The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1894-01-25

but q faint glimmer now remained ox
the beacon light. All was still as the
grave about the lonely ranch. Walking
over to the eastward door. he entered
the dark room and was instantly hailed
by the voice of his clerk.
You re there, are you, Dawes?" he
asked. mot getting sleepy, ] hope. =
| "No, whit, major. Icouldn't, even
if hadn t slept most of the day. I'm
sitting here on the safe with Colt q si1
shooter in each hand. If old Moreno's
door cracks, by CAD! I'll let drive n
Well, that's all right, but suppose
they come around through the corral
to this door?''
I'm ready. I came within an ace
Of blazing away at you, but happened
to recognize your figure and step just
in the nick of time.
A low whistle without broke up the
colloquy. Plummer waddled off in
the direction of the sound.
What is it, sergeant?''
"They're coming sir. Harvey E
men, mean. Will you deliver his
messsge?'
''Just as you say. Why shouldn I
you!''
It'll have so much moro effect from
your lips. major. They may misdouDt
me-.
Far out ON the trail the quick trip
ping hoofs Of mules could now be
heard. Presently horseman shot UP
out Of the gloom.
Halt there!' sang out Fecny.
Whose party's this?''
"Harvey's, Tucson. Looking for
Moreno's. Are we near?''
You re there now, but you can t
stop. Mr.. Harvey wants you to come
right along after him. He has taken
the trail to the Christobal, where the
Indians have carried off his daughters. -
The man fairly reeled in his saddle,
shocked at the dreadful tidings.
when? How did it happen? Who's
gone with him?''
'Some time this morning, from all
we can learn. Two squads of cavalry
are on the trail, one with Ned Harvey,
the other just out from here at dark.
The old man and George followed them
as soon as they got in. Who's with
you'll
''Two Mezicans, that's all. They re
no account. I'd best leave them here
with the mules. They're just behind
and have been scared to death already"
And so in 10 minutes two more of
the low caste half breed Mexicans were
added to the paymaster's garrison, and
Sergeant Feeny's brief exposition of
| the situation at the ranch only delayed
the incoming American long enough to
water his horse and stow little grain
| in sack.
Il wouldn't wonder id bit
If the Morales gang were around here, :"
was his discomforting assurance. None
of 'em have been seen about Tucson for
a week before we left. Wish could
stay and stand by you, but my first duty
is with Mr.. Harvey. I've been in his
employ nigh onto eight years.
''What sort of looking man is Ned
Harvey?' persisted the sergeant, still
hopeful of some fraud.
Tall, dark, smooth face-looks like
Spaniard, almost. never saw any
body who resembled him hereabouts.
I'm afraid it's no plant. l don't want
to offend you, sergeant, but wish to
God it was all the Morales gangs do
ings and that it was only your money
they were after. If it's Apaches, and
they have got the old mans children,
he'll never get over it. -
"By heaven!'' muttered Feeny to
himself, as the loyal fellow put spurs
to his horse and disappeared; by heav-
| en-, begin to believe it s both. -
And now with gloomy face the SER
| geant returned to where he had left
Major Plummer watching the westward
trail. A brief word at the doorway as
sured him the clerk was still alert and
ready. A pause under the open window,
high above the ground, of the room
where slept Moreno's wife and daugh-
ter, if they slept at all, told him that
all was silence there, if not slumber,
and then he joined his superior.
"That fellow was of the right sort,
sergeant said Plummer. 81 wish we
had one or two like him.
Il wish we had, sir. Those greas-
ers are worse than no guards at all.
They IL sit there in the corral and smoke
papelitos by the hour and brag about
how they fought their way through the
Apaches with Harvey's mules, but for
our purpose they're worse than useless.
At the first sign Of an attack they'd be
stampeding out into the darkness, and
that 8 the last we'd see of them. Heard
anything further out this way, sir?''
why, confound it, yes. I try to
convince myself it's only imagination,
but two or three times, far out there
toward the Picacho, I've heard that
whip cracking. I have felt sure there
was hammering sound, as though
some one were pounding on a wagon
tire. Once I was sure heard horse
snort. That was in measure expect
ing. IF those fellows mean to attack,
they'll come mounted, of course, but
what wagon would they have?''
lone of Ceralvo' 8 perhaps, to cart off
- L.