Nebraska Newspapers

    ...
y i
0. L. WILLIAMS,
Tobacco and Cigars,
Fruits and Nuts of all Kin ds
VOL. X
, V." ' .
G. L, WILLIAMS,
We are making Fresh Candies
daily. Come and see.
WORTH PLATTE, ' NEBRASKA, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 10, 1894.
NO. 1.
' 1111 1 1 '-
his
finest of all in Leavening Power. Latest U. S. Gov't Renort.
)
Baking
Powder
ABSOLIFEIY PURE
: Happy Greeting to All !
.. : Davis, the Hardware Man,
Ha just received the
Nicest Assortment of Lamps
to be found in the west. Also a nice line of silver-plated
Vk e? n4 Coffee JJotei and Teakettles; something new,
t w eombinihg' beaaif 'sfttd 'durability. We" handle the
uCOSlSr. STOVES,
cook and heating, for either soft or hard coal, which will
be sold regardless of cost for the next three weeks. Re
member we carry a full line of Hardware, Stoves and
"Tinware and would be pleased to have you call and see us.
A.L. DAVIS. - -.- , CASH STORK
Ecpairing- Promptly Executed.
Nor,th' Platte National Bank,
NORTH PLATTE,,5r:A5KA. -
I?aid up Capital. -
v
&5,000.
a
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X. X. KTnZITZ.
DinECTOKS:. Vr -: . '
O. M. CATlTKi;..-'" ? ' 1 dJw; BAKEIt
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U. OTTJiN; '.. ' - .'
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All btiAinent- in J runted to us handled promptly, caref oily, and at lowest rates.
4
LulWBE R;v
rt(
! COAL, f
AND C3rIAI3Nr.
Order by telephone from Newton's Book Store.
Dr. N. McOABE, Prop. J. E. BUSH, Manager.
NOBTH PLATTE PHARMACY,
? i f - ?. Succcfesor to J. Q. Tbacker.
NOETH PLATTE, - ISTEBilASKA.
WB AIM TO. HANDLE THE 3EST GRADE OF GOODS,
f ' : :
3ELL THEM AT REASONABLE PRICES, AND WARRANT
EVERYTHING AS REPRESENTED.
-Drders frora-tho country and- along the line of .the Unioc
- : . Pacific Railway Solicited.
tr i
ET. ,T BROE K E n
Merchant Tailor, -
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, V - "V -Sfrnce SreeH between Fifth and Sixths
THE CASINO BILLIARD HALL
J. E. GRACE; Proprietor. . .
V t i i :
SUPHRI0.R BILLIARD and POOL TABLES
Bar Stocked with the Finest of Liquors.
A QUIET 'AWD ORDERLY RESORT
Where gentlemen will receive courteous treatment at all times am!
where they will always be welcome. Our billiard and pool hall
w not surpassed in "the city and lovers of these games can
i be accommodated at all times.
THE TRIBUNE
WEEKLY INTER OCEAN,
Both One Year for $1.30.
:'
CHAPTER VI.
Harvey ccrald not long bare lain un
conscious. No bones were broken, no
severe concussion sustained in the rapid
drag over the sandy surface, and the
awful sense of the calamity that had
befallen him and the. dread and doubt
as to tho fate of his beloved ones seemed
to rally his stunned and bewildered fac
ulties and bring him face to -face' with
the horror 6f tho situation. Barely ablo
t breathe, he found himself rudely 'i
gagged. Striving to raise his hand
to tear the hateful bandsgo away, he
found that he was pinioned by tho el
bows and -bound hand and' foot by 'the
very riata- probably that had dragged
him thither. No doubt as to the na
tionality of his unseen captors here.
The skill with which he had been
looped, tripped, whisked away and
bound tho sharp, biting edges, even the
odor of dirty rawhide rope all told
him that, though Ainericans'were not
Tacking in the gang, his immediate an-,
tagonists hailed from across the Sonoi-a
line. Who and what they were, mat
tered little, however. The .fact that
after hours of repulse in open attack
tho foe had all on a sudden carried their
castlo by a damnable rase was only too
forcibly apparent. Writhing, struggling
in miserable effort to free himself from
his bonds, poor Harvey's burning eyes
were maddened by the picture before
him only a couple of " hundred yards
away.
There in the fierce light of the flames
now bursting, from every window and
roaring and shooting .high in air from
the brush heaped roof of Moreno's
ranch there stood the Concord wagon,
stalw.nt men clinging-to the heads of
the p "-s and ezcited mules, a big
ruffian ivady in the driver's seat,
whip and reins in hand; there beside
it was the paymaster's ambulance, into
which three of the gang -were just shov-
ing tho .green painted iron safe the
Pandora's box that had caused all their
Iprrows there Moreno's California
buckboafd, pressed into, service and be
ing, used, to ciii. ; i .id wi.-nii.i-Hl, drawn
by tho extra mules, :md then God of
heaven I what a sight for brother's eyes
to Bee and make no sign J then one big
bruto lifted from the ground and hand
ed up to a fellow already ensconced
within the covered wagon the senseless,
perhaps lifeless, form of "pretty- little
Ruth, his father's idol. The poor child
lay unresisting in. the ruffian's arms,
buttnot.eo.Paqnita. It took two-men-
strong and burly, to" lift' and fbrce her
into me aarK. imtrjuriiiiu uub cii muse,
to thri uttermost detail "of his equip
. ment, was to all appearanco a trooper,
of the United States cavalry. .
There stood his panting .horse' witti
hanging- head and jaded withers, the'
very Bteed whoso rush they had" wel
comed with such exceeding' joy, sad
dled, bridled, blanketed, Baddlcbagg$d,
lariated, side lined every item complete
and exactly as issued by. the ordnance
department. The trooper himself wore
the field uniform, of the cavalry the
dark blue blouse, crossed by the black
carbino sling, whose big brass buckle
Ned could even now see gleaming be,
tween -tho broad shoulders- and gath
ered at the waist by tho old fashioned
"thimble belt" the troop saddlers used
to make for field scrvicb before tho
woven girdlo was devised. Even
more. Harvey in his misery remem
bered the thrill of joy with which he
had noted, as' the splendid rider reined
in and threw himself from the saddle,
tho crossed sabers, tho troop letter "C"
and the regimental number gleaming
at the front of his campaign hat.
Who who could-this be, wearing the
honorable garb of a soldier of the United
States, yet figuring as a ringleader in a
band of robbers and assassins now add
ing rapino to their calendar of crime?
Edward Harvey's heart almost burst
with helpless rage and wretchedness
when he " 6aw his. precious sisters
dragged within the canvas shelter saw
the tall, uniformed brigand leap lightly
after them and heard him shout to tho
ready driver, "Now, off with you!"
Crack! went tho whip as tho men
sprang from tho heads of tho frantic
mules, and with a bound that nearly
wrenched the trace hooks from tho stout
whippletree the Concord went spin
ning over the' sands to the south, whirl
ing so near him that over tho thud of
hoofs und whirl of wheels and creak of
spring and woodwork he could hear
poor Fanny's, despairing cry tho last
60und he was aware of for hours, for
now in dead earnest Harvey swooned
away.
Half an hour later, the' rafters of the
ranch having by this timo tumbled in
and turned the interior into a glowing
furnace, there came riding from the
west a slender skirmish lino of horse
men in the worn campaign dress of the
regular cavalry. With tho advance I
there were not more than six or eight,
a tall, slender lieutenant leading them
on and signaling his instructions.
With carbines advanced, with eyes
peering out from under the jagged hat
brims, the veteran troopers came-loping
into the light of the flames, expectant
every instant of hearing the crack of
outlaw's rifle or perhaps the hiss of
feathered .arrow of unseen foe. Though
some of the steeds looked hot and wea
ried, the big rawboned sorrel that car
ried the young commander tugged at
his bit and bounded impatiently as
though eager for the signal ' charge. ' '
Straight into the circle of light, straight
to the southern entrance, now a' gate of
flame, the soldier rode and loudly,
hailed "Moreno!"
But hissing, snapping woodwork
alone replied. Guided by an experi
enced sergeant, some of the troopers,
never halting, rode on into tho cast
ward darkness, .and there were sta
tioned as vedettes to guard against sur
prise. Returning to where he had passed
his lieutenant, the sergeant dismounted,
allowing his weary horse to stand, and
then began minute examination. Fol
lowing the freshest hoof tracks, he
found the young officer riding about
through the thick smoke within the
oorral.
pepne,
"Any.sign of Moreno or
sir?" Vio Vi.iilnfl.. .
"Not yet ' .Just see what's beyond
.that doorway. My horse is'frightened.
at something there and I can t seefor
the smoke.'' t
' Obedient, the sergeant pushed ahead,
bending low' to-avoid the stifling fumes.
;Between the tumbledown heap of bar
ley, sacks and. the crumbling wall lay
some writhing objectB in the sand, and
his stout heart almost-failed him at the
moan of agony that met hia ear.
Help !,, water ! Oh, 'for Christ's sake,
water!"
One bound carried ..him out of 'sight
of his superior. Tho next instant,
dragging bv the foot a prostrate form,
ho emerged from the" bank into. .the
fresher air of the center of the corral
Off came his canteen and was held to
the parched lips of a stranger in scorch
ed civilian dress, his. beard and hair
tinged by the flames', his legs and arms
securely lxmnd. -"Who
are 3011 and what's happened?
Whoso work is this?" demanded the
lieutenant, leaping from saddle to his
lide. The man seemed swooning away,
but th sergeant dashed water in his
face.
There in the fierce light of the flames stood
ilP uoncsrar-w.aQon. .
"'Quick! the othersl or they'll
burn to death."
. "What others? .Where, man?" ex
.claimed.the soldiers, .springing to their
feet.
"Oh! somewhere in there the far
end of the corral or Moreno's west
room," was the gasping reply.
Another rush into the whirling, eddy-
ing" vsmoke, another search along under
ihe'wall; and presently in the dickering
light the" Tejf cuing pair car? upon a
barrier 'cariey sacks,V.trarni
places.'frWSugeJlakes'oi "firo faUiiif:
from .the blazing rafters .of the- over-,
hanging shed, and behind this, senseless"
suffocated, helplessly bound, two ether;
forms Thrusting the Bricks aside, the'
troopers eeized arid dragged forth their
hapless fellow creatures. Jarred by
sudden pressure, a burning upright
snapped. -There was a crackling, crash
irig sdurid 'ahd' down camo the rafters,"
sending another column o'f flame to light
up tho features of men rescued not an
instant too s6on from the death that
ciwfl.it eti tiiGui
"My God!".criedSerg'eant Lee'this
is old Feeny and yet alive."
Together the two raised the senseless
.form, bore it out into the open apace,
laid it gently beside their first discovery
and ran back for the next, a big,
heavy, bulky shape in loose and blood
stained garments.. It took all their
strength to lug itforth. Then the lieu
tenant bent by the side of tho slowly
recovering civilian.
"Aire there anymore we can reach?"
he questioned eagerly, his heart beating
madly.
7 No too late! others were inside
when tho rpof fell. in. More water
moro water!"
Sergeant Leo sprang to the ollas
gleaming there in the fifelight and
brought back, a brimming dipper, hold
ing it to tho poor fellow's parched 'lips
until he could drink no 'more, then
slashing away the thongs with which
he was'bound.
"This is greaser work," he
"How could they h'avo left you
Where are Moreno's-people?
done this anyhow?"
' Pasqual Morales. Moreno was in it
too. 'Twas the paymaster they were
laying for, but they've killed Ned Har
vey and got his sisters old Harvey's
children from Tucson."
"What?" cried the officer, leaping to
his feet. "Harvey's daughters here?
here? Man, are you mad?"
"It's God's truth! Oh, if I had a
drop of the, whisky that's being burned
in there ! I'm'nigh dead. '
"Run to my saddlebags, Lee; fetch
that flask, quick; then call in the men
and send ope back to hurry up the rest.
Whero have they gone? What have
they-dono with their captives?"
"God knows! I could hear them
screaming and praying those poor
girls ! Mullan and the pay clerk picked
up Feeny after he was stunned,-and
they rushed him back through here,
where tho paymaster had dragged
himself, to where you fouiid r him.
That that's the paymaster you've got
there. Then they tried to save a
drunken soldier while ail the gang
seemed crowding after the safe and the
girls, but they were shot down inside
and must have burned to death if they j
wasn'tkilled. Oh, God, what a night!"
And wealr, unstrung, unmanned, the
poor fellow sobbed aloud.
At this instant there -rode into the
corral a couple of troopers.
4 ' Lieutenant DrammamllMreT'.pried
one of them. "We've foad-aciMn.out
on the plain to the southeast, jpgged
and bound. Shall we fetch him in?"
"You go, Quinn, but get some one
else to help you. Patterson, your, horse
is fresh, gallop back on the trail. Tell
Sergeant Meinecke to come ahead for
all he's worth; Let the packs take care
of themselves. Send Sergeant Lee in
here to me again." Then with-trem-bling
hands the young officer turned his
attention to his other patients. Sever
ing the cords with his hunting knife, he
freed them from their bonds, then
dashed water over their scorched and
blackened aces, meantime keying up
Feeav as ha-was trvinsr to crawl nftfr
'a.sob8,.the1 young, civilian told him me; and while they were swearing and
thatheemtlaws Jiad hitched in both searching for thfrsaftr and carrying it
teases ant uucen aiso tne spare lnuies
aad ,the buckboara. They had lifted
the-Harvey, girls into the Concord, the
.safe and PasquaLMorales - into the pay
master's ambulance, while tho wounded
men and Moreno's people probably were
put on the open wagon. Then they
had all driven furiously away to the
south, leaving only two or three men
to complete the work at the ranch. 1
Finding the paymaster and sergeant
well nigh dead, they had contented
themselves with binding and leaving
'them "to'their fate, to be cremated when
the roof of the shed, came down. Then
one! of 1 the gang whom he had once
' befriended' in Tucson pleaded with his
fellows to spare' the life of tho only one
of the party left' to tell the tale. Pas
qual and the Mexicans. wcro gone.
Those who, remained 'were Americans,
judging by their speech, though two of
them were still masked. "My name
is Woods, ' said the poor fellow. "But
that: bandit -had to. beg hard. They
were "ready to murder, anybody con
nected with the defense, for Ramon was
killed and Pasqual shot through the
leg. I -did - that, though they didn't
'know it. They bound and left me
here, "but made me swear I would tell
Harvey and his friends when they got
back that it was no use following;
they had 80 armed men and three hours'
start. They never thought of any one
else getting here first. Oh, my God!
who can break it to Mr. Harvey when
he does come?"
And then Sergeant Lee came hurry
ing back, one or two men with him,
and together they labored to restore to
consciousness the paymaster, breathing
feebly, and old Feeny, bleeding from a
gash in the back of the skull and a bul
let hole, through the body. For nearly
a quarter of an hour their efforts were
vain. Meantime Drummond, well nigh
mad over tne delay, was pacing about
like a caged tiger. He set two of the
men to woik to hitch tho bewildered
littlo burrca to tho well wheel and get
up several huge bncketfuls of water
against tho coming of the troop. He
ordered others to rub down his hand
somo sorrel, Chester, and tho mounts of
two of the advanced party. At last
after what must have seemed an age,
yet could not havo been over 80 min
utes from tho timo of their arrival, a
soldier running in said ho could hear
hoofs out on the plain, and at the same
instant two men appeared lugging be
tween them, bleeding and senseless,
tho ragged form of Edward Harvey.
Scratched, torn, covered with blood
and bruises and still unconscious though
he was, Drummond knew him at a
glance'. They had met the previous
year; and though only once it was
enough. Men with young and lovely
eisters are not soon forgotten. Kneel-
cried,
alive?
Who's
Two men appeared lunging bcticccn them
the ragged form of Edicard Harvey.
ing by his Bide, the lieutenant sought
anxiously for traco of blado or bullet.
Rents thero wero many and many a
bloody scratch and tear, but, to his in
finite relief, no Berious wound appeared.
Still in deep swoon, his friend seemed
to resist every effort for his restora
tion. The dash of water in his face
was answered only by a faint shiver
ing sigh. The thimbleful of whisky
forced between his lips only gurgled
down his throat, and Drummond felt
no responsive flutter of pulse. The
shock to his system must indeed have
been great, for Harvey lay like one in
a trance. Drummond feared that ho
might never again open his eyes to
light and home.
And then the weary troop came trot
ting Jnto view, old Sergeant Meinecke
in command. Halting and dismount
ing at his signal, tho men stood silent
and wondering at their horses' heads,
while their leader went in to report to
his commander.
Drummond barely lifted his eyes from
the pallid features before him.
"Unsaddle, sergeant; rub down; pick
out the best and likeliest horses. I
want 20 men to go on a chase with me.
How soon can the packs get up?'
"They must bo fully half an hour be
hind, sir."
"Sorry for that, sergeant. We've
got .to take at least four of them ; load
them up with barley, bacon, hardtack,
ammunition. Kick off everything else.
We'll food and water hero before start
ing, then we've got to ride like tho
devil. Send Trooper Bland hero as
soon as he has unsaddled. I want him
to rido with me. He know3 all the
roads to the south."
Meinecke saluted in his methodical
German fashion, turned away and pres
ently could bo heard ordering "Un
saddle," and then shouting for Private
Bland.
. "Are thero any of our men besides
the farrier who have any knowledge of
surgery?" asked the lieutenant of Ser
geant Lee.
"They say Bland has, sir. I don't
know any one else."
"Well, I've just sent for him. Mr.
Harvey here doesn't seem to be wound
ed, yet it's impossible to bring him to.
Give Woods a little moro whisky and
see if you can get a word out of the ma
jor or Feeny."
But efforts with tho half suffocated
men had no effect. Tho whisky with
Woods had better results. He present
ly ceased his shivering sobs and could
answer more questions. Drummond
begged for particulars of the capture,
and these the man found it difficult to
give. He was stationed at the back
door, the corral side, he said, and haid
lv saw the final rush. But there was
We've fcad-a semout . something so queer about it. There
had been a few minutes' lull. Then
Harvey and Feeny bcth began to talk
excitedly and to call out that the "road
agents" were running away, and then
presently there came the sound of gal
loping; hoofs and cheering and both the
sergeant and Mr. Harvey had shouted
that the troops were coming and rushed
out to meet them ' 4 And the next thing I
:knew," said Woods, "was seeing Feeny
.flattened out on the ground and crawl
ing' on his hands and knees and the
room filled with roughs, some Mexi
cans, some Yanks, and I slipped into
the corral and saw one of them shoot
out, Mr. Dawes and Mullan managed,
somehow, to help the paymaster, out.
and then went in after the other man."
Then Woods could tell little more.
One thing, be said, amazed and excited
him so he couldn't believe his eyes,-but
he was almost ready to swear that the
fellow Feeny ran to shake hands with
was a soldier in uniform, and that he
held Feeny's hand while another man
came up behind and "mashed" him
with the- butt of his pistol, and that
this fellow in soldier clothes was- the
man who afterward shot Feeny as ho
was trying to crawl away.
Drummond looked around at the man
incredulous almost derisive. The story
was improbable, too much so to deserve
even faint attention. Just then Mei
necke came back and, precise as ever,
stood attention and saluted.
"Herr lieutenant, Private Bland is
not with my party at all, sir."
"Did you leave him back with the
packs?"
"No, sir; the men say he wasn't with
us all night. He rodo ahead with the
lieutenant until we came to Corporal
Donovan's body:"
"He's not been with mo since," ex
tlaimed the lieutenant. "Sergeant Lee,
Isk if any of the men have seen him."
.Lee.waa eono but a moment, then
came back with grave face and troubled
eyes, bringing with him a young troop
er who was serving his first enlistment.
"Private Goss, here, has a queer story
to tell, sir."
"What do you know? "What have
you seen?" asked Drummond.
"Why, sir, right after Sergeant Lee
caught sight of the fire and rang ont
that it was Moreno's I was back about a
couple of rods looking for ray canteen.
I was that startled when they found
Corporal Donovan dead that I dropped
it, and all of a sudden somebody comes
out past ine leading his horse, and I
asked him what he had lost, and he said
his pipe and passed me by,- and I
thought nothing more about it only
no sooner did he get out into tho dark
whero I -couldn't see him than 1 heard
all of a sudden a horse start at full gal
lop right over in this direction, nnd
now I think of it it must havo been
Bland, for it was him that passed me,
sir sneaking out like."
Drummond sprang to his feet.
"What spy you to this, sergeant? Do
you believe do you think it possible
that Bland has deserted and joined
these outlaws?"
"I don't know what to think, sir,
but I haven't forgotten what Feeny
said of him."
"What was that?"
"That ho had too smooth a tongue to
havo led a rough and honest life; that
if he was a Texan as he claimed Texas
people had lunrned to talk a different
lingo since ho was stationed among
them with tho old Second-cavalry before
tho war, nnd that ho wished he'd been
there at Lowcxl when the. adjutant-accepted
thosd letters from former officers
of tho regimcrit aagennine., Blasd
would .aeee show thern to'Fecny.. Staid"
hVhaf-i.'cm all to hia home in-
Texas. 'Hpfwas whaiaade bad blood
-between them."
"By heaven ! and now to think that
one of our troop C troop should
have been engaged in this outrage I
But we'll get them, men," said Drum
mond, straightening up to his full
height and raising hia gauntleted hand
in air. "They can't go fast or far
with those wagons such a night as this.
They'll striko tho foot hills before
they've gone 10 miles, then they'll
have to go slow. We'll catch them be
fore the sun is up,, and, by tho God of
heaven, if Bland is with them, I'll
string him to the highest tree wo can
find."
"There's moro than him that'll be.
strung up," growled a grizzled old
trooper in an undertone. "The gang
that murdered Pat Donovan will find
scant mercy in this crowd."
"Aye, aye," said another, "and
there's more than Pat Donovan to be
scored off. Look yonder." For at the
instant one of the packers camo leading
into the corral a resisting mule, at sight
of whose burden many of tho horses
started in fear. It was the lifeless body
of Donovan's companion, the soldier who
had escaped tho assassin's bullet when
Patsy fell only to bo overtaken and cut
down half way to Moreno's.
"It's the bloodiest night I'vo known
even in Arizona," said Leo to his young
leader. "The paymaster and Mr. Har
vey about as good as dead, old Feeny
dying, most like, the clerk and Mullan
and some other trooper of tho escort
burned to ashes in that hell hole there,
and Donovan and this last one some
of our fellows think it isFlynn, from F
troop shot to death. It's worse than
Apache, lieutenant, and there'll bo no
use trying to restrain our fellows when
Awarded Highest Honors World's Fair.
we catch the blackguards.
A quarter of an hour later, leaving
half a dozen soldiers under an experi
enced sergeant to guard tho packs, the
wounded and the noncombatants at the
smoldering ruins of the ranch, with
barely a scoro of seasoned troopers at
his back, Lieutenant Jim Drummond
rode resolutely out toward the southern
desert, toward the distant line of jagged
mountains that spanned the far hori
zon. The falso and fatal blaze at tho
Picacho had utterly disappeared, and
all was darkness at the west. The red
glow of the smoldering embers behind
was no longer sufficient to light their
path. Straight away southward led
the wheeltracks, first separate and dis
tinct, but soon blending, as though one
wagon had fallen behind and followed
the trail of the bolder leader in the
first. Straight away after them went
the ruck of hoof tracks, telling plainly
that for a time at least the gang had
massed and was prepared to guard its
plunder.
Stop to divido it was evident they
dared not, for they had not with them
the implements to break into the safe,
and all their searching and threatening
had failed to extract from tho appar
ently dying paymaster any clew as to
what he had dono with the key. Stick'
together, therefore, they undoubtedly
would, reasoned the lieutenant, and all
their effort would be to reach-some
secure haunt in the Sierras and there
send back their demand for ransom.'
Twenty-five thousand dollars in cash
and George Harvey's precious daugh
ters! It was indeed a rich haul one
that in all the dread history of the
Morales gang had never been equaled.
Even had they failed to secure the safe
the richer booty was theirs in having
seized the girls. But few people in Ar
izona as Arizona then was constituted
would make great effort to overhaul
a gang of robbers whose only victim
PPfflCES
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Used in Millions of Homes 40 Years the Standard.
was Uncle Sam and "his liveried hire
lings." Nobody in Sbnora would fail
to regard them with envious eyes, but
in the deed of rapine that made them
the captors and possessors pf those de
fenseless 6isters each man had put a
price upon his bead, a halter round his
neck," for "gringo" and "greaser,"
American and Mexican alike, would
spring to arms to rescue and avenge.
As the rearmost of the little party
of pursuers disappeared in the darkness
and'the wearied pack" mules went jog-,
ging sullenly after; urged on by the goad
of their half Mexican driver, the ser
geant left in charge of the detachment
at the corral looked at his watch and
aoted that it was just 2:30 o'clock;
The dawn would be creeping on at 4.
Wearied as were his men, lie did not
permit them all to rest. The condition
of his wounded, and the instructions left
him' by Lieutenant Drummond made it
necessary" that they should have constant
attention. It was sore trouble for him
to look at the old paymaster, whose
life seemed ebbing away, lying there so
pallid and moaning at times so pitiful
ly, but Feeny lay torpid; breathing, yet
seeming to suffer not at- all.
Both wero in desperate need of sur
gical attendance, but where could Bur
geon be found? The nearest was at
Stoneman, the littlo cantonment across
the Christobal, 80 miles to the east,
and though a gallant fellow had vol
unteered to make the ride alone through
the Apache infested pass and carry the
dispatch that Drummond had hurried
ly penciled there was- no possibility
of doctors reaching them before the
coming night, and the 'thought of all
they might havo to suffer 'through the
fierce white heat of the intervening
day was one- that ave the sergeant
deep concern. Then, too, who could
say whether the solitary .trooper would
succeed in running the gantlet and
making his way through? He was a
resolute old "frontiersman, skilled in
Indian warfare and well aware that
his best chance was in the dark,, but
speed as he might the" broad " light of.
day would be on him long' before he
could get -half way through the range.
-The stage from tbe-west would proly-
ably coine along aboutsunset, but ndth
insr eonld. "bo Iionodtfor sooner. Ho
.troops wererae;sj .r,
in tear iiiniapiiii exceit'
post'at'the'Picacho.. 7Co:
two men had been rent thither to in1
quire -what .the. sigial" meant, and It
would soon be time for them to come
riding in with theij report. How he
wished Wing wero hero! Wing knew
something about everything. He was
an expert veterinarian, something, of
a doctor, knew more of mineralogy
than all the officers put together and
could speak Spanish better than any
man in tho regiment. When it became
necessary to have, a signal station at
the peak and it was found that no one'
knew anytning about tho business.
'Wing got one of the old red manuals,
studied the system and inside of a week
was signaling with the expert sent
down from San Francisco.
The interior of the ranch was" still
smoldering furnace as 4 o'clock
nigh. Woods, weak and exhausted,
had fallen into an uneasy sleep. The
trooper detailed to watch over old Plum
mer and Feeny and batho their faces
with cold water was nodding over his
charge. Here and there under the shed
on the north side which the flames had
not reached the men were dozing, or in
low, awestricken tones talking of the
tragic events of the night. Near the
east gate, reverently and deeply covered
with the only shroud to be had, the
newest of tho saddle blankets, lay the
stiffening remains of poor Donovan and
his comrade. Larking about the west
ward end of the inclosure, their beady
eyes every now and then glittering in
the firelight, the Mexicans, men and
boy, wero smoking their everlasting
papelitos, apparently indifferent to the
fate that had deprived them of home
and occupation.
One of the troopers had burrowed a
holo in the sand, started a little cook
firo and was boiling some coffee in- a
tin quart mug. Overhead and far down
to tho horizon on every side the stars
shone and sparkled through the vapor
less skies. Eastward toward tho Chris
tobal they were just beginning to pale
when a faint voice was heard pleading
for water. Sergeant Butler sprang
from his seat and hastened to where he
had left Mr. Harvey but a few minutes
before, still in deep . and obstinate
swoon.
"Water, is it, sir? Hero you are!
I'm glad.to see you picking up a little.
Mr. Drummond left this for you too,
sir. He said you would maybo need
it. " And tho sergeant raised the dizzy
head and held a little flask to Harvey's
lips.
"Where is he?" at last the sufferer
was ablo to gasp.
"Overhauling thcoutlaw3, hand over
fist, by this time, sir. Ho has 20 good
men at his back, and w.e'll havo the la
dies safe tonight see if we don't."
"Oh, God!" groaned the stricken
brother, burying his face' in his anna as
the recollection of tho fearful events
of the night came crowding upon him.
For a moment ho seemed to quiver and
tremble in every limb, then with sud
den effort raised his head and turned
again, the blood trickling anew from
a gash in his face as he did so.
"Give me moro of that," he moaned,
stretching forth a trembling hand.
"More water too. Lend me a horse
and your carbine. I must go ! I must
go!" But there his. strength failed
him, and grasping, wildly -at'empty air
poor Harvey fell heavily back before
the sergeant could interpose an arm to
save.
"Don't think Of it, sir. You're far
too weak, and you're not needed. Never
fear, the lieutenant and C troop will
do all.that men can do. They'll bring
the ladies safely back as soon as they've
hong what's left of that murdering
gang. Hello! That you. Fox?" he
shouted, spriBgrng up u twa or
horsemen came spurring in.
"It's I Wing," was the answer in
ringing tones. 4 4 Fox is coming slower.
Quick now. Is it so that that gang has
run off tho young ladies?"
"It's God's truth. Here's Mr. Ned
Harvey himself."
In an instant Wing was kneeling by
the Side of the prostrate man.
4 'Merciful heaven, my friend, but
they've used you fearfully L They only
bound and held me tilL Jackson got
back from Ceralyo's a couple of hours
ago. Are you shot injured?"
4 No, no. ' groaned Harvey. 4 4 But I
ani broken, utterly broken, and my sis
ters are in the hands of ' those hounds."
'Never worry about' that, man. I
know young- Drummond well. There
isn't a braver, better officer in the old
regiment if he is but a boy. He'll never
dron that trail till he overtakes these.
and by the time ho neefls us old Pike
here and I will be at his side. Thank
the Lord, thoso louts were frightened
off and never took our horses. They're
fresh as daisies, both of 'em. Cheer up,
Mr. Harvey. If hard riding and hard
fighting will do it, we'll havo your sis
ters here to nurse you before another
night. Come, Pike," he cried as he
vaulted into saddle. "Now for the
liveliest gallop of your lazy, good for
nothing life. Come on I"
CHAPTER VII.
A new May morning was breaking,
its faint rosy light warming the crests
of the Santa Maria, when Lieutenant
DrummOnd signaled "halt" to his lit
tle band, the first halt since leaving
Moreno's at 2:30. Down in a rocky
canyon a number of hoof prints on tho
trail diverged to the left and followed
an abrupt descent, while the wagons
had kept to the right and by a winding
and more gradual road seemed to have
sought a crossing farther to the west.
It was easy to divine that, with such
. elements in the gang, there had been no
long separation between the horsemen
and the treasure they were guarding,
and, eager as he was to overtake the
renegades, Drummond promptly decided
to follow the hoof tracks, .rightly con.-,
jecturing, too, that they'wemttl bring
km to water m the rocky tanks below.
- Dismount
drew 0te. -W Lr n '
Bach man in succession dismounted at
the same point.
ing at the same point, and with more
or less elasticity coming on in tho foot
steps of his leader. The faint wan light
of early dawn was rendering neighbor
ing objects visible on the sandy plain
behind them, but had not yet penetrat
ed into the depths of the gorge. Lying
far to the west of the Tucson road, this
was a section of the country unknown
to any of the troop, and with every
prospect of a broiling ride across the
desert ahead so soon as the sun was up
no chanco for watering their horses
could bo thrown away. Just as he ex
pected Drummond found tho descent
becoming more gradual, and in a mo
ment or two the bottom of the dark rift
was found, and presently, keeping keen
lookout for tho reflection of tho stars
still lingering overhead, the leading
men wero rewarded, and halted at the
edge of a shining pool of clear though
not very cool water and the horses
thrust their hot muzzles deep into the
wave. Here, shaded by .the broad
brimmed hats of white felt, such as the
Arizona trooper of the old days gener
ally affected, a match or two was struck
and the neighborhood searched for
4 4 sign." The rocks around the tank
were dry ; the little drifts of sand blown
down from the overhanging height
were smooth. Whatsoever splashing
had been, done by tho horses of the out
laws there had been abundant time for
it to evaporate, therefore the command
could not thus far have gained very
rapidly on the pursued. But Drum
mond felt no discouragement. Up to
this pointthe way had been-smooth and
sufficiently, hard to make wheeling an
.easy matter. The wagons had been
lugged along at brisk trot, tho attend
ing cavaliers riding at lively lope.
Now, however, there would be no like
lihood of their making such time. The
ambulance could only go at slow walk
the rest of the way, and the guards must
remain alongside to protect the stolen
funds, not so much from envious out
siders as from one another. Pasqual
Morales showed his accustomed shrewd
ness when he forbade that any one
should try to burst into the safe and
extract the money, for well he knew
that if divided among the men there
would' be no longer a loadstone to hold
them together, to call for their fiercest
fighting powers if assailed. The instant
the money was scattered the gang would
follow suit and he be left to meet the
cavalry single handed.
The horses of the little detachment
were not long in slaking their thirst.
The noiseless' signal to mount was
given, and following in the lead of
their young lieutenant the troopers rode
silently down the winding canyon,
Drummond and Sergeant Lee bending
low over their chargers' necks to see
that they did not miss the hoof prints.
(CONTINUED ON POCRTH PAGE.