Saturday Evening Mail, Volume 20, Number 19, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 2 November 1889 — Page 2

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Perry's spirits rose with every rod. Youth, health, contentment, all were his, and his heart was warm towards his fellow men. To the best of his reckoning, he had not an enemy or detractor in tho world. He was all gladness of nature, all friendliness, frankness and cordiality. The toughest cowboy whom they met on the long march down, the most crabbed of the frontiersmen they had ever encountered, was never proof against such sunshine as seemed to irradiate his face. Ho would go out of his way at any time to meet and hail a fellow man upon the prairies, and rarely came back without knowing all about him—where he was from, where he was bound and what were his hopes and prospects. And as for himself, no man was readier to answer questions or to meet in friendliest and most jovial spirit the rough but well meant greetings of "the plains."

Being in this frame of mind to an extent even greater than his normal wont, Mr, Perry's eyes glistened, and he struck spur to hasten Nolan's stride, when, far •head, and coming towards him on the trail, he saw a horseman like himself. Being in this mood of sociability, he was something more than surprised to see that all of a sudden that horseman had

WB

UN RAVEN ANCH.

A Story oj American Frontier^jffe.

By CAPT. CHARLES KING, U. S. A.y

AUTHOR CP "THE COLONEL'S DAUGHTER," "FROM THE RANKS,"

,,rrrr^*D

R»gun in The Mall Oct. 26th. Back nnmIkts can he had at half price.

DESERTER," ETC!.

Copyrighted, 1888, by J. B. Lippmcott Company, Phllladelphla,'1a8d Published by Special Arrangement through the American Press Association.

EANT1ME Lieut. Perry •fji was riding blithely down the winding trail, totally unconscious that his movements were of the faintest consequence to •anybody but himself, and equally heedless of their being a source of speculation. His horse was one he rejoiced in,

full of spirit and spring and intelligence the morning was beautiful, just cool enough to be exhilarating his farorite hound. Bruce, went bounding over the turf under the slopes, or ranging off through '.he cotton woods along the stream, or the shallow, sandy arroyos, where the grass and weeds grew rank and luxuriant. Every now and then with sudden rush and whir a drove of prairie chickens would leap from their covert, and. after vigorous (lapping of wings for a few rods, would go skimming restftilly in long easy curve, and •settle to earth again a hundred yards away, aa though suddenly reminded of the fact that this was mating time and no gentleman would be mean enough to shoot at such a season.

Every little while, too, with prodigious kicking of dust and show of heels, with eyes fairly bulging out of his feather brained head, and tall lop ears laid flat on his back, a big jack rabbit would bound off into space, and go tearing across the prairie in mad race for bis threatened life, putting a mile between him and the Monee before he began to realize that the two quadrupeds ambling along the distant trail were obedient to the wiil of that single rider, who had no thought to spare for (fame so small. Some Indian ponies, grazing across his pathway, set back their stunted ears, and, cow like, refused to budge at sight and hearing of tho big American horse whereat a little vagabond of a Cheyenne, not ten years old nor four feet high, set up a shrill chatter and screech and let drive a few well directed clods of turf, and then showed his wliite teeth in a grin as Perry sung out a choery "Howl sonny." and spurred on through the opening thoroughfare, heedless of spiteful pony looks or threatening heels.

fellow". That ravine can't go in so very far but what be must soon show up on the level prairie and I'll bet Nolan could run him down." After moment's reflection, however, Mr. Perry concluded that as he had come so far and was now nearly within rifle shot of the mysterious goal of his morning ride, he might as well let the stranger go, and pushed ahead himself for Dunraven.

The stream bent southward just at the point where he had first caught sight of the horseman., and around that point he knew the ranch to be. Very probably that was one of the ranchmen of whom Mrs. Lawrence had spoken—churlish fellows, with a civil word for nobody, grim and repellent. Why, certainly. That accounted for his evident desire to avoid the cavalryman but he need not have been in such desperate haste—need not have kept at such unapproachable bounds, as though he shunned even being seen. That was the queer thing, thought Perry. He acted jvmt as though he did not want to be recognized. Perhaps he'd been up to some devilment at the ranch.

This thought gave spur to his speed, and Nolan, responsive to his master's mood, leaped forward along the winding trail once more. The point was soon reached and turned, and the first object that caught Perry's eye was a iong row of stakes stretching from the cottonwoods straight to the south up the gentle slope to the prairie, and indicating beyond all question the presence there of a stout and high and impassable wire fence. There are few things the cavalryman holds in meaner estimate. "That marks the western limit," thought Perry to Mmself, "and doubtless reaches miles away to the Bouth, from what I hear. Now, where does one enter?"

A little farther on he came upon a trail leading from the low bluffs to his left hand. It crossed the winding bridle path on which he rode, though some of the hoof tracks seemed to join, and wheel tracks too. He had marked that between the fort and the point no sign of wheel appeared it was a hoof trail and nothing more. Now a light and little traveled wagon track came in from the north, and while one branch seemed to cross the Monee and to ascend the opposite slopes close along the wire fence, the other joined him and went on down the stream. This he decided to follow.

A ride of a few hundred yards brought him to a point where a shoulder of bluff twisted the trail well in towards the stream, and he, thinking to cross and reoonnoiter on the other shore, turned NoIan in that way, and was suddenly brought up standing by the heaviest and most forbidding wire fence he had ever seen. Yes, there it stretched away through the cotton woods, straight as a die, back to the angle whence started the southward course he first had noted, and, looking down stream, far as the eye could reach, he marked it. "Well," thought Perry, "I've often heard an Englishman's house was his castle, but who would have thought of staking and wiring in half a county— half a Texas county—in this hoggish way? How far down is the entrance, anyhow?"

Following the trail, he rode clown stream a full half mile, and still there seemed no break. Nowhere on the other shore was there sign of bridle path leading up the slopes. Turning to his left in some impatienoe, he sent Nolan at rapid lope across the intervening "bottom,'' and soon reached the bluffs, which rose perhaps forty or fifty feet above the stream. Once on the crest, the prairie stretched before him northward, level as a floor, until it met the sky but it was southward he longed to look, and thither quickly turned. Yes, there it lay—Dunraven Ranch, in all its lonely majesty. From where he gazed the nearest building stood a good long mile away. That it was the homestead he divined at once, for a broad veranda ran around the lower story, and white curtains were visible at the dormer windows of the upper floor. Back of it and on the eastern flank were other buildings, massive looking, single storied affairs, evidently stables, storehouses and corrals. There was a tall windmill there—an odd sight in so remote a region—and a big water tank.

Blunged through the timber and across That, then, was his horseman, once more the stream, and in another moment, going fort-wards in» valley,after havveer, that way himself to eee, Perry ing made a three or iuir mile detour to marked him fairly racing into the mouth avoid him. "Now, what sort of a Chrisof a shallow ravine, or "break, that en- tian is that fellow?" thought Perry, at

tered the valley from there he was tost to sight. "What an 01 mannewd B»lootr^ his muttered comment brief chance to wop /JJJ

while

ranch

Perry wondered how it ever got there. Then at the southwest angle was a building that looked like an office of some

reined in—a mere hlncfc dot a mile away —«uad was presumably examining him as kind. He could see horses tethered there, he advanced. Hostile Indians thotv had and what seemed to be human figures been noue for many a long mouth, "road moving about. Beyond it all, to the agents" would have starved in a region east ami south, were herds of gracing where there practically were no roads, cattle, and here and there in the dim discow boys might, and did, get on frolics tance a horseman moved over the praiand have wild "tears" at times, I

frolics

and have wild "tears" at times, but who ever heard of their being hostile, man to man? Yet Perry was plainsman enough to tell, even at the milo of distance, that the stranger had halted solely to acruiihim, and, next, to Ms vast astonishment, that something in his appearance had proved either alarming or suspicious, for the horseman bad tamed abruptly

rie. This reminded him of the stranger who had given him the slip and he gaxed westward in search of him.

Far up the valley, between him and the distant post, he oonld plainly see a black object just descending the slopes from the southern prairie to the stream. Not another was in sight that his practiced eye did not know to be cattle.

and .... he gazed at the dis to the fart, 1 out who be is. anvil k*

^JJLmtn thedirwuoo taken 1 ing through fy the cotacroea the half a atlnd tot* woods, slaking ana thirst at a litby the shy horsemsiL tie pool in tho stream, theo, after to drop the

and put out after taa* i*** we ana uxm, are*

speck. "Going thunder! IH find Not Fm. going

to the ranch. Down the slopes he ml winding trail 1—-e

Down the rrtted.peer-

siliflfr '.

another long iialf mile, he came to a sudden turn to the right. The road dipped and twisted through the stream bed, rose to the other side, wouajjil through the cotton w&ods and then out on the open &rf. Huzza! There it J^retched up the llopesi&traight away for t6e south, straight through a broad gpp between two heavy gate posts standing on the stake line of that rigid fence. Nolan broke into a brisk canter and gave a neigh of salutation Perry's eyes glistened with anticipation as he bent over his charger's neck, keenly searching the odd looking structure growing on his vision as they neared the fence. Then, little by little, Nolan's eager stride shortened and grew choppy. Another moment, and horse and rider reined up short in disappointment. Between the gate posts 8wring a barrier of cobweb lightness, slender and airy as spider ever wove, but bristling with barbs, stiff as "bullfinch" and unyielding as steel. One glance showed Perry that this inhospitable gate was firmly locked.

For a moment he sat in saddle, studying the situation, while Nolan poked his head over the topmost strand of wire and keeping at respectful distance from the glittering barbs gazed wistfully over the inclosed prairie in search of comrade quadruped who could tell him what manner of place this was. Meantime his rider was intently eying the heavy padlock that was secured on the inner side of the gate. It was square in shape, massive and bulky—something utterly unlike anything he had ever seen among the quartermaster's stores. Dismounting and holding Nolan well back from the aggressive fence with one hand, he gingerly passed the other through the spike fringed aperture and turned the padlock so as to get a better view. It was of English make, as he surmised, and of strength sufficient to resist anything short of a trip hammer. Evidently no admission was to be gained here, he reasoned, and yet it was through here that that horsemen had come but an hour before. Here were the fresh hoof prints iu the trail, and it was evident that the rider had dismounted, opened the gate, led his horse through, closed and fastened it, then remounted and ridden away. Perry was plaibsman enough to read this from the hoof prints. Studying them carefully, a look of surprise came into his face he bent down and closely examined the two or three that were most clearly defined upon the trail, then gave a long whistle as a means of expressing his feelings and giving play to his astonishment. "Johnny Bull holds himself too high and mighty to have anything to do with us blarsted Yankees, it seems, except when be wants his horses shod. These shoes wore set at the post blacksmith shop, or I'm a duffer." was the lieutenant's verbal comment. "Now, tfow was it done without the quartermaster's knowing it? That's the cavalry shoe!"

Pondering over this uniooked for revelation, Mr. Perry once more mounted and turned his disappointed steed again dou stream. At last, full half a mile farther on, he saw that a wire fence ran southward again across the prairie, as though marking the eastern boundary of the homestead inclosure, and conjecturing that there was probably a along that fence and an opening through, even if the southeastward line should be found fenced still farther, he sent Nolan through the Monee to the open bank on the northern side, canterijd along until the trail turned abruptly southward, and, following it, found himself once more at the fence just where the heavy corner post stood deeply imbedded in the soil Sure enough, here ran another fence straight up the gentle slope to the south, a trail along its eastern side, and a broad cattle gap, dusty and tramped with the hoofs of a thousand steers, was left in the fenoe that, prolonged down stream, spanned the northern boundary. Inside the homestead lot all was virgin turf.

fGRRE HAUTE SATURDAY EVENING MAIL

traif fi

Following the southward trail, Perry rode briskly up the long incline. It was east of this fence he had seen the cattle herds and their mounted watchers. He was far beyond the ranch buildings, but felt sure that once well up on the prairie he could have an uninterrupted view of them and doubtless meet some of the ranch people and satisfy himself what there was in the stories of their churlish and repellent demeanor. The sun was climbing higher all this time, and he, eager in pursuit of his reconnoissance, gave little heed to fleeting minutes. If fair means could accomplish it, he and Nolan were bound to have acquaintance with Dunraven Ranch.

Ten minutes' easy lope brought him well up on the prairie. There—westward now—was the mysterous clamp of brown buildings, just as far away as when he itood, baffled and disappointed, by the gateway on the Monee. Here, leading away towards the distant buildings, was a bridle path. Here in the fence was a gap just such as he had entered on the stream, and that gap was barred and guarded by the counterpart of the first gate and firmly secured by a padlock that was the other's twin. Mr. Perry's comment at this point of his explorations was brief and characteristic, if not objectionable. He gave vent to the same low whistle, half surprise, half vexation, that had comforted his soul before, bat supplemented the whistle with the unnecessary remark: "Well, FD be damned!"

Even Nolan entered ttfs protest against such incredible exclusive***. Thrusting his lean head far over the topmost wires, as before, he signaled long and shrill— a neigh that would have caught the ear of any horse within a mile—and then, all alert, he waited for an answer. It floating on the rising wind, a responsive cadi, a signal as eager and confident as his own, and Nolan and Nolan's rider whirled quickly around to see the source from whence it rose. Four hundred yards away, just appearing over a little knoll in the prairie, and moving towards them from the direction of a tUFfr**"** clump of grazing ca&ie, another horse and rider came trotting into hailing distance and Pent, his bright blue eyes dilating, and Nolan, his dainty, sensitive ywrs pricked^ forward, turned

promptly to meet and greet the new rivalsFor fifty yards or so the stranger rode confidently and at rapid trot. Perry smilingly watched the outturned toes, the bobbing, "bent over" seat, and angular elbows that seemed so strange and gutfif place oh the broad Texan pl^in. He could almost see the "crop" in'the free hand, and was smiling to himself at the idea of a "crop" to open wire gates, when he became aware of the fact that the stranger's mien had changed confidence was giving place to hesitancy, and he was evidently checking the rapid trot of his horse and throwing his weight back on the cantie, while his feet, thrust through to the very heels in the gleaming steel stirrups, were braced in front of the powerful shoulders of the bay. The horse wanted to come, the rider plainly wanted to stop. Another moment, and Perry could see that the stranger wore eyeglasses and had just succeeded in bridging them on his noee and was glaring at him with his chin hiffh in air. They were within two hundred yards of each other by this time, and to Perry's astonishment, the next thing the stranger did was to touch sharply his horse with a barbed heel, whirl him spitefully about, and go bobbing off across the prairie at lively canter, standing up in his stirrups, and bestriding his steed as though his object were not so much a ride as gauie of leapfrog.

It was evident that he had caught sight of Perry when Nolan neighed, had ridden at once to meet him. expecting to find some one connected with the ranch, and had veered off in disgust the moment he was able to recognize the uniform and horse equipments of the United States cavalry.

CHAPTER IV.

F-V

WEET tempered a fel low as Mr. Perry confessedly was, there was something in the stranger's conduct that galled him inexprea-

».£' sibly. From his hand-

•ime mount/his garb apd lii.s general appearance, Perry set this stranger down as one) of the Englishmen residing at the ranch. It was not fear of arrest and capture that sent him scowling away across the prairie it was deliberate intent to avoid, and this was, to Perry's thinking, tantamount to insult. One moment he gazed after the retreating form of the horseman, then clapped his forage cap firmly down upon his head, 6hook free the rein and gave Nolan the longed for word. Another instant, and with set teeth and blazing, angry eyes he was thundering at headlong speed, swooping down upon the unconscious stranger in pursuit. Before that sunburned, curly haired, bnlkily framed young man had the faintest idea of what was impending, Mr. Perry was reining in his snorting steed alongside and cuttingly accosting him:,

I beg your pardon, my1 good sir, bu* may I ask what you mean by trotting away when it must have been evident that I wanted to speak with you?"

The stranger turned slightly and coolly eyed the flushed and indignant cavalryman. They were trotting side by side now, Nolan plunging excitedly, but the English horse maintaining his even stride and stronger contrast of type and style one could scarcely hope to find. In rough tweed shooting jacket and cap, brown Bedford cords fitting snugly at the knee but flapping like shapeless bags from there aloft to the waist, in heavy leather gaiters and equally heavy leather gloves, the stocky figure of the Englishman had nothing of grace or elegance, but was sturdy, strong, and full of that burly self reliance which is so charaoterestic of the race. Above his broad, stooping shoulders were a bull neck, reddened by the sun, a crop of close curling, light brown hair, a tanned and honest face lighted up by fearless gray eyes and shaded by a thick and curling beard of lighter hue than the hair of his massive head.

He rode with the careless ease and supreme confidence of the skilled horseman, but with that angularity of foot and elbow, that roundness of back and bunching of shoulders, that incessant rise and fall with every beat of his horse's powerful haunch, that the effect was that of neither security nor repose. His saddle, too, was the long, flat seated, Australian model, pig skin, with huge rounded leathern cushions circling in Iront and over the knees, adding to the cumbrousness of his equipment and in no wise to the comfort but his bit and curb chain were of burnished steel, Rooming as though fresh from the hands of some incomparable English groom, and the russet reins were soft and pliable, telling of excellent stable management and discipline. Perry couldn't help admiring that bridle, even in his temporary fit of indignation.

As for him—tall, slender, elegantly ^iU, clothed in the accurately fitting undress "Mouse" of the army and in ridbig breeches that displayed to beet advantage the superb molding of his powerful thighs, sitting like centaur well down in the saddle, his feet and lower tags, cased In natty riding boot®, swinging close in behind the gleaming shoulders of his steed, erect as on parade, yet swaying with every motion of his horse, graceful, gallant, and to the full as powerful as his burly companion, the advantage in appearance was all on Perry's and was heightened by Nolan's

spirited action ana martial trappings. Perry was an exquisite in his soldier taste, and never, except on actual campaign, rode his troop horse without his broidered saddle cloth and gleaming bosses^ All this, and more, the Englishman seemed quietly noting as, finally, without the faintest traoe of irritability, with even'a silspicion of humor twinkling about the corners of his mouth, he replied: "A fellow may do as he likes when he's on his own bailiwick, I suppose." "All the same, wherever I've been, from here to Assiniboia, men meet like Christians, unless they happen to be road agents or cattle thieves. What's more, I am an officer of a regiment just arrived here, and, from the Missouri down, there isn't a ranch along our trail where we were not welcome and whose occupants were not 'hail fellow well met' in our camps. You are the first people to shim us: and, as that fort yonder was built for your protection in days when it was badly needed, 1 want to know what there is about its garrison that is so obnoxious to Dunraven Ranch—that's what you call it, I believe?" "That's what—it is called." "Weil, here! I've no intention of intruding where we're not wanted. I simply didn't suppose that on the broad prairies of the west there was such a -place as a ranch where one of my cloth was unwelcome. I am Mr. Perry, of the —th cavalry, and I'm bound to say I'd like to know what you people have against us. Are you the proprietor?" "Fm not. I'm only an employe." "Who is tho owner?'"*#!'1

4

"He's not here now." "Who is here who can explain the situation?" "Oh, as- to that, I fancy I can do it as well as anybody. It is simply because we have, to do pretty much aa you fellows—obey orders. The owner's orders are not aimed at you any more than anybody else He simply wants to be let alone. He- bought this tract and settled here because he wanted a place where he could have things his own way—see people whom he sent for and nobody else. Every man in his employ is expected to stick to the ranch so long as he is on the pay roll, and to carry out his instructions. If he can't, he may go." i"And ydur instructions are to prevent people getting into the ranch?" "Oh, hardly that, you know. We don't interfere. There's never any one tocome, as a rule, and, when they do, the fence seems to be sufficient." "Amply. I should say and yet were 1 to tell you that I had business with the proprietor yid needed to ride lip to the ranch, you would open the gate yonder. 1 suppose?" •No 1 would tell you that the owner was away, and that in his absence 1 transacted all business for him." "Well, thank you for the information given ma at all events. May I ask the name of your misanthropical boss? You tuicht tell him I called." "Several officers called three years ago, but he begged to be excused." "And what is the nanie?" "Mr. Maitland—is what he i»called." "All right. Possibly the tim* may (mup when Mr. Maitland will be as anxious to have the cavalry around him as he is now to keep it away. But if you ever feel like coming up to the fort, just ride in and ask for me." "I feel like it a dozen times a week, 70U know but a man mustn't quarrel with his bread and butter. I met one of your fellows once on a hunt after strayed mules, and he asked me in, but I couldn't go. Sorry, you know, and: all that, but the owner won't have it." "\Vell, then there's nothing to do for it but say good day to you. I'm going back. Possibly I'll see some of your people up at Rossiter when they coote to get a horse shod." "A horse shodl Why, man aiiv^ we shoe all our horaee berer 1^5 "Well, that fellow who rode out your north gate and went uptowards the fort about an hour or so ago had his horse shod at a cavalry forge, or I'm a duffer."

A quick change came over the Englishman's face a flush of surprise and auger shot up to his forehead he wheeled about and gazed eagerly, lowerin gly, back towards the far away buildings. "How do you know there was— What fellow did you see?" he sharply asked. "Oh, I don't know who he was," answered Perry, coolly. "He avoided me just as pointedly aa you did—galloped across the Monee and out on the prairie to dodge me but he came out of that gate on the stream, locked it after him, and went on up to the fort, and his horse h«/i cavalry shoes. Good day to you, my Britannic 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 horseman in a brown study.

Once fairly across the Monee he ambled 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, be reined in Nolan and looked through a vista in the cotton woods. There was the Englishman, dismounted, stooping oyer the ground and evidently examining the hoof prints at the gate. Perry chuckled at the sight, then whistling for Bruce, who had strayed off through the timber, he resumed his jaunty way to the post.

In the events of the morning there were several things to give him abundant cause for thought, if not for lively cariosity, bat he 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 be became aware of a trooper coming towards him on the trail. Th** sunbeams were glinting on the polished 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 up to the cap visor in salute a gesture from his young superior brought on instant pressure on the rein, and horse and man became an animated statue. It was a wonderfully sudden yet easy check of a steed in rapid motion, and Mr. Perry, a capital rider himself, could not withhold his admiration. "Where did you learn that sudden halt, sergeant?" he asked. "I never saw anythiugso quick except the Mexican training but that strains a horse and throws him on his haunches." "It is not uncommon abroad, sir," was the quiet answer. "I saw it first in the English cavalry and it ia easy to tench the horse." |j

I

"1 must get you to show mo the knack some day. I've noticed it two or three times, and would like to learn it. What I stopped you for is this: You've been stable sergeant ever since we got here, have you not?'^, "Yes. sir." "Then if anybody besides members of the troop had horses shod at our forge you would be pretty apt to know it?" "I know that no one has. sir." And a flush was rising to the young sergeant's face and a pained look hovering about his bright blue eyes. 'Yet his manner was self restrained and full of respect.

Don't think I'm intimating anything to the contrary, Sergt. Gwynne. No soldier iu the regiment more entirely holds the confidence of his captain—of all the officers—than you. I was not thinking of that. But somebody down there at that big ranch below us lias had his horse shod by a cavalry farrier—it may have been done vvliile the Eleventh were here—and, while 1 knew you would not allow it at our forge, 1 thought it possible tliat it might be done in your absence." "It's the first time I've been out of sight of the stables since we came to the post, sir, and the captain gave me permission to ride down the valley this morning. May I ask the lieutenant why lie thinks some rauchman is getting his shoeing done here at the post?" "I've been down there this morning, and meta man coming up. Ho avoided me, and rode over to the south side, and so excited my curiosity and as they keep that whole place inclosed hi a wire fence, and he had evidently come out of the north gate, 1 was struck by the sight of the hoof prints they were perfectly fresh there on the trail, and plain as day. There's no mistaking the shoe, you know. By the way, he rode up to the fort, and probably entered at your side of the garrison did you see him?" "Noj sir, and, except fbr breakfast— just after reveille—I have been at stables all the morning. 1 was there when the lieutenant got his horse." "Yes, I remember. Then no- one rode in from the valley?' "No civilian^—no- ranchman', sir. The only horsemen I've seen were some Cheyenne scout* during, the last two hours, and Dr. Quiix—just before sick call "Dr. Quini—the post surgeont Are you sure, sergeant?" "Certainly, sir. Tho doctor rod® Into the post Just about an hour.after the lieutenant left—coming up the valley too* He went right around to his own stable, over towards the Ivospital."

A look of amaze and stupefaction w» settling on. Perry's face. Now for the first time he recalled Mrs. Lawrence's intimations with regard to the doctor, and his connection with the signal lights, Now for the first time it occurred to him that the secret of those cavalry hoof prints at the- gate was that no ranchman, but an officer of the garrison, had been the means-of leaving them there. Now for the first time it flashed upon him that th» Englishman's astonishment and concern on hearing oi those hoof tracks indicated that tho story of a mystery at Dunraven in which the doctor was connected amounted to something more than garrison rumor. Now for the flint time an explanation occurred to him of the singular conduct of the horseman who had dodged him by crossing the Monee. Never in his young life had he known the hour when he was ashamed or afraid to look any man in the eye. It stung him to think that here at Rossiter, wearing the uniform of an honorable profession, enjoying the trust and confidence of all his fellows, was a man who had some secret enterprise of which he dared not speak and of whose discovery he stood in dread. There could be little doubt that the elusive stranger was Dr. Quin, and that there was grave reason for the rumors of which Mrs. Lawrence had vaguely told him.

For a moment he sat, dazed and irresolute, Nolan impatiently pawing the turf the while then, far across the prairie and down the valley there came floating, quick and spirited, though faint with distance, the notes of the cavalry trumpet sounding "right, front into line.'* He looked up, startled. "They're out at battalion drill, sir," said the sergeant. "They marched out just as I left the stables." "Just my infernal luck again!" gaeped Perry, as be struck spur to Nolan and sent him tearing up the slope "I might have known I'd miss it!" [To be Continued.]

"If humor, wit, and honesty could save" from tne the ills flesh is heir to, what a good price they'd bring in the market. Well, twentv-flve cents will buy a panacea—Salvation Oil.

A merchant down town sells more of Dr. Bull's Cough Syrup than all other medicines together. It surely must be the best remedy for a cough, cold and other similar affections. Price 25 cents.

Kupw

This Is what you ought to have, in fact you must have it, to fully enjoy life. Thousands upon thousands of dollars are spent annually by our people in the hope that they may attain this boon. And yet it may be had by alL We guarantee that Electric Bitters, if used according to directions and the use persisted in, will bring you Good Digestion and oust the demon Dispepeia and install instead Eupepsy. We recommend Electric Bitters for Dyspepsia and all diseases of Liver, Stomach and Kidney*. Sold at 50c, and 91 per bottle by Carl Krietenstein, druggist., (4)