The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-12-06

t@4ttJ >tata ~ ii'lit OIutIIDY
saddle, and then shouting for Priyat,
Bland.
"Are there any Of our men beside,
the farrier who have any knowledge OF
surgerys" 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 10.
Give Woods a little moro whisky and
see if you can get word out of tho ma
jor or Feen,k'
But efforS with the half suffocated
men had no effect. The Whisky with
Woods had better results. He present.
ly ceased his shivering sobs and could
answer moro questions. Drummond
begged for particulars Of the capture.
and these the man found it difficult TO
give. He was stationed at the back
door, tho corral side, he said, and hard
ly saw the final rush. But there was
something SO queer about it. There
had been few minutes lull. Then
Harvey and Feeny beth began to talk
excitedly and to call out that the "road
agents" were running away, and then
presently there came the sound of gal
Looping hoofs and cheering and both the
sergeant and Mr.. Harvey had shouted
that the troops were coming and rushed
ont to meet them" And the next thing I
knew, said Woods, twas seeing Feeny
fattened out on the ground and crawl
ing on his hands and knees and the
room filled with roughs, some Mexi-
cans, some Yanks, and 1 slipped into
the corral and saw one of them shoot
Feeny as he was trying to crawl after
me; and while they were swearing and
searching for the safe and carrying it
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, he said, amazed and excited
him so he couldn't believe his eyes, but
he was almost ready to swear that tbs
fellow Feeny ran to shake hands with
was 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 he
was trying to crawl away.
Drummond looked around at the man
almost derisive. The story
was improbable, too much so to deserve
even faint attention. Just then Mel
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
ls all night. He rode ahead with the
lieutenant until we came to Corporal
Donovan body"
Hes not been with me since" ex-
claimed the lieutenant. Sergeant Lee.
lsk if any of the men have seen him."
Lee was gone but moment, then
'ame back with grave face and troublec.
yes, bringing with him young troop
r who was serving his first enlistment.
Private Goss, here, has queer story
o tell, SIR
What do you know? What have
ou seen?" asked Drummond.
why, sir, right after Sergeant Lee
aught sight of tho fire and sung out
hat it was Moreno's was back about
ouple of rods looking for my cantecn.
was that startled when they found
'orporal Donovan dead that dropped
!. and all of a sudden somebody cnlnes
ut past me leading his horse, and
sked him what he had lost, and he said
is pipe and passed me by, and |
bought nothing more about it-only
o sooner did he get out into tho dark
here couldn't see him than heard
II of sudden horse start at full gal
Up right over in this direction, and
ow think of it it must have been
land, for it was him that passed me,
out like"
Drummond sprang TO his feet.
What say you to this, sergeant? Do
ot believe-do you think it possible
lat Bland has deserted and Joined
leso outlaws?"
don't Know what to think, sir,
1t haven't forgotten what Feeny
lid OF him."
"What was that?"
THAT ho had too smooth a tongue to
i've led n rough ard honest life; that
no was q Texan as h, aimed Texas
'oplc had learned to .lk different
ngo since ho was toned among
EN- with the old Second cavalry before {
o war, and that no wished he'd been '
ero nt Lowell when tho adjutant ac- ]
pied those letters from former officers
tho regiment as genuine. Bland {
ould never show them TO Foeny. Said 9
} had sent 'om all TO his homo in 9
'xas. That was what made bad blood {
tween them"
by hcavenl and now to think that !
o of our troop-C troop-should j
ve been engaged in this outrage! I
1t we'll get them, mon, said Drum J
md, Strengthening UP TO his full
light and raising his gauntleted hand 6