The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-02-07

has grown, Ruth is but child, aud
now i'll all her excitement and anxiety,
worn out with the long stI@in, she be-
gins to cry. She strives to hide it,
strives to control the weakness, and
failing in both strives to turn away.
All to no purpose. An arm in
sling is Of little avail at such mo-
ment. Whirling quickly about, Drum
mond brings his other into action. Be-
fore tho weeping little maid is we'll
aware what is happening her waist is
encirclcd by tho strong arm in tho dark
blue sleeve, and how can she sec that
she Is drawn to his breast, since now
her face is buried in both her hands and
those hands in the flannel of his hunt
ing shirt-just rs high as his hearth
Small wonder is it that Corporal Cos
tlgan, hurrying in at the mouth of tho
cave, stops short at sight of this pic
turesque partie carrec Any other time
he would have sense enough to face
about and tiptoe whence he came, but
now there's no room left for sentiment.
Tableaux vivants are lovely in their
way, even in cave lighted dimly by
hurricane lamp, but stcrner scenes are
VA ehO Sui tdiD. VOICE Is
murmuring soothing, yes, caressing
words to his sobbing captive. Drum
mond's bearded lips, unrebuked, are
actually pressing kiss upon that child
ish brow when Costigan, with prelim-
mary clearing of his throat that sounds
like landslide and makes the rock
walls ring again, startles Ruth from
her blissful woe and brings Drummond
leaping to the mouth of the cave.
Lieutenant there something COM
ing out over our trail."
'Thank God" signs Wing, az no
raises his eyes to those of his fair nurse.
THANK God, for your sakesl'
THANK God, Ruth!' cries Fanny,
extending one hand to her sister while
the other is unaccountably detained.
THANK God! it's father and the Stone
man party and DR.. Gray
And Ruth, throwing herself upon
her knees by her sisters side, buries
her head upon her shoulder and sobs
anew for very joy
And then comes sudden start. All
III an instant there rings, echoing down
the canyon, the sharp, spiteful crack of
rifles, answered by shrieks of terror
from the cave where lie the Moreno
women and by other shots out along
the range. Three faces blanch with
sudden fear, though Wing looks instant
ly up to say
They can't harm you, and our men
will be here III less than no time"
Out IN the gorge men are springing
to their feet and seizing their ready
arms; horses are snorting and stamp
ing, mules braying in wild terror. Two
OF the ambulance mules, breaking loose
from their fastenings, come charging
down the resembling rock, nearly an
initiating Moreno, who. bound and
helpless, praying and cursing by turns,
has rolled himself out of his nook and
lies squareiy in the way of everything
and everybody. But above all the
clamor, the ring of carbine, tho hiss
and spat of lead fattening upon the
rocks, Drulnmond' S voice is heard clear
and commanding, serene and confident
Every man to his post now. Re-
member your orders.
Gazing out into the canyon with di-
lated eyes, Ruth sees him ninbly clam
Der up the opposite side toward The
point where Walsh is kneeling behind
rock-Walsh with his Irish mug ex-
banded in IL grin of delight, the smoke
just drifting from the muzzle of his
carbine as he points with his left hand
somewhere out along the cliffs. She
sees her soldier boy, crouching low,
draw himself to Walsh's side, sees him
glancing eagerly over the rocks, then
signaling to some one on their own
side, pointing here and there along the
wooded slope beyond her vision; sees
him now, with fierce light III his eyes.
suddenly clutch Walsh's sleeve and nod
toward some invisible object to the
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