The Russellville Democrat., 1893-04-27
FOES IN AMBUSH.
Capt. Charles King, U. s. A., Author of "rhe Coloncls DauRhts r," "Msrion's Faith,' = ''Kitty's Con
 quest,'' "A Soldiers
 Secret" Etc.
fCopyright, 1892, by Charles King) CHAPTER I, Continued.

ton, strolled into the big bare room, where half dozen troopers were dozing or gambling, it was with an air of confidential joviality that he whispered to the corporal in charge:
 "Our fren' the major, he riffuse me sell you aguardiente-mescal; but wait-to-night."
 "Oh, pshaw, Moreno, we'll be half way to Stoneman by that time, " interrupted the trooper, savagely. "Who's to know where we got the stuff We'll make lem believe Dono vans squad brought it in from Ceralvo's. Give mo a drink now anyhow, you internal greaser: Pm all burnt out with such a day as this. We've got to start the mo- ment they get back, and there won't be any time then"
 Hush, caballeroj they come not tonight. You will rest here"
 "Why, how in bIazes do you knowi"
 "Softly I know not. l know noting; yet, mira! l know. They talk lono in the corral, the major and that pig of sergeant; for him I snap my finger. Look you " And Moreno gave a flip indicative of combined defiance and disdain.
 "Don't you count on his not find ing out, Moreno. It's all easy enough so far as the majors con cerned, but that blackguard Feeny's different, 1 tell you. He'd hear the gurgle of the spigot if he were ten miles across the Gila, and be here to burst things before you could serve out a gill-confound him. He's been keen enough 10 put that psalm singing Yankee on guard over your liquor. How're you going to get at it, anyhowi"
 For all answer the Mexican placed the forefnger of his left hand upon his lips and with that of the right hand pointed significantly to the hard beaten earthen floor.
 "Ah--I have mine" he whispered. "You will not betray, chi Shu-ul Hush He comes now"
 The gruff voice of Sergeant Feeny broke up the colloquy.
 "Corporal Murphy, take what men vou have here and groom at once. Feed and water, too. Moreno, I want supper cooked for eight in thirty minutes. Drop those cards now, you men; you should have been sleeping as 1 told you, so as to be ready for work tonight"
 "Shure we don't go tonight, Sergeant"
 "Who says thati" demanded Feeny, quickly, whirling upon his subordinates. The corporal looked embarrassed and turned to Mo. reno for support. Moreno, pro- foundly calm, was as profoundly oblivious.
 "Moreno there," began Murphy, finding himself compelled to speak.
 "Ii" gravely, courteously pro- tested the Mexican, with deprecatory shrug of his shoulders and upward lift of the eyebrow. "If What know II I do but say the Corporal Donovan is not come. How know 1 you go not out to-nightf'
 "NeitLer you nor the likes of you knows" was Feeny's stern resort. "We go wherl we will and no ques- tions asked. As for you, Murphy, you be ready, and it's me you'll ask, not any outsider, when we go. I've had enough to swear at to-day with out you fellows playing off on me. Go or no go, no liquor, mind you. The first man l catch drinking I'll tie by the thumbs to the back of the and he'll foot it to Stone man."
 No words were wasted in remon strance or reply. These were in deed "the days of the empire" in soou after the great war of the rebellion, when men, drank and swore and fought and gambled in the rough life of their exile, but obeyed, and obeyed with out question, the officers appointed over them. These were the days when veteran sergeants like Feeny men who had served under St. George Cooke and Summer and Harney on the wide frontier before he war, who had ridden with the starry guidans in many a wild, charge under Sheridan and Merritt and Custer in the valley of Virginia-held almost despotic powers among the troopers who spent hat enlistment in the isolation of Arizona. Rare were were the cases when they abused their privilege. stern was their rule, rude their speech, but by officers and men llike they were trusted and re- ipeeted. As for Feeny, there were lot lacking those who declared that le was spoiled. Twice that day had he paymaster been on the point of his, apparent indifference. Twice had he withheld his censure, moving, after all, Feeny to be in he right and himself in the wrong. And now in the gathering shades of light, as he stood in silence watching he brisk process of grooming, and loS'sd how thorough and business Ike, even though sharp and stern, vas Fe' my, the paymaster was wish ng h@ had not ven.ured 10 disre- ,ard the caution of so skilled a -eteral |.