Waterbury evening Democrat., 1893-12-29
FOES IN AMBUSH.
By Capt. CHARLES KING, U. s. 4.
Tcopyrlsht, isaa, by charle. Klng,l

tCoPyrShts 4eSSs oy Charles king.l
 CHAPTER ".
 And now, with such confirmation of the truth of the story of an Apache raid, the paymaster thought it only right to release Moreno from the duress in which Sergeant Feeny had placed him. When So old an inhabitant of Ar izona as Mir. Harvey gave entire ere dence to the report, recognized the note us really his sons handiwork and has tened at all speed to overtake the pur- suers, what room for doubt could be left in the mind of newcomer to the soil2 It was time, thought Hummer, to form an alliance, offensive and defen- sive, with the Mexican deniZens of the ranch against the enemy common to both. But again Feeny shook his head in solemn protest.
 II may have been wrong as to the Apaches, sir, but. l can't be mistaken as to Moreno. He's in the pay of the Morales brothers, even if not an active member of the gang. He is lurking in there now, I'll warrant you, with two or three of them in hiding, waiting for the coming of the main body. They'd "a been here before this perhaps if it hadn't been for the Apache story. They more afraid of one of Cochise's band than of all the sheriffs from Tue son to Tacoma, wish the rest of Har- yey's people would get here, g he con tinued, looking longingly out into the darkness. Unless they are of better stuff than most of these mule whackers in the territory, you won't catch them hustling out alone trying to find their master this night. And yet what use would they be to us!'
 Hummer turned anxiously away and gave himself up to thought. Nothing but faint glimmer now remained of the beacon light. All was still as the grave about the lonely ranch. Walking over to the eastward door, he entered the dark room and was instantly hailed by the voice of his clerk.
 You're there, are you, Dawes? ?" he asked. Not getting sleepy, hope"
 ''Not a whit, major. Icouldn't, even if I hadn t slept most of the day. I'm sitting here on the safe with Colt s six shooter in each hand. If old Moreno's door cracks, by gad! I'll let drive"
 Well, that's all right, but suppose they come around through the corral to this door:"
 I'm ready. I came within an ace of blazing away at you, but happened to recognize your figure and step just in the nick of time. A low whistle without breke up the colloquy. Hummer waddled off in the direction of the sound.
 What is it, sergeant? ?"
 "They're coming. sir. Harvey's men, I mean. Will you deliver his message?"
 Just as you say. Why shouldn't you?"
 It'll have so much more effect from your lips, major. They may misdoubt me-"
 Far ont on the trail the quick trip ping hoofs of mules could now be heard. Presently a horseman shot up out of the gloom.
 Halt there!'' sang out Feeny. Whose party's this?"
 ''Harvey's, Tucscn. Looking for Moreno's. Are we near?''
 You're there now, but you can't stop. Mir. Harvey wants you to come right along after him. He has taken the trail to the Christobal, where the Indians have carried off his daughters. !"
 The man fairly reeled in his saddle, shocked at the dreadful tidings.
 When? How did it happen? Who's gone with him?''
 ''Some time this morning, from all we can learn. Two squads of cavalry are on the trail, one with Ned Harvey, the other just out from here at dark. The old man and George followed them as soon as they got in. Who's with youi"
 1.-Two Mexicans, that's all. They re no account. I'd best leave them here with the mules. They're just behind and have been scared to death already. |"
 And so in 10 minutes two more of the low caste half breed Mexicans were added to the paymaster's garrison, and Sergeant Feeny' .brief exposition of the situation at the ranch only delayed the incoming American long enough to water his horse and stow a little grain in sack.
 ''I wouldn't wonder a d-d bit . if the Morales gang were around here, !" was hls discomforting assurance. None of 'em have been seen about Tucson for Q week before we left. Wish could stay and stand by you, but my first duty is with Mir. Harvey. I've been in his employ nigh onto eight years"
 What sort of looking man is Ned Harvey?" persisted the sergeant. still hopeful of some fraud.
 Tall, dark. smooth face-looks like Spaniard, almost. never saw any body who resembled him hereabouts. I'm afraid it's no plant. 1 don't want to offend you, sergeant, but wish to God it was all the Morales gangs do- ings and that it was only your money they were after. If it's Apaches, and they have got the old mans children, he'll never get over it.
 By heaven!" muttered Feeny to himself, as the loyal fellow put spurs to his horse and disappeared; by heav- en, begin to believe it's both. "
 And now with gloomy face the ser geant returned to where he had left Major Hummer watching the westward trail. A brief word at the doorway as- sured him the clerk was still alert and ready. A pause under the open window, high above the ground, of the room where slept Moreno's wife and daugh- ter, if they slept at all, told him that all was silence there. if not slumber, and then he joined his superior.
 That fellow was, of the right sort, sergeant, '' said Hummer. II wish we had one or two like him.
 II wish we had, sir. Those greas- CTS are worse than no guards at all. They Il sit there in the corral and smoke papelitos by the hour and brag about how they fought their way through the Apaches with Harvey's mules, but for our purpose they're worse than useless. At the first sign of an attack they'd be stampeding out into the darkness, and that's the last we'd see of them. Heard