Waterbury evening Democrat., 1893-12-27

Tor CefclNo at once. How could those Indians have got over that way?"
 Ut is beyond me to say, sir. didn't know they ever went west of the Santa Maria.
 II can hardly believe it now, but there's no doubting that signal; it is to call us thither at all speed wherever we may be and means only one thing -'Apaches here Sergeant Wing is not the man to get stampeded. Can they have jumped the stage, do you think, or attacked some of Ceralvo's paopleT"
 Lord knows, sir. don't sec how they could have swung around there. There's nothing to tempt them along that range until they get to tho pass itself. They must have como around south of Moreno's."
 II think not, sergeant. /"
 Tho words were spoken in a very quiet voice. Drummond turned in sur prise, his foot in the stirrup, and looked at tho speaker, a keen eyed trooper of middle age, whose hair was already sprinkled with gray.
 "Why not, Blandf''
 Because we hayo been along the range for nearly 50 miles below here, cause understand now what couldn't account for at ? o'clock-what thought must be imagination.
 What was that?"
 "Smoke, sir, off toward tho Gila, north of Ceralvo's, l should say, just about north of west of where we are. '"
 Why didn't you report it?''
 "You werc asleep, sir, and by the time got the glasses and looked it had faded out entirely, but it s my belief the Indians arc between us and the river, or were over there north of Ceralvo's today If not Indians, who?"
 You ride with me, Bland. I'll talk with you further about this. Come on with the men as soon as you have the packs ready, sergeant. And so saying Lieutenant Drunmond mounted and rode slowly down the winding trail among the powders. At the foot of the slope, where the water lay gleam- ing in it's rocky bed, he refined his horse to the left to give him his fill of the pool, and here the troop addressed as Bland presently joined him.
 ' was the younger soldiers first ques- tion. II understand you arc familiar with all this country
 At Tucson, sir, six months ago, aft CT the stage company discharged me.
 II remember, was the answer as tic lieutenant gently drew rein to lift his horses head. T think you were SC frank as to give the reason of your quitting their employment.
 Well, there was no sense trying to conceal it or anything clse a man may do out hero. lieutenant. They fired me for drinkiGs; too much at the wrong time. Tho section boss said he couldn' I help himself, and I don't suppose he could.
 As I remember, said Drummond presently, and with hesitation. for he hated to l,ry into the past of man who spoke so frankly and who made nc effort to conceal his weakness, you were driver of the blackboard the Mo- rales gang held up last November over near tho Catarinas.
 Yes; that's the time got drunk, sir. It's all that saved mo from being killed, and between keeping sober and losing my life or getting drunk and losing job preferred the latter"
 Yet you were in measure respon. sible for the safety of your passengers and mail, were you not?'
 Well, no, sir; not after the warning l gave the company. I told them Ramon Morales was in Tucson the nigh' before we had to pull out, and wherever he was that internal cutthroat of ( brother of his wasn't far away. tolt them it was taking chances to let Judg, Gillette and that infantry Quartermas ter try to go through without escort. begged to throw up the job that very night, but they held me to my contract and I had to go. We were jumped no 10 miles out of town, and before any one could draw derringer every mar of us was covered. The judge migh have known they'd shoot him on sigh ever since that greaser from Hermosillt was lynched. But they never harmed the quartcrmaster.
 Huh! The devil they didn't!' laughed tho lieutenant. They tool his watch and his money and every thing ho had on except his undercloth ing. How long had you been driving when that happened?"
 Just eight months, sir, betweel | Tucson and Grant.
 And did you never serve with tn l cavalry before? You ride as thougl l you had
 Most men hereabouts served on on side or other, said Bland calmly, a his horse finished his long pull at tn water.
 And your side was''- Confederate, was the brief reply ''I was born in Texas. Here comes tn troop, sir. ''
 Come on. then. I want to ask yo, about that trail to Crittenden as W ride We make first for the Picach pass from here
 Why, that's south of west, sir, " an swered Bland. II had thought perhap the lieutenant would want to go north ward toward the Gila to head off an parties of the Apaches thst might b striving to get away eastward wit their booty. They must have picke up something over at the Bend"
 They're more likely to go south ward. Bland, for they know wher we've been scouting all the week. Nc I'll march straight to the signal. Ther they must know where the Indian have gone.
 Aye, aye. sir, but then you can onl pursue, and a stern chase is n lon one.
 Drummond turned in his saddle q they rode forth upon the dark falda an gazed long and fixedly at the trooper b his side. Approximately Bland cor tinued to look straight ahead. Quee stories had been afioat regarding thi new acquisition. He mingled but lii tie with the men. He affected rathe the society of the better class of nor commissioned officers. an offense nc likely to le condoned in recruit. H was already distinguished for his eas