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About Saturday morning courier. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1893-1894 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 5, 1893)
f." THB HATURDAY mOHIG COURIER ,i i ' :i Wxto il'Vi r- V . ;- " . ? t '. m 's -.1 '1A i'H I mMIW Iji iraw'iss-A. Jiy w "" w tuy. tRiantia.iitt. . rtttow coa nii.itm "Tber't uo dlicountln tho fact thet Jack Foraker's denth' n public benefit," k replied, with' cheerful philosophy. 'Bat I reckon, Al, that's a good many M U Ukln pretty hard tho mean yonng Bruce hot got himself tutor. It seemed to break the Kernochans up pretty bad, and Misa Stafford was plumb bouillon kenelf. They left town fur the Men quite ranch ci soon ea thoy lenrn tho (acts, and Ihll Kornoclmn said ho was gotn to The Post afterwards." A alight rustling in tho direction of Cynthia's bedroom showed that Mr. Jor rold'a facts wcro noted. 'Doggone, it, Duck, yo'ro right'" claimed Alcides suddenly ns tho possi ,, Me danger Of Brace's suggested itself to ,hia ind. "Them sogers of Foraker's company night take it into their cussed leads to bo ugly, and then thar'a uo tellin what they mightn't jest nutch'ally io." Be turned his dull eyes toward the river and dovotod sotno momenta to pro found meditation. "I'm not so sure it wouldn't be a right mart idea to let; Colonel Hunt, and his rangers know how matters stand," he suggested. Uo glanced Inquiringly at Jerrold. That gentleman appeared lost bn thouglit. "Waal, I reckon I'll go to town and see what's tho latest develop ments," he said finally. "Hodn't yo bet ter go 'long" Mr.' Jerrold reflected. He would havo much preferred a half hour's conversa tion with.Cynthij but the occasion was evidently not a propitious one Since tho delivery of his nnwolcomo intelllgenoe lie had seen nbthlhg" of her. He lounged' idly about the door a few minutes in the hope that aha might .come out. She did' not appear. ' Bo" he turned reluctant' ly to aocoBipaay Alcides. VUenrjBnte," ?o4 Jciretdwtetty., W iH9 oia nan oaa airway muns hw ftox seat or ,hta wagon ana taken up tne reins. He whipped -ep smartly, and with a lond protest from axle and spring the criiy ."conveyance got fairly under .way. Jerrold tarried only to cast one regretful glance In the' direction of Cyn- . ihia'ft.wlndowi.then Mounting the gray be dashed af terhlm down the road. In a lew minutes the figures of both men ,Vfere;loet to view in thd shrubbery that Reordered the river. The house grew strangely quiet after their departure. The ebony Amelia had c,- 'MOWB mr departed early that morning for a day's holiday at Ban Marcus, so the busy r . aoBBtda of the kitchen were, hushed. A general air of reposeful indifference vswemed to have settled' dpwn upon the Pallas ranch with the sunbeams that ; numbered on it porch. It was late in theUfternoon when the door, opened suddenly and Cynthia came ', out 81m, was dressed as for a journey." mm wort the long habit familiar to her priding .'exenrstons, and as she stepped t. now us aoonww uer aawpiy gnwereu it t;imutaiinu, uiuuuutno .iruMtg uww iszmrswuns- jsmhwvs of the! eyelkw.'thew was "Ho trace cJthVetatlon of. j 'few hourabeforeV Vms 1h s1ba l 14 a a41cu1 tfk1rn annnA V Cm Via tnAWAMAttta (ihasaail nt(nllt MT'tlMi doorv'ard. beelleMof the Kara H wr7S HlvVvauvuiCH tmv msw uuivmij -Tibia of "Aulas and the bleats of the teth wed'autel)i: v Arriving at the barn in the rear of the ranch, she, roused iierself suficienly to 'hut' the great' hound in a neighboring' box stall aud hook the door 'securely, whereupon, without further delay, she .led lier1 pony, from tho stable and aaddlod land bridled him as fast as her eager 'fingers could manipulate buckle and trap. SheaccoinpliHhod this tns!r with a ' deft ease to which hnblt.hnd lo;. t accus tomed her. With equal readiucM she led the obedient mnstaug to an adjacent tree stump, where sho effected success fully the somewhat diftconuuodiiuj achievement of mounting. Then with a sharp cut of her riding whip she, start ed Pepita at ouco Into a gallop and struck put over tho prairie with a direct ness that" showed her fixedness of pur pose. . Her mind was made up; she had do- . .ddedwhat tbdo. In the interval since the hadarned of the inhfortuue that UsAi overtaken Henry Brace she had weighed the lMwible'daagers of his poel- 5 tioe'aad resolved that'aaaUtance.muBt be k sent him at all baaards. The forobod ,t lags' of Alcides were, pcarcly spoken ''when they awoke the courage' and sym ,Tpatlyf her, resolute little heart. She had waited only to see, if her father or Jerrold ,'would return to send tbewaru- n tke (omur luuranmMfttAiL, Tiuwhiul ' W.- ' jpjg , t IT ford iKist this win tho errand tho cour ngeouN girl hud undorlnki'ii. And now ns rhoot out upon this mad ridoovcr valley and divldo her pulses throblwd with nnxloly and her heart grow faint, fearing somo possiblo mis chanco that might cauno tho fulluro of her plan. Whatlf tho colonel should bo almcntl What If tho rangers had moved their camp from tho locality sho so woll know ami had so often visited with hor father! What if somo other warning had called these advonturons men away from their headquarters, and sho should arrivo to find tho place n solitudo and herself iH)werless to aid or save hlmt In terror at tho thought she plied without pity both whip nnd spur. Tho panting PopitA fairly flow! Used as sho was to tho saddle, tho breathless hasto, the agony of that tcrriblo gallop, remained always an event in Cynthia's memory. Sho heeded not tho familiar lnndscapo, undulating over before her liko a billowy sea; tho nlarmcd cattlo that Mod in n panio from the thunder of hor approach; tho occasional bands of nntelopo that dashed away affrighted j the flocks of quail nnd summer duck that whirred to tho right and loft M she dashod through copse, and underbrush or camo suddenly upon somo outlying pool. On she stied, whllo tho trees flow reel ing by and tho ravens croaked an omi nous presage from tho wayside. Pepita was flagging a little. Sho had still some miles to go. Tho sun was sinking slow ly but surely to tho horizon. Yet tak ing over with tho skill of tho frontier tho shortest and most direct route to her rendezvous, plunging through chaparral at the peril of Ufo nnd limb, her garments torn, her pony bleeding front tho thorny thicket, she still held her courso to tho westward And galloped on with a cour age that in man would havo been heroic, but in woman was sublime. The camp occupied by Colonel Hunt and the rangers -he commanded was pitched in a motto of pecans that bor dered a fertile valley. Tho lofty tree tops lifted themselves, a dark green bar rier against the monotony of tho lovel plain. Within tho white tents of the rangers glimmered in tho shade; saddles and camp utensils wcro scattered about; horses stood to'thered here and thcro or roamed with hoppled limbs nnd tinkling stock bell through tho grovo every thing woro tho olr of a plcturcsquo and favorablo encampment. It was the supper hour, and enmpfires were beginning to illnmlnnto tho shad ows of tho aisles. Tho glancing light flashed upon tho figures of tho men bus iod in cooking or lounging in groups about the doors of their tonts, upon arms and acconterments staked nnd piled against various .trees. Tho fires roared and crackled, tho steam of tho broiling morsels filled, ,tho air, nnd in tho back ground; where a somewhat larger nnd mora comfortablo tent stood by tho sido of a quiet pool, the rising globo of tho silver moon swung silently over tho for est picture. The waters were, already beginning to shimmer and' dance with Its reflected rays when tho flap of this tent was pushed asido nnd n man strodoout'of tho opening. As bo did so tho light of a campfire opposite Hushed full upon him and rnvenlcd tho features of Colonel William Hunt. It was a characteristic face. Ono un derstood nt a tjlanco why it was that this man had been chosen to lend tho disci- ! dined band that followed him, Tho ocks thut. ho bared to tho evening air weroa triflo grizzled with ago. Hard shin and privation had set their seal upon tho face, but only to intensify its look of determination and daring; De cision 'and wiH dominated tho strong lines of mouth and jaw. It was appar ent nt onco that whatever courage could undertake or energy achieve yielded be fore the marked personality of tho man Colonel Hunt did not stop until ho reached a large tree that stood like a giant picket-upon tho very confines of the. grove. . Ho leuncd his back .against it' and stood looking out upon the shad owy plain which tho moonlight was be ginning to illumine. Hardly Had ho done so when, tho rhythmic hoof beats of a horse, CQjnjng jtowqrjl him, at full" gallop, struck his ear. Ho stood erect and listened., Aureate had sprang up, and an its light breath funued his fur rowed: cheek he could even' distinguish the panting breath of tho nniuml, as If driven hard or furiourty ridden. Bur- nrisotl that anv ono should bo approach ing tho camp at such a rate- of speed, ha stepped out into tho open. In an instant lie was almost run down by Cynthia, mounted on tho foam covered Pepita. Tho apparition of her mounted pres ence enmo upon Hunt po suddenly that he cried out, "Haiti" wlu tho sternness of ono used to command. Tho maro was checked instantly, but with a violence that almost threw the exhausted, uninrnl upon her haunches. "Who's there?' demanded tho colonel, striding up. For u fuw momenta thero wn9 no re ply. Then n volco in tho gloom punted, "Cynthial" nnd immediately after tho girl slipped lightly to tho ground aud stood leaning exliaustedly against tho sliddlo. She was so breathless and spent with tho fntigno of her long rido that nt first sho could only Indjcato tho urgency of her errand by broken sentences, Mean while tho colonel, roused tty tho elo quence of her palo facs and disheveled tresses,, was moved to sympathy, W lien at last with many pauses for breath, but with an earnestness that betrayed her anxiety, she hud mado her purposo known, tho ranger's response was kindly and reassuring. tl "Ye're bravo llttlo girl," ho said, fund a man oughter feci proud that onoo' your stylo takes tho trouble to show an interest in him. Well, Miss Cynthia, come up to tho camp, and we'll sco wlmt caii.be dmo. It's u full moon toniKlit, and only a few hours' hard riding from hero to The Post. Perhaps it'd Ixi jest us well if I took, the boys over for a llttlo pesear. They won't mind it much, nnd even if nothing comes of it it will set I your fears at rest at any rate. Ef thar s jawaniumy.cotopany that isn't willin , .o iiMkVtTilstrip wiieii ho hears of tho rldo you'vo taken to snvo Henry liruco, ho's not fit to servo under Colonel Hunt. You'vo struck tis at tho right time, too, young lady. Bupjier is waitingfinch as it is! As soon iih that is over we'll sad dle up and start. Kz for yourself, I can send you buck by tho night coach thet i pusses Thompson's ranch about an hour I from now, I reckon," Hut hero ho paused nt n gesturo of dls gout from Cynthia, who had taken tho brldlo of Pepita nnd was already leading hor into the grovo. "Send mo back by tho night coachl" sho repeated, glancing nt him and knit ting her brows. "Thank yon, sir, I'm not to bo disposed of so easily. I havo friends at Tho Post and reckon thoy will bo' willing to tnko euro of mo tonight. At nny rate, I'll nsk 'cm. If yon can give mo a fresh horse nnd it's all tho same to you, Colcncl Hunt, I reckon I'll rido along too." CHAPTER XII. Tho full moon in meridian splendor shono calmly down on Bradford post. Tho llttlo plateau on which the frontier fort was placed stood out above tho out lying count! y with ill tho distinctness of day. Tho moonlight flooded every thing within Tho Post itself, steeping tho three sides of tho level square, illumi nating tho low barracks of the soldiers and tho adobo dwellings of the officers opposite, and slipping ghostliko from the white flagstaff, which seemed tp stretch a spectral finger to tho stars. It wanted Jet two hours of midnight, but tho lglts wcro out which, earlier in tho evening, hnd flickered in the various quarters. So gracious was tho night it seemed to brcatlio a benison upon tho slumbers of tho quiet garrison. Yet thero wns commotion at Bradford post not within tho confines of tho fort itself, nor in tho moonlight spaces of tho lovel square, but far in tho rear of the soldiers' barracks, whero a small, lpw stone building stood with barred door and grated windows. A crowd of SO or 60 men were collected about tnu struc ture conversing in low tones and ex citedly running from window to win dow. As they moved to 'and fro. the rays of the moon flashed ppon muskets and acconterments. They were tho soldiers of Foraker's company; ripo for insurrec tion over tho death or their chler, and tho building nbont which they were gath ered was tho military jail of Bradford post. Tronblo had been browing sinco early morning. With tho arrival of Sheriff Mosely and his prisoners, tho news of tho tragedy at San Marcus had spread liko wildfiro through tho camp. Foraker's mon received tho intelligence' sullenly, but with evident suspicion of foul play. Tho dead captain had been popular with his company, which included tho most reckless and desperate of t)ie soldiers at tho fort. Thero were among .them cer tain dissipated spirits who cherished a lively admiration for tho hardihood and notorious reputation of their leader. Considerable curiosity had been ex pressed in regard to the man Who had seen .fit to abbreviate so enviable aca reer. There had been trips to tne ' . k '. . consequence, and throughout thedSy a I crowd of eager faces had beset, the win dows. In consequence of thoac-senco of the' J residing- justice, tho timofor a hearing n the caso had been set down for tho following day. Iu tho, present state of popular feeling Sheriff Mosely had thought best toconflno tho body of Bruco during the interval. Ho had been obliged, therefore, to incarcerate him in the sin gle room of tho jail in company with Lemuel Wickson. Through the henvily barred windows the forms of the men could bo dimly seen, and even conversa tion interchanged through an occasional broken pane, T)io' soldiers had been in doubt nt flrat as to which of the two was responsible for the death of the captain, Some vig orous personal criticism and animated invective delivered through the windows elicited tho information required.. Bruce had kept his own counsel while Mr. Lemuel Wickson had. replied cheerfully to this genial Imdlnuge. Being, free to move about, ho imitifled his resentment against Bruco for his capture by going' to the window and giving whispered and startling accounts of the killing of or akcr. It appeared from these vivid word pictures that tho ex-horse thief had been nn eyewitness to the tragedy, His Imagination was entirely responsi ble for his facts. Yet bo cleverly did he w;ovk upon tho excited sympathies xf tho indignant company that by nightfall it wns generally believed that toraker had been butchered in cold blood, whilo drunk and asleep. It was doubtful whether during tho interval Mr. Wickson, by tho invention of local color nnd realistio de tail, had net pcrsuudod himself of tho truth of his statements. Sheriff Mosoly and ono deputy mounted guard during tho day and interposed a spirited but. In effectual denial to this version 6f tho af fair. Somo local disturbance in tho town of Joaquin hud unfortunately necessitat ed tlio ubsenco of Jnko Sharp. As tho ufternoon woro nwny tho feel ing of unimosity against Bruce grew moro expressive" nnd violent. The crowd of loungers about tho jail increased. Per sonal nbuso of the prisoner was indulged in nt tho windows, and even threats of violence wero openly henrd. Somo of tho boldest went so far ns to counsel Wick son to kill Bruce, dcclnring, with n mob's reudy ncceptunt-o or responsibility, that they would "stand by him." Mr. Wickson had expressed in words a cordlui willingness io coiupiy wiw theso requests, but when it camo to deeds had shown u singular reluctance. Honlleged us tho reason for this delay tho .fact that ho hud no weapon, but as Bruco himself wus unarmed this state ment was hurdly pertinent. How far lio was Influenced by u cortain cold glit ter in tho latter'H eye did not trunsplro. The fact rotualns thut ho listened quietly to tho urgent but impracticable advico of the soldiers to "cut tho tenderfoot's heart out," to "throw tho stovb ou him" and other unconsidered suggestions that were rained r.pou him all tho afternoon. But at nightfall Mr. Wickson was sti'.l conspicuously tlol.i;r nothing. Thin camo u lull. Tho men dispersed jasnn for supfier. Sheriff Moscly nvnilcd him self of tho interval to send n tuessngo of tho siuto of things to tho colonel nt tho fort, n messngo which that worthy unac countably saw fit to disregard. After this ho loaded .his extra pistol and withdrew with Humly Jim to tho ulo gunntroom behind tho outer door. Hero ho hnd recourso to his pocket flask nnd philosophically awaited develop- uients. "I allow," ho said quietly to his only remaining deputy after participating with him in this refreshment, "thet wo don't get through this night's bizness nutch'ally without suthin of n row, but whatever Impiieus, Jim, Iko Mosely don't reckon on bcin either euchred or bluffed. I don't projtoso to let Lem thar git out, nnd they can't have Henry Bruco except over my dead body. Savoy thet?' Tho deputy did. "Now, what I expect of you, Jim," continued Iko. "is what I oilers get clar grit nnd nothiii else" He loaned forward and gripped his ill favored comrade's hand ns ho said this. Tho two men exchanged glances. "Ef they start to break in here tonight I'll draw them fasttiiingH," pointing to tho iron door thut led into the room whero the prisoners were confined, "nnd call on Henry Bruce. Wo two'll keep this placo against all comers or die to gether, ypu can tnko my word for thet! Your bizness'll bo to go In thar and hold thet tarrler, Wickson, nnd proVent his gittin out. Ef ho makes a break or acta anyway olmtrep'rous, shoot him jest tho same ex yo would a jack rabbit. Thar ain't no other Way with Bichcatfle. Ho's moro'n half responsible for tho trouble wo'rogoin to git tonight, nnd I only wish my O-shootcr bed sorter gonooff by nc cident on tho way up hero. It would havo saved my conscicnco consider'blo wear and tear. Ez it is now I'm about eat tip with remorse." As the shadows of evening drew around tho jail the sheriffs forebodings seemed at first without foundation. With the beating of "taps" lights vnn ished at the fort, the sounds of frontier discipline were hushed, and the camp ap parently sank to repose. Deceived by this absence of hostilities, the solitary deputy dozed ou a bench of tho low cor ridor. Only Ike Mosely remained alert and vigilant. Tho moonbeams, stealing through th'o barred grating of tho roof, wero falling almost vertically upon tho stono pave ment nt his feet .when his quick car caught tho sound of voices. Drawing ii narrow slide in tho outer door, ho peered through Its semicircular guard. A crowd of men wero collected iti front of the jail. They wcro conversing together in low tones. In tho light of tho moon the sheriff recognized several of tho most desperate of Foraker's men. Ono burly fellow hold in his hand n coil of rope. Closing t ho slide cautiously, ho roused his companion and examined his pistols. A second later tho juil door vibrated with a blow struck upon it by somo heavy ob ject from withont. 'Who'a there?' doinanded Mosely at tho slide. 'Come., come. Iko Mosely." replied a loud voice, which, the sheriff instantly recognized as tho sergeant of Forftker s men; "this ain't nognmoof bluff. We're hero for bizness, and wo want you to open up? "P'raps you'll state your reasons for gittin in before I glvo yo tho privilege," responded Mosoly. "Waal, yes, we don't mind, secinwe'ro comin in, whether you're willin or not," responded tho voice. "We're going to hang that d d tenderfoot you've got in thero to the highest tree in the post. That's what we're going to do! So we tell you to open up!" "Oh, ye' are?' said Bto tauntingly. "Mobbe you reckon thet I'll set quietly by and ce you do all thet? Now, I'm giviu it to you straight what youkin ex pect ef you try' on anything of the kind. Thar's two of us here, and we'll kill every mother's 'son of ye thet gets in ez sure'ez thcreVa living God!" TO UK CONTINUED. SWTOS Hi OR SHI. WE! OR DRY. THIS STOCK MUST BE SOLD OUT . ATOXCE, COME AND GET WHAT YOU NEED WHILE THE ASSORTMENT IS GOOD. WE MEAN BUSINESS t K, C. HOHK11TSON. Cor. Ilth and N Streets. WN GONOMY DRY 600D8 (BVumVX r !am l I I m iich ".vm v a sm Wo "iiiitV Am yK vvJP wsmLr '--riiyc;w; A wf "iff?TT,irv. 5WSBa ah ,-jhj.': ',,'i"'"'"-TmmjL5:. JmJ !WteSi3Hsm - T w. . 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