The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-01-14

at the school. even when L promised to
play chaperon and insure strict pro-
priety and no fiirting'
Ruth Harvey had, with quick move
mont. uplifted little hand to silence
her sister. but tho hand dropped,
startled, and tho color rushed to her
face at Wings next words:
Then you re almost sure to meet the
lieutenant tonight or tomorrow. He's
been scouting the Santa Maria and tho
Christobal and is due along here Mt this
very moment"
And now Miss Harvey had the field
to herself, for tho younger sister drew
back into the dark depths of the COW
cred wagon and spoke no more. In 10
minutes the team was rafting down
tho eastward slope. and Sergeant Wing
turned with II sigh as at last even tho
sound of hoof and wheel had died away.
Slowly no climbed tho stecp and
crooked trail to their aerie mt the peak.
No sign of Jackson yet, no message
from the ranch, no signal fires at Mo
fenos or beyond.
Yet was he right in telling Harvey
with such precious freight to push ON
across that open plain when there was
even rumors of Apaches in the air? Tho
lovelincss of those two dark, radiant
faces. the pretty white teeth flashing in
the lantern light, tho soft, silvery, girl
ish voices, tho kindly, cordial handclasp
vouchsafed him by the elder as they
rolled away-these were things to stir
the heart of any man long exiled in this
desert land. 1t had been his custom
to spend an hour i'll chat with his COM
rades before turning in for the night,
but with Jackson still away and Pike
still plunged in gloom-with, moreover,
new and stirring emotions to investi-
gate and analyze-Wing strolled off by
himself, passed around the rocky but
tress at the point and came to the broad
Ledge overlooking the eastward way to
the distant range.
Here q mass of finder, dry baked |
weeks exposure to the burning su,
shine, stood in n pyramid of firewo
ready to burst in flame at first tou,
of the torch. Close at hand were the
stacks of reserve fuel Never light
this until you know the Indians are
raiding west of the Christobal, were
his orders. But we'll he knew that once
ignited it could DO seen for many n
league. Here again he filled his faithful
pipe, and moving safe distance away
lighted its charge and tossed the match
stump among the jagged rocks below.
He saw the spark go sailing down
ward, unwaftcd from its course by faint
est breath of air. Then he heard Pixies
growl or something like it and called
to him to ask if he heard Jackson. No
answer. Sure that he had heard the
Sruif though inarticulate voice of his
conradc, he hailed again more loudly
than before, and still there came no re-
ply Surprised, he stepped quickly
back around the rocky point to where
the tents lay under the sheltering cliff
and came face to face with three dark,
shadowy fonns, whose moccasined foot
steps gave no sound, whose masked and
blackened faces dehed recognition,
whose cooked rcvolvers were thrust into
his very face before lariat settled over
has shoulders, snapped into place; and
yelling for help when help was miles
beyond range of his ringing voice Ser
geant Wing was jerkcd violently to
earth. dragged into IL tent, strapped to
cot, deity gagged and then left to him
self An instant later the Picacho was
lighted up with a lurid, uneurthly
glare; the huge column of sparks went
whirlins and kissing up on high, and
far and near the great beacon was
warning all secrs that the fierce Apache
was out i'll force and raiding the Yuma
road.
Away out across the desert its red
glare chased the Concord wagon where
in. all unconscious of the danger signal.
the sisters We're now chatting III ii low
tone
Drive your best, had Harvey NUT
tered 10 his Mexican jchu, us he leaned
out of the saddle to reach his ear.
Not word to alarm the girls, - he
cautioned his companion, but lie ready
for anything
Far out beyond the swaying, bound
ing vehicle; far out across the blstcrcd
plain, the glare and CLEAN fell full
upon the brown adobe walls ut Mo
reno's. and glttcring eyes and swarthy
faces pecred through .hc westward
aperture, while out in the corral the
night lights were dancing to and fro.
and Fccny, sore pcrplcxed, but obcdi-
cnt to orders. was hurrying the prepa-
rations of his men.
Murphy's wild announcement had
carried conviction to the major soul,
despite all Fecny's plcadin"s. and the
sight of that beacon furiously burning,
the thought of those helpless women
being borne Oft into the horrors Of cap
tivity among the Indians, had conspircd
TO rouse the paymastcr To unlocked for
assertion of himself and his authority