The times., 1894-05-25

OuS pOSt Oppooito tno oncAiy . uOOr anu
then sudden and breathless silence.
"Listenl' whispered Feeny. THAT
is signal. Histl you'll hear it again
presently
Grasping their rifles with nervous
hands, the five men stood huddling in a
little group at the west end Of the low,
fat building.
Somewhere out on the dark expanse
toward the peak long, low whistle,
ending in an abrupt high note, had
sounded. For moment there was no
repetition. The invisible foe was sig
mailing for reply. From whom could
answer be expected but Moreno?
Watch the old scoundrel's window
there and this shutter over here. "whis-
pered the sergeant, indicating board
covered port in the westward wall.
They'll try to show light perhaps.
Run around into the corral and smash
the first man that tries to come out.
I'll tend to any feller that shows a head
hereabouts.
Harvey turned with his employee
and ran with him as far as the other
end of the ranch. Here he entered the
low doorway. The little lamp burned
dimly, but two pairs of dark dilated
eyes CLEANED eagerly upon him.
"I'm going to close this door now,
girlies," he whispered "Lie still.
Do not venture near it or the window
and don't be frightened. 1t looks as
though some of the Morales gang were
around here hoping to find the paymas-
ter unguarded. Well give them les
son they'll never forget if they attempt
to attack him.
For all answer Ruth Harvey only nes-
tied closer to her sister and clung to
her for courage and support. Paquita,
however, became amazonian at once.
us there nothing can do, Ned? !
can't bear to lie here listening and TAX
ing no part. Surely could shoot pis-
tol well enough"
"You can help us best and most by
lying fiat and showing not SO much as
a finger at the door. We can tend to
them, Fan. 1t won't be long before fa-
ther and the troop come galloping back.
Don't show light, now, unless we
CALL"
Then he darted to the barroom.
Are they coming?" hailed the clerk
in a hoarse whisper.
Somebody signaled out on the PLAIN.
It's probably they. Look out for More
no now. Don't let him or anybody
through that door,"
Far out on the desert again, louder,
shriller, clearer, the whistle was re-
peated.
"Ah, blow and be id to yet"
muttered Feeny. There's no answer
from here yell get this night. Watch
out now. Some of 'em will try to
crawl up after little"
But nearly five minutes passed with
out other sign or sound. Then closer
in a horse stamped and snorted. A
coarse Mexican voice muttered savage
oath. Feeny,' crouching low, darted
into the darkness in the direction Of the
sound. Plummer and Harvey would
have restrained him, but it was too late.
He was gone before either could speak.
Then latch creaked and snapped be-
hind them, and slowly and cautiously
the wooden shutter began to open out
ward. In an instant Harvey had raised
his rifle and struck the resounding board
fierce blow with the butt. The door
flew back, crashing in violent contact
against the grizzled pate of Moreno
himself, who, with a howl of mingled
rage and anguish, fell back from the
aperture.
"Open that again, and I'll blow your
head off, you scoundrel!" growled Har-
vey. Don't you dare show hair nor
hide outside your room. Every man
has orders to shoot you on sight, if
that's any comfort to you."
Only for O second had the old Mexi-
cans head appeared, only an instant
had he for plea or protestation, but that
instant had served to show narrow
streak Of light from the room within,
and this mere crack revealed to the
watchful eyes out upon the plain the
position of the ranch-possibly told
them something more, for in less than
half minute two horsemen came loom
ing up out Of the darkness and canter-
ing fearlessly toward them. Phlegmat-
ic as he was, old Plummer's nerves gave
twitch as, sharp and stern, young
Harvey challenged.
"Halt therel Who are your Haiti
or we fire."
Friends, shouted one voice, Amer
icans," the other, as promptly. the or
der to halt was obeyed, the trained
horses going almost on their launches
under the cruel force Of the huge Mexi-
can bit.
"We are seeking Moreno's," contin-
ued the first voice. "The Apaches
jumped our outfit just after sunset, and
we had to run for it.
"How many are there Of you all
told2" demanded Harvey.
:.'Only us two. We're partners, pros
pecting. Been down toward the Sono-
ra line. For the Lords sake, gentle
men, don't keep us out here. We've
lost everything we've had-packs, pack
ers and grub. We're about dead beat
for drink and something to eat.
"What do you think of this, major?"
whispered Harvey. "Those are Amer
leans sure"
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