The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-02-21

the walls were jealousy thick, all
scouting parties or escorts well knew
that Moreno's wife and daughter We're
hidden from prying eyes, and rumor
had it that often there were more than
two feminine occupants; that these
were sometimes joined by three or four
others-wives or sweethearts Of out
lawed men who rode with Pasqual Nc
rales-and all Arizona knew that Pas
quail Morales had little more Mexican
blood in his veins than had Feeny
himself. He was an Americana, a
cursed gringo for whom long years ago
the sheriffs of California and Nevada
had chased in vain, who had sought
refuge and mate in Sonora and whose
swarthy features found no difficulty In
masquerading under Mexican name
when the language Of love had made
him familiar with the Mexican tongue.
Slow. to action, slow Of speech as was
the paymaster, he was not slow to see
that Sergeant Feeny was anxious and
i'll at ease, and if veteran trooper,
whom his captain had pronounced the
coolest, pluckiest and most reliable man
in the regiment, could be so disturbed
over the indications. it was high time
to take precaution. What was the
threatened danger? Apaches? They
would never assault the ranch with its
guard Of soldiers, whatsoever they
might do in the canyons in the range
beyond. Outlaws? They had not been
heard of for months. He had inquired
into all this at Yuma, at the stage sta
tions, by mail of the commanding
officers at Lowell and Bowie and
Grant. Not for six months had stage
been held up or blackboard
Jumped" south Of the turbid ella.
True. there was rumor of riot and law
lessness among the miners at Castle
Dome and the customary shooting scrape
at Ehrenberg and La Paz, but these
were river towns, far behind him now
as he looked back over the desert trail
and aloft into the star studded, cloud
less sky.
Nothing could be more placid, moth
ing less prophetic OF peril or ambush
than this exquisite summer night.
Somewhere within the forbidden region
Of Moreno's harem guitar was begin
ming to tinkle softly. That was all
very we'll. but then a woman's voice,
anything but soft, took up strange,
monotonous refrain. Line after line,
verse after verse, it ran, harsh, change
less. He could not distinguish the
words-he did not wish to; the music
was bad enough in all conscience, what
soever it might become when sung by
youth OF beauty. AS it fell from the
lips of Sonora Moreno the air was
succession of vocal nasal disharmonies.
high pitched, strident, nerve rachng.
Unable to listen after the third repe-
tition, Plummer slowly retired from
the corral and once more appeared at
the front. just in time for sensation.
Two troopers. two of the men who had
ridden back with Donovan, came lurch-
ing into the lighted space before the
main entrance. At sight Of the pay
master one of them stiffened up and
with preternatural gravity Of mien ex-
ecuted the salute. The other, with an en-
velope in his hand, reeled out Of the sad
die, failed to catch his balance, plunged
heavily into the sand and lay there.
Corporal Murphy sprang eagerly for
ward, the first man to reach him, and
turned the PROSTATE trooper over on his
back.
What's the matter?" queried Plum
mer. lis he sick?''
''Sick, is it?'' was the quick retort.
as the corporal shifted at the tainted
breath of the sufferer. BE the pow
ers, l only wish l had half his dis
ayse. -
And then came Feeny, glaring, wrath
full.
Come down off the top Of that
horse, Mullan," he ordered, fiercely
"How-how'd ye get here? Which
way'd ye come? Where's the rest?"
With the ponderous dignity Of in
ebriey, Mullan slowly pointed up the
desert under the spot where the pole
star glowed in the northern skies.
''Sarsh mt, !" he hiccoughed, were
we're too late; PEACHES got there
first. -
s.Hwat! hwat!'' thundered Feeny.
Dye mean there were women-that
it WASN'T plant?''
"Fack.'
'.Hware's your dispatches, you
drunken lort? How dare you dhrink
when there was fight ahead? Hware's
your dispatches? and may heaven blast
the souls of you both!''
"Here, sergeant said Murphy,
wrenchieg the soiled envelope from the
loose grasp of the PROSTATE trooper.
"It's to you, sir, - said Feeny, with
one glance at the sprawling superscrip-
ton. in Gods name read and let US
know what devils works abroad to-
night. -
Even Plummer's pudgy fingers trem.
bled as he tore open the dingy packet
Old Moreno came forth with light,
-: -xL:4o 4on+b rr1oo,,;pr hie hlocE