Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-03-24

There In the fierce light OF the flames stood
the Concord traJOn.
lowing the freshest hoof tracks. he
found the young officer riding about
through the thick smoke within the
corral.
Any sign of Moreno or his people,
sir?" he hailed.
Not yet. Just sec what's beyond
that doorway. My horse is frightened
mt something there and can't see for
the smoke"
Obedient, the sergeant pushed ahead,
bending low to avoid the sitting fumes
Between the tumbledown heap of bar
ley sacks and the crumbling wall lay
some writing objects in the sand, ard
his stout heart almost failed him at the
moan of agony that met his ear.
Help! water! Oh, for Christ S sake,
| water!'
One bound carried him ont of sight
of his superior. The next instant,
dragging by the foot PROSTATE form.
he emerged from the bank into the
fresher air of the center of the corral
OFF came his canteen and was held TO
the parched lips of stranger in scorch-
ed civilian dress, his beard and hair
sinSed by the flames, his legs and arms
securely hound.
Who are You and what happened?
Whose work is this:' demanded the
lieutenant, leaping from saddle to his
side. The man seemed swooning away,
but the sergeant dashed water in his
face.
"Quick THE others!-or they'll
burn to death"
what Others? Where, man." ex-
claimed the soldiers, springing to their
feet
"Oh! somewhere in there-the far
end of the corral-or Morenos west
room" was the gasping reply.
Another rush into the whirling. eddy
ing smoke, another search along under
the wall, and presently III the Pickering
light the rescuing pair came upon q
barrier of barley sacks, burning in
places from huge flakes of fire falling
from the blazing rafters of the over
hanging shed. and behind this, senseless,
suffocated. helplcssly bound. two other
forms. Thrusting the sacks aside. the
troopers seized and dragged forth their
hapless fellow creatures. Jared by
sudden pressure, a burning upright
snapped. There was n cracking crash
ing sound and down came the rafters,
| sending another column of flame to light
up the features of men rescued not an
instant too soon from the death that
awaited them.
MY God!" cried Sergeant Lee, this
is old Feeny--and yet alive"
Together the two raised the senseless
form, bore it out into the open space,
laid it gently beside their first discovery
and ran back for the next, a big,
heavy. bulky shape in loose and blood
! stained garments. It took all their
strength to lug it forth. Then the lieu
tenant bent by tho side of the slowly
recovering civilian.
''Are there any more we can reach 2"
he questioned eagerly, his heart beating
madly.
"No-too late.-others were inside
when the roof fell in. More water
more water!'
Sergeant Lee sprang to the ollas
glculfllUg tUcIc All tHc lIcllSuC anu
brought back trimming dipper. hold
ing it to the poor fellow parched lips
until no could drink no more, then
slashing away the thongs with which
he was bound.
''This is greaser work" he cried.
"How could they have left you alive?
Where are Moreno's people? Who's
ao,,,, <b;, orvboy.y2' ~
'.Pasqual Morales. Moreno was in it
too. twas the paymaster they were
laying for. but they we killed Ned Har-
vey and got his sisters-old Harvey's
children-from Tucson"
What" cried the officer, leaping to
his feet. ''Harvey's daughters here 2
here? Man, are you mad?''
Its Gods truth! Oh, if had a
drop of the whisky that's being burned
in therei I'm nigh dead"
Run to my saddlcbags, Lee; fetch
that flask. quick; then call in the men
and send one back to hurry up the rest.
Where have they gone? What have
they done with their captives?'