Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-03-31

Win hC4sSS Jaaeu- Vet SHINING iBiSciicf
ahead and priciSing up their cars in ex-
citement. Drummond had been the
troop leader in scout after scout and in
several lively skirinishes during tho
year gone by. There was not one If
his troopers whom he could no. swear
by. thought he, but then the recollection
OF Bland's treachery brought his teeth
together with yengeful force. He
found his voice triiie ;remulons as he
spoke, but his words had the brave
n the men had learned 10 look for.
snd every one listened with bat.d
breath.
"our works cuf ont Cor TIA here.
Not more than mile ahead now is
Just the worst band of scoundrels in all
the west and in their midst George
Harvey'3 daughters. Hou all know
him by reputation. They are in the
white topped wagon, and that is the one
we must and shall have. Dons charge
| till | give tho word. Don't waste a
| Shot. Some OF them Will scatter. Let
| them 20. What we want is their cap
! tivcs." With that he swung quickly
| into saddle
Ready now? No, don't draw pistol
| till you re close in on ihom and 40 car
Dimes &C all Illis time. All right. Now
steady. Keep your alignment. Take
the pace from nc. Forward!'
Up The gentle slope they rode, strain
| ing their eyes for the first sight Of the
hunted quarry. Opening out instinct
| lively from the center 50 that each
| trooper might have fighting space.
No squares OF disciplined infantry. no
| opposing squGGrCns. 10 fire flashing
! lines, Were to be met and overth-own
by compact and instantaneous shock.
| 1t was 70 be a melee, as each trooper
wen knew, il which. though obedient
! to the general plan OF their leader. the
! little detachment would be hurled for
ward at the signal Charge" and then
it would lie practically'a case Of every
man for himself
u want You four fellows to stick
! close to Inc now" said Drummond.
! turning in his saddle ana Indicating the
| desired set with n single gesture. I'VE
| move st-aight for the leading wagon.
| Sec that you don't fire into it or near
/ it,"
And these were the last instructions
as they reached the ridge, and q hoarse
murmur few along the eager rank. n
murmur that, bit for Druminond's
raised ard restraining hand and Ser
/ geant Lees prompt STEADY there; 81
! lence.' might have burst into cheer.
And then the leader shook loose his rein.
and just touching Chester glossy
hanl, with the spur bounded forward at
the lope.
Out ON the sandy barren. winding
| among the cactus plants, the weary mule
! teams with dropping heads were tug
| Sing at the traces. Bearded men. some
sill with coal 1lackenod faces. rode
drowlily alongside the creaking wagons.
! IN ono Of these, the foremost, an arm in
blue flannel suddehly thrust aside the
hanging canvas curtain, and a dark.
! svvGrtlly face, grcoved from car tip to
/ jaw with . jagged scar, appeared ut the
narrow opening.
How much Farther have we got to
/ go. Domingo:"
"Cnly across this. stretch, t7o-:hrce
miles. perhaps"
"Ncll. want 10 know exactly. The
sun Is getting blazing hot, and these
girls can't hold cut longer. Tell Pas
/ quail | say there Is more danger Of his
! killing tLam with exhaustion than there
Is of their making way with themselves.
! Say the little onc's about dead now.
| Here, take this caltoen and get some
! freshcr water cot Of the barrel under
the wagon.
The fellow hailed &C Domingo leaned
t. The right, took the cantcCn strap and
/ then rllnod il his fo2ming broucho.
Hold your team one minute. Jake. -
was the order 10 the driver. and. roth
ing losth, the mules stopped short in
| their ttccl1s. Pasquai's ambulance was
few roGs behind. and to save time
! Domingo disn0ultod, and placing the
c2ntccn under che spigot drew it full
Of water. rewarded himself with & long
/ phil, handed it up - the waiting hand
above and swung again in the saddle
I Just as the second ambulance closing
! on The first came alSo to q willing halt.
ard the lead mules of the blackboard.
vhcrcon lay Two wounded bandits. at
tended = Moreno s wo,ncnfclk. bumped
N---@ A-'-'e' s-e-t~tA-1t AlAI afiit.
some cool water. for Gods sakC!''
sc ped one Of tho PROSTATE men. and q
comrade rode to the leading wagon to
beg q little from Harvey's well filed
barrel. One or two men threw them
selves from The saddle 10 the sands for n
brief rest. Tho dust cloud slowly set
tied earthvard IL their wake. Mules.
horses and men hliZked sleepily, wear
ily. There hing II the heavy air dull.
low rumble rs Of thunder in the faroiT
mountains. There seemed "a faint
culver ard tre,nor Of the soil. Was
there a distant earthquake?
Suddenly a wild yell. a scream from
Morelo' 3 blackboard. a half stifled shrek
from the white covered wagon. The
man in blue leapod forth and made {.
mad dash Cor the nearest riderless
horse. Whips cracked ard blt and
stung. The maGdclci mules flow "a
their collars and fore away. the wagons
bounding after them, and Pasqual 30
rales, thrust.ng forth his head To learn
the cause of all the panic. grabbed the
revolver at bis belt with one fierce
curse.