Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1894-04-26

that the ladies are kept well under
cover, and I'll hurry back with Walsh
and what men can find"
Then down he scrambled, giving one
look at Moreno and his sleeping guard
ian as he passed, then gave low toned
order to Walsh:
Saddle your horse again and ride
just to the other side of that rock yon-
der and wait for me-
Well he understood that it would be
impossible for him to ride away without
Fanny Harvey's knowing that some
thing of serious nature was impend-
ing, and that he could not get away at
all without their knowing it. What
he desired was to conceal from them
that there was any danger from
Apaches.
just as he expected, both girls were
eagerly awaiting him at the entrance to
the cave. His revolvers We're in there
beside the rude couch ON which he had
slept so peacefully.
Now are you ready to return to hos
pital and proper subiection?" asked
Miss Harvey laughingly. ut is high
time. What could have tempted you
to climb to that high point?"
"Why, it's the first chance I've had
of look around, - was the answer.
This is an awfully strong spot for
place of refuge. You are safe here,
safer than anywhere between Yuma
and Tucson, now that the former pos
SCISSORS are scattered. But did you hear
what took Wing off?
mo, he didn't stop to explain mat
ters. He simply dashed away without
even saddle. Something | must
look after, was all he vouchsafed to
say"
well. the men just in tell me the
paymaster's safe was spirited off. Con-
found that little green box of green
backs! Some shrewd packer among
Morales people whisked it out of the
wagon and onto a burro, and now we
are all keen to get it back. OF course
l cant sleep again until we know.
Some Of our people are coming slowly
up the valley, and Wing went on down
to meet then"
But all the time he talked so airily
with the elder sister. Ruth stood watch
ing him with suspicious eyes.
Mr.. Drunmond please do not go,
she broke forth. You have no right
to--now." And James, the dissemblcr,
found himself trapped.
500 | must, Ruthie." he said, with
sudden change of manner. Il know
you will not blame me or detain when
| tell you, as | feel forced to tell you
now, that Sergeant Wing is hurt. His
horse has fallen with him far out on
the desert. I'll he back very SOON"
Then with sudden impulsive move
ment he bent. kissed her forehead and
turned as suddenly away.
When the sisters looked into each
others eyes moment later, one face
was blushing like the dawn. the other
was pallid with new and deep anx-
iety.
And now we, too, must follow Wing.
He was total stranger, it is to be re
/ membered, to the regiment when, after
its years of battling in the Army of the
| Potomac, it was sent into exile on the
far Pacific coast and speedily lost to
sight in the deserts of Arizona. The
! type of nOncOmmisSionod officer most
! familiar to the rank and file as well as to
| their superiorS was the old fashioned
"plains raised, "disciplin furst and
rayson afterward" class of which Feeny
was SO prominent an exponent. Brave
to rashness and faithful to the very
death. they had reason to lcok for re-
spect and appreciation. They wer,
men whose only education was tha
| picked up in the camps and campaign!
Of the famous old regiments to which
when mere recruits, they had been az
signed. They wero invaluable in thu
| army and would have been utterly mis-
| judged and out of their element any
where else. That book learning" anC
soldering could ever go hand in hanC
no man iii the old dragons would eve
have believed for an instant. Sucl
scholars as had drifted into the rank
were, as a rule, irreclaimable drunk
ards, lost to any chance of redemption
at home, and only tolerated in the serv
ice in the rough old days because O
their meek and accomplishing perform
ance of long hours of extra duty in tn,
Troop or regimental offices when, thei
whisky and their money alike exhaust
I'd. they humbly went back to thei
desks, asking only to live in the hop
.z nI~
4 III