Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-06-05

the smoking shingles. The barn, luckily
some distance from the house, had
burned down to q heap of red, heat
quivering Goals. He threw q number OF
pals of water around this, and then
stood a moment 10 think what to do
next. His clothing was burnt and
blaokened, his hands blistered and his
eyes half-blinded by the smoke.
HWhat shall do?' he cried miser-
ably: eff go to town for help I'd miss
father; if go to meet him l may not
take the right road; it will be three days
before he is back. The Newtons haven t
got back from Denver, and I'm afraid
Silas Warren is killed. There's no one
to tell my father which way they went.
They never have been tracked in the
range. Only Apaches can hide so well.
What is my duty? Oh can't stay here
and wait; a day means so much; the
trail Is fresh now; they'll never think of
any ones being so near. What was it
father read that night. !"
''Do the duty which lies nearest to
thee which thou knowest to be duty
Thy second duty will already have be-
come clearer. +"
''My father says I'm foolishly dar-
ing,' thought the poor lad, "bus he'd
follow that trail; he knows how they sep
arate and leave false clews when they are
pursued. The marks of the cattle are
plain now, but a rain will make them
almost impossible to trace, or the dry
wind will turn the mud into dust in q
day" He drew in his lips firmly. "In
do it, he cried; sit is my nearest
cuty.'
He went into the house, gathered up
some things he would need as little as
possible, and then he wrote note.
"DEAR FATHER-The Apaches have
been here. 1 found home like this.
Warren IS cabin burned, and all our cat
tie gone. They have taken mother and
Nell. am going to follow them. They
have fooled the settlers so often with
false trails, but they won't think of any
ones being so near. l haye taken
mothers apron and will tie strips of it
to the trees when am sure of their trail.
1 know Half Breed Joe was here there's
a queer mark on the kitchen floor like
his crippled foot, where he must have
come in muddy. 1 have tried to think
of everything, put out the fire and all,
and if 1 am doing wrong in following
them can t help it. 1 felt it was my
duty. HARRY.
AS he wrote his name a slight sound
outside sent the blood away from his
heart, he sprang TO his feet as the UNI
latched door began to move gently in
ward. "Who's there?" he cried. A
black nose, pair of shining brown eyes,
a shaggy coat, ending in tremendous
wagging of a fungia tail, appeared.
'sDooI' cried Harry, bursting into
tears as the dog leaped upon him. ''Doc,
they, my mother and her? I was look
ing for Nell and you to meet me. She
in that little white dress and the sailor
ize it, Doc, can't. -
THE dog answered by a low whine,
licking his masters hand.
''Why, your fur IS al wet, Doc. It's
blood - He brought water and washed
bullet wound in the dogs shoulder.
s'I know you went with Nell to guard
her and they shot at you
boo thumped his tail on tbs floor and
calmly extended paw; it was the only
trick he knew, reserved for great COCA
sions.
Harry liberated the broncho, fed the
dog and then sat down to wait. 1t was
quite dark and sad sounding wind
walled down the canon. The high out
lines of the mountains doomed black and
awful, only single star quiTering over
the San Miguel gave promise of coming
light. Later, a great shaft OF silver
pierced the darkness as the moon rose
oyer the valley. Then the lad and his
four footed friend went forward into the
mysteries and dangers of the trackless
mountain.
The trail was narrow and indistiuct.
It moved among timber aud great