The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-03-07

from the ranch, no signal nres at NC
feno's or beyond.
Yet was he right in telling Harvey
with such precious freight to push on
across that open plain when there was
even rumors of Apaches in the air? The
loveliness of those two dark, radiant
faces, the pretty white teeth flashing in
the lantern light, the soft, silvery, girl
ish voices, the kindly, cordial handclasp
vouchsafed him by the elder as they
rolled away-these were things to stir
the heart Of any man long eSiled In this
desert land. It had been his custom
to spend an hour in chat with his COM
rades before turning in for the night,
but with jackson still away and Pike
still plunged in gloom-with, moreover,
new and stirring emotions to investi-
gate and analyze-Wing strolled off by
himself, passed around the rocky but
tress at the point and came to the broad
ledge overlooking the eastward way to
the distant range.
Here mass of tinder, dry baked by
weeks exposure to the burning sun
shine, stood in a pyramid of frewood
ready to burst in fame at first touch
of the torch. Close at hand We're the
stacks of reserve fuel. Never light
this until you know the Indians are
raiding west of the Christobal, y were
! his orders. But well he knew that once
ionited it could be seen for many a
league. Here again he filled his faithful
pipe, and moving a safe distance away
lighted its charge and tossed the match
stump among the jagged rocks below.
He saw the spark go sailing down
ward, unwafted from its course by faint
est breath of air. Then he heard Pixies
growl or something like it and called
to him to ask if he heard Jackson. No
answer. Sure that he had heard the
gruf though inarticulate voice of his
comrade, he hailed again more loudly
than before, and still there came no re-
ply. Surprised, he stepped quickly
back around the rocky point to where
the tents lay under the sheltering cliff
and came face to face with three dark.
shadowy forms, whose moccasined foot
! steps gave no sound, whose masked and
blackened faces de6ed recognition,
whose cooked revolyers were thrust into
his very face before a lariat settled over
his shoulders, snapped into place; and
yelling for help when help was miles
beyond range Of his ringing voice Ser
geant Wing was jerked violently to
earth, dragged into tent, strapped to
cot, deity gagged and then left to him
self. An instant later the Picacho was
lighted up with lurid, unearthly
glare; the huge column Of sparks went
whirling and Kissing up on high, and
far and near the great beacon was
warning all seers that the fierce Apache
was out in force and raiding the Yuma
road.
Away ont across the desert its red
glare chased the Concord wagon where
in, all unconscious of the danger signal,
the sisters were now chatting In low
tone.
"Drive your best. had Harvey NUT
tered to his Mexican jehu, IS he leaned
| out of the saddle to reach his ear.
Not word 70 alarm the girls, he
cautioned his companion, but be ready
for anything.
Far out beyond the swaying, bound
ing vehicle; far out across the blistered
plain. the glare and CLEAN fell full
upon the brown adobe walls at Mo-
reno's. and glittering eyes and swarthy
faces peered through the westward
! aperture. while out in the corral the
night lights were dancing to and fro,
and Feeny, sore perplexed, but obedi-
ent to orders, was hurrying the prepa-
! rations of his men.
! Murphy's wild announcement had
carried conviction to the majors soul,
despite all Feeny's pleadings, ard the
sight of that beacon furiously burning,
the thought of those helpless women
being borne off into the horrors Of cap
tivity among the Indians, had conspired
to rouse the paymastcr to unlocked for
assertion of himself and his authority.
In vain had Feeny begged him to think
of his money, to remember that out
laws would resors to any trick to rob
him Of his guard and might have even
overpowered Wing and his party and
then lighted the beacon. The chain OF
evidence, the straight story told by his
morning visitor, the awful news con-
tained IN the penciled note brought IN
by Mullan, were considerations too po-
tent to be sighted.
In vain did Feeny point out to him
that if Apaches We're really IN the
neighborhood Wing would not be con-
tent with starting the fire, bat would
surely signal whittier TO go in search
of them, and that 70 vestige Of signal
torch had appeared. Old Plu1nmer
vowed he could never again know a
moment of peace if he neglected to do
anything or everything i'll his power
to save the girls. Nest reluctantly he
agreed that Feeny should remain in
charge of the safe ard the two drugged
and helpless men. Murphy and all the
others were ordered out forthwith to