The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1894-01-04

well. here, Jose. you go and tell
him waht him.
The boy slowly pulled himself to-
gether and found his feet; started re-
luctantly to obey; glanced back at his
captive, now scuttling off for freedom
turned again; scotched him with his
forked stick, and then with vicious
"huh!" drove the struggling araneina
into the sandy soil. This done, he
lounged off toward the dark corner in
the wall of the ranch and dove out of
| sight.
Presently there slowly issued from
this recess sturdy form in dusty blue
blouse, the sleeves of which were dec
Grated with chevrons in far faded yell
low. Under the shabby slouch hat
round, sunblistered, freckled face, bris-
tling with a week old beard, ,peered forth
at the staff official with an expression
half of languid tolerance, half of mild
irritation. In most perfunctory fash
ion the soldier just touched the hat rim
with his forefnger, then dropped the
hand into convenient pocket. It was
plain that he felt but faint respect for
the staff rank and station of the man
in goggles and authority.
Sergeant Feeny, thought l told
you l wanted everything ready to start
| at sunset. -
"You did. sir, and then you undid
it, was the prompt and sturdy reply.
The paymaster stood irresolute.
Through the shading spectacles of green
his eyes seemed devoid of any express
sion. His attitude remained un-
changed, thumbs in the low cut pockets
of his wide Tapping trousers. shoulders
meek and dropping.
We'll" he finally drawled. "you
understood wanted to get on to Camp
F! Stoneman by sunrise, didn't you?
Didn't my clerk, Mr.. Dawes. tell your"
'He did, yes, sir, and you don't want
to get there no more than do, major.
But I told You aatfooted il yoQs let Dom
ovan and those other men go back On
the trail they d find some excuse to stop
at Ceralvo's, and. d-n 'em, they've
done it,
Don't you s'pose they'll be along
presently?'
"S'pose?" and the sun blistered face
of the cavalryman seemed to grow a
shade redder as he echoed almost con-
temptuously the word of his superior.
"S'pose? Why, major, look here!"
And the short. swart trooper took three
quick strides, then pointed through the
western gap IN the adobe wall to the
gilded edge of the range where the sun
had just slipped from view. Its 10
mile to that ridge, it's 10 minutes
since got the last wigwag of the sig
nal flag at the pass. They hadn't come
through then. What chance is there of
their getting here in time to light out
at dark? You did tell me to have ev-
erything ready to start, and then you
undid it by sending half the escort
back. You've been here in hell's half
acre three days, and I've been here
three years. You have never been
through Canyon Diablo; have been
through a dozen times and never yet
without fight or mighty good
chance of one. Now, you may think
it's fun to run your head into an am
buscade, but don't. You can get em
too easy without trying here. I'm an
old soldier, major, and too free spoken
perhaps, but l mean no disrespect, only
wish to God you'd listen to me next
time.''
"You wouldn't have had me leave
those women in the lurch back at the
crossing, would your" queried the pay
master half apologetically.
"Why, don't believe that story at
all, fatty answered Feeny; ''it's some
ID plant that fellow Donovan e
springing on you-a mere excuse to
ride back so they could drink and