Waterbury evening Democrat., 1893-12-26

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 The soldier just touched the hat rim Srtth
 his JOrcfnJcr.
 gamble with those thugs at Ceralvo's. They've just been paid off and had no chance for any fun ct all before they wero ordered out on this escort duty. That moneys been burning in their pockets now for three wholo nights, and they just can t stand it so long as drop of liquors to be had by hard rid ing. No soldier is happy till he's dead broke, major-leastwise mono ever see''
 What makes you doubt the story, sergeantP It came straight enough"
 Tt came too d-d straight, sir; that's just the trouble. It came straight from Chihuahua Pete's monte mill. It's only hook to draw 'em back, and they played it on you because they saw you were new to the country, and they knew I was asleep: and now. unless Lieutenant Drummond should happen in with his troop, there's no help for it but to wait for tomorrow night and no certainty of getting away then"
 Well, if Mir. Drummond were here, don't you suppose he'd have gone or sent back to protect those people?"
 "Oh, he'd have gone-certainly- that's his business, but it isn't yours, major. You've got government money there enough to buy up every rumhole south of the Gila. You're expected to pay at Stoneman, Grant and Goodwin and Crittenden and Bowie, where they haven had cent since last Christmas and here it is the middle of May. You ought to have pushed through with all speed, so none of these jayhawkers could get wind of your going, let alone the Apaches. Every hour you halt is clear gain to them, and here you've simply got to stay 24 hours all along of cock and bull story about some stageload of frightened women 1 , miles back at Gila Bend. It's plant, ma jor; that's what believe"
 Old Hummer kicked the toe of his shoe into the sandy soil and hung a reflective head. "I wish you hadn t shut your eyes, he drawled at length.
 II wouldn't, sir, if I hadn't thought you'd keep yours open. You slept all night, sir, you and Mir. Dawes while rode alongside with finger on trigger every minute. ;"
 Absorbed in their gloomy conversa- ton, neither man noticed that the wood cn shutter in the adobe wall close at hand had been noiselessly opened from within, just an inch or two. Neither knew, neither could see that behind it, in the gathering darkness of the short sum- mer evening, a shadowy form was crouching.
 Then you think we must stay here, do you?" quericd the paymaster.
 Think? know it. Why, the range ahead is alive with Apaches, and we cant stand 'cm off with only half a dozen men. Your clerks no count, major"
 Old Hummer stood irresolute. His clerk, consumptive and broken down relative, was at that moment lying nerveless on d rude bunk within the ranch, bcmoaning the fate that had i'm pcllcd him to seek Arizona in search oi health. He was indeed of little "'count,' = as the paymaster well knew. After a moment s painful thought the words rose slowly to his lips:
 Well, perhaps you know best, SC here we stay till tomorrow night, or al least until they get back" ;"
 One could almost hear the whisper in the deep recess of the retaining wal -sibilant, gasping. Some ono crouch ing still farther back in the blacl depths of the interior did hear. -s Santa Maria!'
 But when a moment later the propri etor of this roadside ranch, this arti ficial oasis in land of desolation strolled into the big bare room where half dozen troopers were dozing ol gambling it was with an air of conf dential joyiality that he whispered tC the corporal in charge:
 "Our fren, the major, he riffuse m, sell you aguardiente-mescal, but wal tonight. ''
 ''Oh. d-n it, Moreno, we'll be hal 1 way to Stoneman by that time,'' in terrupted the trooper quite savagely Who's to know where we got tn, stuff? We'll make 'em believe Dono vans squad brought it in from Ger alyo's. Give me drink now anyhow you internal greaser; I'm all burnt ou with such day as this. We've got t, start the moment they get back, nnt there won't be any time then.''
 Hush. caballero; they come not to night You will rest here.'
 Why, how in blazes do you knowp'
 "Softlyl-I know not. I know noting; yet, mira !-I know. They tall long in the corral-the major and tha pig of a sergeant-for him l snap m, finger. Look youf' And Moren, gave flip indicative of combined de fiance and disdain.
 Don't you count on his not finding out, Moreno. It's all easy enough S far as the majors concerned, but tha blackguard Feeny's different, tel you. He'd hear the gurgle of tn l spigot if he were 10 miles across tn l Gila, and be hero to bust things befor' l you could serve out a gill-d-l hi1ni He's been keen enough to pu that psalm singing Yankee on guar, over your liquor. How are you goinl