The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1894-01-25
COPYRIGHT, 1893 BY CHARLES KING. :.


orders to the master of the ranch, but
Moreno himself had made no audifse
reply, and, as was conjectured, had
enjoined silence on his wife, for after
that outbreak she spoke no more.
1--we got this approach covered any
how, muttered the veteran. Now if
only had men to watch those doors
into the corral l could pen Moreno and
whatever he has here at his back. It's
that gang of hell hounds we passed at
Ceralvo's that will pay us a call before
morning, or I'm duffer.''
Once again he found the paymaster
wearily. anxiously patrolling his self
assumed post out beyond the westward
wall. The presence of common danger,
the staff officials forgetfulness of self
and his funds in his determination to
aid the wretched women whom he
firmly believed to have been run off by
the Apaches, had won from the sergeant
the tribute of more respectful demean-
or, even though he held the story of the
raid to be an out and out lie.
ANY signs or sounds yet, sir:'' he
questioned in muffied tone.
''Why, l thought-just moment
ago-I heard something like the crack
of whip far out there on the plain. -
"That's mighty strange, sir; no stage
is due coming east until tomorrow
night, and no stage would dare pull out
on this stretch in face of the warning
there at Picacho.'
"Well, it may have been imagina-
ton. My nerves are all unused to
this sort Of thing. How do you work
this affair when you want to reload,
sergeant? I'm blessed if understand
it. l never carried a revolver before in
my life.
Feeny took the glistening, nickel
plated Smith & Wesson, clicked the
hammer to the safety notch, tested the
cylinder springs, and touching the
lever showed his superior by the feel
rather than sight how the perfect me-
chanism was made to turn on its hinge
and thrust the emptied shells from their
chamber. ~. a a
1.-The Lord grant we may have no
call to shoot tonight. sir, but l mis-
doubt the whole situation. That fires
beginning to wear itself out already,
and any minute / look to hear the hoof
beats of the Morales gang, surround
ing us here on every side. If they'll
! only hold off till toward morning and !
can brace up these two poor devils
they've poisoned, we can stand 'em off
awhile until our fellows begin to come
/ back or Lieutenant Drummond hears
of the gathering
And do you still believe there are
no Apaches in this business % asked
the major.
mot out north or west, sir; they're
thick enough ahead in the Santa Maria.
but not to the north, not to the vest
can't believe that. Those Morales fell
lows know everything that is going on.
They knew that just about this time
Ned Harvey was expected along escort
ing his sisters home. They knew you
had never seen him and could easily
be made to believe the story. Every
thing has been done to hold us back,
first at Ceralvo's and afterward here,
until they could gather all their gang
in force sufficient to attack, then
Hist! listen! There's hoofs now. No,
not out there, the other way, from the
Tucson road, east. God grant it's
some of our fellows coming back /!
Keep watch here, major; I'll run out
and challenge"
Hastily picking up a carbine as he
passed the door, Feeny ran nimbly out
across the sandy barren, disappearing
in the darkness to the southeast. Old
Plummer's heart beat like hammer
as he listened for the hail. A moment
more he could hear hoof beats and the
voices of men in low tones; then, low
toned, too, but sharp and stern, Feeny's
challenge rose upon the night:
"Who comes there?''
Instantly the invisible party halted,
surprised. but with the promptness born
of frontier experience back came the
answer:
Friends.
"Who are you and where from?''
George Harvey and party from Tue
son, looking for Moreno's. Who are
your"
''United States cavalry on escort
duty. How many in your party?"
''Only two here. We were delayed
by Apache signs in the Santa Maria.
The rest are some miles behind with
relay mules. Are we near the ranch
What's that light out to the west?''
Never mind that now. Dismount
and come up alone, Mr.. Harvey. Imust
recognize you first.
Feeny wanted to gain time. His
brain was whirling. Here was partial
confirmation of the story told by the
alleged Ned Harvey in the morning.
Here was the father coming with guard
and relay mules to meet his children
lust as their morning visitors declared
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