The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-03-07


lever showed his superior by the feel
rather than sight how the perfect me
chanism was made to turn on its hinge
and thrust the emptied shells from their
! chamber.
1.-The Lord grant we may have no
call to shoot tonight. sir, but I mis-
doubt the whole situation. That fires
beginning to wear itself out already,
and any minute I look to hear the hoof
beats of the Morales gang, surround
ing us here on every side. If they'll
only hold off till toward morning and |
can brace up these two poor devils
they've poisoned, we can stand 'em off
awhile until ou: fellows begin to come
back or Lieutenant Drummond hears
of the gathering. .
.And do you still believe there are
no Apaches in this business?" asked
the major.
'.Not out north or west, sir; they're
thick enough ahead in the Santa Maria.
but not to the ncrth, not to the vest
can't believe that. Those Morales fell
lows know rything that is going on.
They knew that just about this time
Ned Harvey was expected along escort
ing his sisters home. They knew you
had never seen him and could easily
be made to believe the story. Every
thing has been done to hold us back,
first at Ceralvo's and afterward here,
until they could gather all their gang
in force sufficient to attack, then
Hist! 1isten!, There's hoofs now. No,
not out there, the other way, from the
Tucson road, east. God grant it's
some of our fellows coming back!
Keep watch here, major; I'll run out
and challenge. -
Hastily picking up a carbine as he
passed the door, Feeny ran nimbly out
across the sandy barren, disappearing
in the darkness to the southeast. Old
Plummer's s heart beat like hammer
as he listened for the hail. A moment
more he could hear hoof beats and the
voices of men in low tones; then, low
toned, too, but sharp and stern, Feeny's
challenge rose upon the night:
"Who comes there::''
Instantly the invisible party halted,
surprised, but with the pro1nptness born
of frontier experience back came the
| answer:
Friends.
WHO are you and where from:''
George Harvey and party from Tue
son, looking for Moreno's. Who are
you:''
United States cavalry on escort
duty. How many in your party?''
...Only two here. We were delayed
by Apache signs in the Santa Maria.
The rest are some miles behind with
relay mules. Are we near the ranch?
What's that light out to the west?''
''Never mind that now. Disnount
and come up alone, Mr.. Harvey. Imust
recognize you first. .
Feeny wanted to gain time. His
brain was whirling. Here was partial
confirmation Of the story told by the
alleged Ned Harvey in the morning.
Here was the father coming with guard
and relay mules to meet his children
Just as their morning visitor declared
he was expected to do. Was it possible
after all that the tale was true-that
the children were there at the ella,
making a wide detour around Ceralvo's
and taking the northward route around
that i'll favored ranch? If so, what
awful tidings had he to break! Stout
soldier that he was, Feeny felt that he
was trembling from head to foot. Up
through the gloom strobe a tall figure,
fearless and confident.
'There's no Irishman in all the Mo-
rales gang laughed the coming man,
"and I know cavalryman's challenge
when I hear it, and so honor it at once.
Where are you, sentry"
"Here; this way, - answered Feeny,
standing erect and peering sharply
through the gloom. eve never met
you, Mr.. Harvey, but we all know you
by reputation. Just tell me your busi-
ness and how you happen to be riding
the desert this time of night, and then
I'll tell you why I ask. %
''I am expecting my son and daugh-
tiers coming up from Yuma. We were
to meet at Moreno's this evening, but a
scouting party in the mountains warned
us to hide until night, so we're late.
Have they reached Moreno's? We
must be close there.
You're close enough to Moreno's.
It's not 100 yards back there, but that
light across the valley is the warning
beacon at Picacho. They would hardly
venture across, knowing what that
means. .
why, my God, man'' exclaimed
Harvey, that says the Apaches are out
west Of the Santa Maria or the Christie
bal. Have you seen-have you heard
anything of them:"
'.For the love Of God, sir, don't ask
me now. Come to the ranch. Major
Plummer's there-the paymaster. He'll
tell you all we know. -
A moment more and, with glarine
eyes, with agonized, ashen face, the
Arizona merchant stood at the entrance