Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1894-03-22

drove Tor the stage company last year
and was discharged. He gave his name
as Bland"
"Blandl Henry Blandl" exclaimed
Sergeant Wing, leaping to his feet in
uncomfortable excitement. 'Do you
mean it, sir? Had he enlistedl Do
you mean that he was tho man Miss
Harvey spoke of-the disguised soldier,
she called him?
And Drummond, amazed at Wings
emotion, gazed up to see the sergeant'S o
features working almost convulsively,
his face paling, his eyes full of intense
anxiety.
why, cannot doubt it, sergeant.
He ran away from us on tho discovery
of Donovan's body and rode straight
for Moreno's, beating us there proba-
bly, by an hour or so, for no one hap
pened to miss him."
Wings hands were raised on high in
a gesture almost tragic, then dropped
helplessly by his side. With a stihed
groan the tall soldier turned abruptly
away and went striding toward the
opening Of the canyon, leaving Drum
mond wondering and perplexed.
When, quarter Of an hour later, the
sergeant returned, bringing with him
some improvised splints and bandages,
and Drummond believed it his duty
to make inquiry as to whether he knew
Bland and what was the cause of his
excitement, Wing turned his grave.
troubled face and looked his young su-
perior straight in the eye.
"Mr. Drummond, have known that
man for good and for i'll many O long
year. If our fellows have killed him,
let his crimes die with him. If he is
brought in alive-brought to trial.
may have to speak, but not now, sir.
Bear with me, lieutenant-not now."
Was Drummond dreaming? He could
have declared that tears were starting
in the sergeant's eyes as he turned has
tily away, unable for the moment to
continue the setting and bandsging of
the broken arm.
"Take your own time, Wing" said
the young officer gently. "Speak or
keep silent as you will. You have
earned the right" And the sergeant
mutely thanked him.
The primitive surgery Of the frontier
took little time, and with his arm COM
fortably and closely slung Drummond
lay impatient for the coming Of his
men, impatient perhaps to hear softer
voice, to feel again the light touch of
slender fingers, yet in his weakness and
exhaustion dropping slowly eff to sleep.
All efforts to keep awake proved vain.
His heavy eyelids closed, and presently
he was in dreamland.
Meantime Sergeant Wing had busted
himself in many way. First he had
gone to loosen old Moreno's bonds
enough, at least, to relieve his pain, yet
hold him securely. The soldier citing
drowsily on the rock beside the prisoner
gladly accepted permission TO put aside
his carbine and go to sleep.
"I'll watch him, Mat" said Wing.
"You lie down there, Moreno, and see
to it that you make no effort to slip
knot while I'm at work here. How
far away is that ambulance now, Pat
terson?" he called to the man on look
out.
Halted down at the edge of the
plain, sergeant. That's where they
struck water first, and I reckon they
couldn't make up their minds to come
farther. I can make out one or two
of the fellows coming back far down the
desert to the south. Horses played out
probably"
Anything to be seen across the val
ley along the trail we Gamer"
Nothing, sir; not puff of dust.
But here's something / don't under
stand-oif here in the range south of us
well up toward the top"
Whats that?" asked Wing, drop
ping the coil of lariat he held in his
hand and looking quickly up.
well, it's more like signal smoke
than anything else. Just exactly such
smoke as we have seen in the Chirica-
hua and Catarinas and Well, Just
come up here with your fieldglass, if
you can, sergeant. l believe there's an
answer to it way down to the southeast
-t'other side of the valley"
In an instant Wing turned. Sorry
for you, Senor Moreno, he grimly NUT
tered. But as only two men are with
me, and both are otherwise engaged, I'll
have to secure you temporarily. 1t
isn't pleasant, but it serves you right"
In vain the Mexican pleaded and pro-
tested. A rawhide RATA was wound
and looped about him in few scien-
tific turns, and he was left reclining
against the rock, conquered yet inward
ly raging, while Wing stole in to Drum
mond's rude couch, slipped the field
glass from its case, then, with long
ing look into the darker depths beyond,
and moments hesitation, he stepped
to the projecting rock that seemed to
divide tho cave into two apartments
and called in lower tone, miss Har-
vey."
Here, Mr.. Wing. What is wanted 7"
And at the instant, prompt, alert.
even smiling, Fanny Harvey appeared
before him. The pallor was gone. The
disheveled hair had been twisted into
shape. Food, rest, relief from dread
and misery and that little appreciated
beautifer, fresh water, had wrought
their transformation here. Wings
handsome eyes glistened as he removed
his hat
II have to go up to that point yonder
q few minutes, leaving old Moreno
alone, bound, to be sure, but his wife
or daughter might slip out and release
him. Will you have the goodness to
take this and shoot him if they should
make the attemptf" And he handed
her his pistol.
IN see to it that no one interferes
with him, Mr.. Wing. What has hap
penedf Are the others cominge" And
she took the revolver, balancing it in