Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1894-03-15
THE BURLINGTON FREE PRESS THURSDAY MARCH H. 1894.

that gang of hell hounds we passed at
Ccralvo's that will pay us a call before
morning, or I'm a duifcr.'
Once again he found the paymaster
YEARLY, anxiously patrolling his self
assumed post ont beyond the westward
wall. The presence of common danger,
the staff officials forgetfulness of self
and his funds in his determination to
aid the wretched women whom he
firmly believed TO have been run off by
the Apaches, had won from the sergeant
{ ~ tribute of more respectful dcnean-
or. even though he held the story of the
raid to be an out and out lie
Any signs or sounds yet, sir?" he
questioned in mufied tone.
why, | thought-iust a moment
ago--I heard something like the crack
of whip far out there on the plain. '
That's mighty strange. sir; no stage
is due coming east until tomorrow
night, and no stage would dare pull out
ON this stretch in face of the warning
there at Picacho."
well, it may have been magma
ton. My nerves are all unused to
this sort of thing. How do you work
this affair when you want to reload,
sergeant? I'm blessed if ] understand
it. | never carried revolver before in
my life"
Fceny took the glistening, nickel
plated Smith d Wesson, clicked the
hammer to the safety notch, tested the
cylinder springs, and touching the
lever showed his superior by the feel
rather than sight how the perfect me
chanisin was made to turn on its hinge
and thrust the emptied shells from their
chamber.
The Lord grant we may have no
call to shoot tonight sir, but | mis-
doubt the whole situation. That fires
beginning to wear itself ont already.
and any minute | look to hear the hoof
beats of the Morales gang, surround
ing us here on every eide If they'll
only hold off till toward morning and |
can brace mp these two poor devils
they we poisoned, we can stand 'em off
awhile until our fellows begin to come
back or Lieutenant Drulnmond hears
of the gathering.
And do YOU still believe there are
10 Apaches III this business;" asked
the major.
Not out north or west, sir, they re
thick enough ahead in the Santa Maria.
but not to the north, not to the vest
can't believe that Those Morales fel-
lows know everything 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 aud 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 forco sufficient 20 attack, then
Hist listen! 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 ont
and challenge"
Hastily picking Up a CaIbine as he
passed The door, Fceny ran nimbly out
across the sandy barren, disappearing
in the darkness to the southeast. Old
Plummer' heart beat like a hammer
as he listened for the hail. A moment
more he could hear hoof beats and the
voices of men III low tones; then, low
toned too, but sharp and stern, Feeny 5
challenge rose upon the night;
WHO comes there"
Instantly the invisible party halted,
l,,
of frontier experience back came the
answer:
Friends "
"Who are YOU and where FROM"
George Harvey and party from Tue
son, looking for Morenos, Who are
you:"
United States cavalry ON escort
duty. How many III 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 that light out TO the west :"
Never mind that now. Dismount
and come up alone Mr.. Harvey. Unjust
recognize you first.
fccnY wanted 10 gam tlne. MS
brain was whirling. Here was partial
confirmation of the story told Icy the
alleged Ned Harvey in the morning.
Here was the father coming with guard
and relay mules to meet his childicn
Just as their morning visitor declared
he was expected TO do Was it possible
after all that the tale was true-that
the children We're there at the ella,
making wide detour around Ceralvo' :
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 lrishman in all the Mo-
rales gang, laughed the coming man.
land know cavalryman 5 challenge
when 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. I've never met
T JJ,r,.a,- Int ,,-o all l-,,nur Won,