this tract and settled
here because he wanted place whcru
he could have things his own way--sea
people when he sent for and nobody
else, Every man in his employ is ex-
pcctcd to stick to the ranch SO long as
he is on the pay roll, and to carry out
go
And your instructions are to prevent
people getting into the rahch!"
"Oh, hardly that, you know. We don't
interfere. There's never any one to como,
as rule, and. when they do, the fence
seems to be sufficient"
"Amply, | should say; and yet were |
to tell you that | had business with the
proprietor and needed to ride up TO the
ranch. You would open the gate yonder,
! supposc:'
NO: | would tell you that the owner
was away, and that in his absence !
transacted all business for him."
well, thank you for the information
given me at all events. May ask the
name of your misanthropical boss7 You
AlRht tell him called
Several ,fiiccrs called three years
ago, but he ocggcd TO be excused"
"And what is the nanle:'
"Nr. Maitland-is what he ia called"
"An right. Possibly the time may
come when Mr.. Maitland will be rs
ANXIOUS to have the cavalry around him
a. he is now to keep it away. But If
f,nl Ii, 10 IN I,o e..
Just ride in and ask for me-
II feel liko it dozen time, a week,
you know; but man mustn't quarrel
with his bread and butter met one of
your fellows once on n hunt after straycd
mules, and he asked me in, but couldn't
go. Sorry, you know, and all that, but
the owner wont have ID"
"Well, then there's nothing TO do for
it but say good day to you. I'm going
back. Possibly I'll SEQ some Of your
people up at Rossiter when they como 10
get horse shod."
"a horse shod! Why. man alive. we
shoe all our horses hcre!"
"Well, that fellow who rode out of
your north gate and went up towards the
fort about All hour or 80 ago had his
duGer."
a quick change came over tho En-
glishmans face; flush Of surprise and
anger shot up to his forehead; he
wheeled about and gazed eagerly, lower
ingly, back towards the far away build
ings.
How do you know there was-
What fellow did you seer" he sharply
asked.
"Oh, don't know who he WAS" an
owcrcd Perry, coolly. He avoided me
just as pointedly as you did -galloped
across the Monee and out on the prairie
to dodge me; but he came out ct that
gate on the stream. locked 1t afte" him,
and went on up to the fort, and his horse
had cavalry shoes. Good day to you,
my Britannia friend. Come and see us
when you get tired Of prison life" And,
with a grin, Mr.. Perry turned and rode
rapidly away, leaving the other horse-
man in u brown study.
Once fairly across the Monee he am.
bled placidly along, thinking Of the odd
situation Of affairs at this great prairie
reservation, and almost regretting that
he had paid the ranch the honor of a
call. Reaching the point where the
wagon tracks crossed the stream to the
gateway In the boundary fence, ha
reincd in Nolan and looked through
vista in the cottonwoods. There was tho
Englishman. dismounted, stopping over
the ground and evidently examining
the hoot prints at the gate. Perry
chucklcd ut the sight, then whistling
for 4 l..
the timber. he resumed his jaunty way
to the post
In the events Of the morning there
were several things to give him abun.
dant canr' for thought. II not for lively
curiosity. hut Ia had not yet reached
the sum total Of surprises in store for
him. He was still two miles out from
the fort. and riding slowly along the
bottom. when he became aware Of a
trooper coming towards him on the trail.
The sunbeams were ghnting on the pol.
ished ornaments OF his forage cap and
on the bright yellow chevrons Of his
snugly fitting blouse. Tall and slender
and erect was the coming horseman, a
model OF soldierly grace and carriage,
and as he drew nearer and his hand
went mp to the cap visor in salute O
gesture from his young superior brought
an instant pressure on the rein, and
horse and man became an animated
statue. |, was wonderfully sudden
yet easy check Of steed in rapid mo-
ton, and Mr.. Perry, a capital rider him.
self. could not withhold his admiration.
"Whrr" did you learn that sudden
halt, sergeant" he asked. Il never saw
anything so quick except the Mexican
training; but that strains a horse and
throws him on his launches"
at is not uncommon abroad, sir," was
the quiet answer. II saw It. fret in the
English cavalry: and it is easy to teach
the horse.
II must get you to show me the knack
some day. I've noticed it two or three
times. and would like to learn it. What
/ stopped you for is this: You've been
stable sergeant ever since We got here,
have you not!'
Yes, sir