The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1894-07-06

be question Of time. A hundred cav
alrymen would be around them in q
very few hours, and we could send to
Lowell for those old mountain howitzers
and just leisurely shell them out
Then, when they surrendered-as they'd
have to-the civil authorities would
Immediately step in and claim jurisdic-
tion-claim the prisoners too. We'd
simply have to turn them over to JUS
tice as a matter of course, and you
know, and they know, that the only
judge apt to sit on their case would be
that of our eminent frontiersman and
fellow citizen-Lynch. They are scat
tering like Apaches through the noun
tains and will reassemble and count
noses later on. Thanks to you and g
troop, they have lost all they had gained
and their leaders besides. No, sir, they
won't stop this side of the Mexican
| line"
There's one, Wing, hope to heav-
en- they'll never lose sight of till they
run him down."
EIled the last one Of that gang. These
two who are coming in with the bodies
of the Morales brothers probably have
wornout horses, or perhaps Lee ordered
them to stay and guard the safe. The
last I saw of any Of the gang they were
disappearing over the desert to the
south, striking for Sonora pass"
II wonder they didn't all come in
here" said Dr,'.naanra
who's that, sir2'
"The fellow who was enlisted in o
Troop last winter at Tucson and desert
cd last night to join this gang. He
drove for the stage company last year
and was discharged. He gave his name
as Bland"
"Blandl Henry Bland!" exclaimed
Sergeant Wing, leaping to his feet in
uncomfortable excitement. do you
mean it, sir? Had he enlisted2 Do
you mean that he was the man Miss
Harvey spoke of-the disguised soldier,
she called himp'
And Drummond, amazed at Wings
emotion, gazed up to see the sergeant's
features working almost convulsively,
his face paling, his eyes full Of intense
anxiety.
"Why, I cannot doubt it, sergeant
He ran away from us on the discovery
of Donovan's body and rode straight
for Moreno's, beating US there proba-
bly, by an hour or so, for no one hap
pened to miss him."
Wings hands were raised on high in
q gesture almost tragic, then dropped
helplessly by his side. With stifed
groan the tall soldier turned abruptly
away and went striding toward the
opening of the canyon, leaving Drum
mond wondering and perplexed.
When, quarter of an hour later, the
sergeant returned, bringing with him
some improvised splints and bandages,
and Drummond believed 1t his duty
to make inquiry as to whether he knew
Bland and what was the cause of his
excitement, Wing turned his grave,
troubled face and looked his young su-
perior straight in the eye.
"Mr. Drummond, have known that
man for good and for ill many long
year. If our fellows have killed him,
let his crimes die with him. If he is
brought in alive-brought to trial.
may have to speak, but not now, sir.
Bear with me, lieutenant-not now"
Was Drummond dreaming? He could
have declared that tears were starting
In the sergeant's eyes as he turned has
tily away, unable for the moment to
continue the setting and bandaging Of
the broken arm.
"Take your own time, Wing" said
the young officer gently. "Speak or
keep silent as you will. You have
earned the right" And the sergeant
mutely thanked him.
The primitive surgery of the frontier
took little time, and with his arm COM
fortably and closely slung Drummond
lay impatient for the coming Of his
men, impatient perhaps to hear softer
voice, to feel again the light touch of
slender fingers, yet in his weakness and
exhaustion dropping slowly off to sleep.
All efforts to keep awake proved vain.
His heavy eyelids closed, and presently
he was in dreamland.
Meantime Sergeant Wing had busied
himself in many a way. First he had
gone to loosen old Moreno's bonds
enough, at least, to relieve his pain, yet
hold him securely. The soldier sitting
drowsily ON the rock beside the prisoner
gladly accepted permission to put aside
his carbine and go to sleep.
"I'll watch him, Mat" said Wing.
'"You lie down there, Moreno, and see
to it that you make no effort to slip
knot while I'm at work here. How
far away is that ambulance now, Pat
terson?" he called to the man on look
out.
"Halted down at the edge Of the
plain, sergeant. That's where they
struck water first, and reckon they
couldn't make up their minds to come
farther. can make out one or two
of the fellows coming back far down the
desert to the south. Horses played out
probably"