The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-01-24

Give Woods little more whisky and
see If you can get word out of the ma
jor or Feeny."
But efforts with tho half suffocated
men had no effect. The whisky with
Woods had better results. He present
ly ceased his shivering sobs and could
answer more questions. Drummond
begged for particulars of the capture,
and these the man found it difficult to
give. He was stationed at the back
door. the corral side, he said, and hand
~ saw the final rush. But there was
something so queer about it. There
had been a few minutes lull. Then
Harvey and Feeny both began to talk
eXcitedly and to call out that the "road
agents. were running away, and then
presently there came the sound of gal
Looping hoofs and cheering and both the
sergeant and Mr.. Harvey had shouted
that the troops were coming and rushed
out to meet them" And the next thing
knew, " said Woods, twas seeing Fccny
tlattencd out on the ground and crawl
ing on his hands and knees and the
room filled with roughs, some Mexi-
cans, some Ianks, and l slipped into
the corral and saw one of them shoot
Feeny as he was trying to crawl after
me; and while they were swearing and
searching for the safe and carrying it
ont, Mr.. Dawes and Mullan managed,
somehow, to help the paymaster out,
and then went in after the other man."
Then Woods could tell little more.
One thing, he said, amazed and excited
him so he couldn't believe his eyes, but
he was almost ready to swear that tho
fellow Fccny ran to shake hands with
was soldier in uniform, and that he
held Fceny's hand while another man
came up behind and mashed him
with the butt of his pistol, and that
this fellow in soldier clothes was the
man who aftcrward shot Feeny as he
was trying TO crawl away.
DrummCnd looked around mt the man
incredulous-alm derisive The story
was improbable, too much so to deserve
even faint attention. Just then Mel
recke came back and, precise as ever.
stood attention and saluted.
Herr lieutenant, Private Bland is
not with my party ut all, sir
Did you leave him back with the
packs?''
No, sir; the men say he wasn't with
us all night. He rode ahead with the
lieutenant until we came to Corporal
Donovan's body
He's not been with me since" cx-
claimed the lieutenant Sergeant Lee,
ask If any Of the men have seen him."
Lee was gone but Il moment. then
came back with grave face and troubled
eyes, bringing with him Il young troop.
or. L.,
Private Goss here, has queer story
to tell. sir
What do you know? What have
you seem asked Drummond
"Why, sir, right after Sergeant Lee
caught sight of the fire and sung out
that it WAS Moreno's was back about Il
couple of rods looking for my cantccn.
| WAS that startled when they found
Corporal Donovan dead that dropped
it. and all of Il sudden somebody comes
out past me leading his horse. and /
asked him what he had lost. and he said
his pipe and passed me by. and |
thought nothing more about it--only
no sooner did he get ont into the dark
where l couldn't see him than | heard
all of Il sudden Il horse start - r. II gal
lop right over in this direction. and
now l think of it it must havc been
Bland. for it was him that passed me,
sncakinss out like
Drumnond sprang 10 H.; feet
"What say you to this, sergeant? Do
You beliovc-do You thiuil it possible
that Bland has deserted and Joined
these outlnWs:'
Il don't know what to think. sir,
but 1 haven't forgotten what Feeny
said OF linn.
What was that"
THAT no had TOO smooth Il tonCuc TO
have led IL rough and honest life; that
ii lie was Is Texan as he claimed Texas
people had learned to talk IL different
lingo since he was stationed among
them with tho old Second cavalry before
the war, and that he wished he'd been
thcro at LOwcllavhcn the adjutant ac-
ccpted those letters from former officers
of the regiment AS genuine Bland
would never show them to Fceny Said
no had sent 'cn all to his home i'll
Texas. That WIS what made bad blood
between them
by heaven! and now to think that
one of our troop-C troop-should
have been engaged in this outrage
But we'll get them, men, . said Drum
mond, Strengthening up to his full
height and raising his gauntlctcd hand
i'll air They can 80 fast on fur
with those wagons slch Il might as this
They'll strike tho foot hills before
they've COMO 10 miles, then they'll
have TO go slow Vol catch them be-
fore tho SIM is up, and, by tho God Of