Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-04-21

Vi anguish:
Mother! mother! if you knew"--
Here, Patterson, can't stand this.
I'm going in to him." And picking
up the dim lantern which he had taken
from the Harvey wagon Drummond
stole i'll on tiptoe and knelt again be-
side his wounded comrade.
wing! sergeant! Look up, man.
speak to me. You must he in distress,
mental or bodily. Do let Inc help you
III some way"
Tor moment no reply whatever.
Wings face was hidden. Then he
looked gently upward.
Lieutenant, I'm ashamed to be Civ
ing yoU so much trouble. Please go and
lie down again, sir; you re worse hurt
than l am-only suppose get to doz-
ing of and then turn ON that side"
No. it isn't that, sergeant. There's
something wrong, and it has all come
ON You since yesterday morning. Where
is your mother?'
Again Wing turned away, buIying
his face in his arms.
Listen, sergeant; we hope to get
you out of this by tonight. DR.. Gray
ought surely to reach us by that time,
and while we may have to keep up
field hospital here II day or two my
| first duty will be to write and tell your
mother how bravely you have served
us, and she shall be told that you are
| wounded, hut not in such u way as to
alarm her.
Out came a restraining hand.
| Lieutenant, she must not know at
all"
| We'll, she can't, so far as I'm con-
cerned, as / don't know her address.
But think moment; You know and l
know Hold on, waltz" And Drum
mond rose and tiptoed to cleft in the
rock through which shone dim light
| 1t was the entrance TO the remote liz
ner cave where the Harvey girls were
sleeping. Assured that his words could
reach there no listening ears, Drum
mond returned, kneeling again by the
sergcant's side. Just think, man
any moment after day break the Apaches
may he upon MS. and, who knows: il
may he my last fight. OF course / be-
lieve that orr fellows can stand them
off until rescue comes, but n bullet may
find me any moment, and then who is
there to report your conduct and secure
the recognition due you, or if the doc
tor should be late in coming and fever
set in and this wound prove too much
for your strength is there nothing that
ought to he said to her for you:''
| Again only painful silence. At las,
Wing spoke.
II understand. appreciate all you
say. But I've got TO think it over,
lieutenant. Give me an hour or so.
Don't ask me to tell you now"
80 be il, man. Now rest all You
possibly can. It's almost day. The
crags are beginning to light up bacl; OF
us here already. Yes, and the sentry.
calling me now. I'll be back by and
by. What is it, Patterson he wins
percd, going to the mouth of the cave.
I've just come down from the tree
up there, sir. You can see quite way.
down the range now, though the light
is dim, and what / take to he sigma
fire leaped up not three miles below us
certainly this side of where Wing wa.
shot.
$50 soon? All right: then get bacl
to the post just rs quick rs you can
I'll rouse the man who has slept long
est. All mast he astir in half an hour
but yon keep watch there"
And half IN hour later it is that, field
glass in hand, the young officer is Their,
by Patterson's side, peering eastward
l almost into the eye of the sun, search
ing with anxiety incxpressible for an,
sign of dust cloud rising along the trai
on which they came, for the sight h,
has seen down the range. now brilliant
in the morning light. has filled hi
heart with the first real dread it has We
known. In three places, not NOR
than four or. five miles apart, d6wl
along the sunlit side of this wild an,
picturesque mountain chain, sigma
! smokes have been putting straight NJ
skyward, the nearest only couple o
miles from this lone picket post, bu
, all on the same side of the valley.
Last evening the answer came from
across the broad desert. TheyHh
come over, therefore, and are hastenin
, up the chain to join the eager advanc
! here SO close to their hiding place. Be
yond doubt watchful spies are al
} ready lurking among those heights t
} the west, striving to get close enoug
) to peer into the rocky fortress and est
mate the strength of the garrison
, Great they we'll know it cannot be. fo
did not their keen eyes count nearly .
chasing those hated brigands far dow
| toward Sonora pass, and of that nun
Der how many have returned? Onl
three. Did they not see the furry an
: excitement when that sergeant was she
| from ambush? Now. therefore, is til
| | time to strike-now. while the mai
/ | body is far away. Whatsoever boot
r there may be obtainablc in that rock
, canyon tits well worth the attempt. An
, SO from north to south the puff balls G
blue white smoke go sailing upwar
, through the pines, and it all mean
! speed! speed!
At z o'clock tho little command ha
, had coffee and hearty breakfast. N
lack of provender here in this hithert
] undiscovered robbers roost. Drum
. J tnoud, cool, confident, has had his me