The Russellville Democrat. [volume] (Russellville, Ark.) 1875-1898, 1893-05-18

click of iron-shod hoofs, the cracl
Of the long mule whip, and a reso
nant imprecation in Spanish, levelle(
at the invisible draught animals
Bounding lightly down the south.
ward path Sergeant Wing soor
reached ~the roadside, and there
found Pike in converse with brace
of horsemen.
ats old Harvsy's outfit from
Yuma, making for Moreno's,
vouchsafed the soldier.
"Oh, is that you, Sergeant Wing
| ought to have known you were
here. I'm Ned Harvey" And tbs
taller horseman held out hand
which Wing grasped and SHOOK
with cordial fervor.
(Which way, Mr.. Harvey, anc
who are with youi"
"Home to Tucson. My sisters art
in the Concord behind us, going t.
visit the old folks for few weeks
before their trip to Cuba"
"You don't tell mel" exclaimed
Wing. They're the first ladies t.
pass through here since came OF
duty at this station two months ago
You stay at Moreno's, | supposed
eyes, the governor meets US there
with relays and four or FIVE men
We knew there would be no danger
west of the Santa Maria. +"
We'll, did you stop at Ceralvo's
or see any of their peoplei"
''No, never put in there
Fathers very suspicious of that
gang. Why do you ask, thought
Wing hesitated. "There was some
story afoat about Apaches," he
finally said. "The paymaster's
escort threw off detachment toward
the ella this morning, and | sent
one of my two men. back to Ceral.
vo's to inquire. You must have met
him."
"No, we made circuit--came by
the old trail around the head of the
slough. We haven't passed any
body, have we, Tonyf" he asked OF
the silent horseman by his side.
None, senior, but there were
many hoof trails leading to Ceral-
vo's," was the answer in the Span
ish tongue.
"Theu you'll need water here,
Mr.. Harvey. It's ten mile pull
across to Moreno" said Wing, as
the four mule team came laboring up
to the spot and willingly halted, the
lantern at the forward axle slowly
settling into inertia from its pendu-
lum-ike swing.
where are we, Nedf" hailed a
blithe young voice. Sweet and sill
very it sounded to the troopers
ears. "Surely not at
Moreno's yeti"
"Not yet, Paquita mia. Is
Ruth awakef Tell her to poke that
curly pate of hers out of the door.
' want you to know Mr.. Wing,
Sergeant Wing, who has charge of
the signal station here"
Almost instantly a slender hand,
holding little brass hurricane Ian
tern, appeared at the opening, fol-
lowed by sweet, smiling face,
while just behind it peered another,
only trihe older and more serious,
yet with every whit as pretty. Wing
taised his old felt hat and men
rally cursed the luck that had sent
him down there in his ragged shirt
sleeves. Pike, the cynic, busted
himself in getting the buckets from
the stout spring wagon,
and bumped his head savagely
against the trunk laden boot as he
81 never dreamed of seeing ladies
tonight" laughed the sergeant.
"It's the rarest sight in all the world
here but | remember you well when
you came to Yuma last year. That
was when you were going to school
in San Francisco, | believe"
"That was when | was in short
dresses and a long face, sergeant,
merrily answered the younger girl.
II hated the idea of going there to
school. Fan, here was willing
enough, but / had never known any
thing but Arizona and Mexico. All
| could think of was that | was
leaving home"
"She was soon reconciled, Mr..
Wing" said Miss Harvey; "there
were some very pleasant people on
the steamer. J."
"0h, very pleasant for you, Fan,
but what did they care for a chit Of
fourteen' You had lovely times, of
course"
$50 did you, Ruth, from the very
day Mr.. Drummond helped you to
catch your dolphin"
"Ah we were more than half way
10 San Francisco them" protested
Ruth promptly "and nobody had
taken any notice Of me whatever up
TO that minute. "
"Well, Mr.. Drummond made up
for lost time from that on" laughed
the elder sister. ~ never told Of
her, Ned-wasn't / goodi-but
Ruth lost her young heart TO a
cavalry cadet not a year out Of the
Point
SIS it our Lieut.. Drummond who
was with youi" queried Wing.
ooh, yes; why, to be sure, he is