Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-04-07
Horses played out

ICY tIiS tTdll VIC caQ1e
Nothing. sir; not puff of dust.
But here's something 1 don't under
stand-of here in the range south Of us
well up toward tho top"
What's 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. 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, Senior 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.
Invain the Mexican pleaded and pro-
tested. A rawhide RATA was wound
and looped about him in a few scien-
uiic turns, and he was left reclining
against the rock, conquered yet inward
iy 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 the cave into two apartments
and called in lower tone, Miss Har-
vey."
Here. Mr. Wing. What is wanted o..
And at tho 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
beautifier, 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
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 ia
take this and shoot him if they should
make the attempt?" And he handed
Der his pistol.
IN see to it that no one interferes
with him, Mr.. Wing. What has hap
pened? Are the others coming?" And
she took the revolver, balancing it in
her accustomed and practiced hand.
The admiration deepened in Wings
gaze.
II see you handle pistol as though
you had used one. You're true from
tiersman's daughter. I'll have to be
away fer few minutes. I'm going up
to LOOK from orr rock above there.
Some Of our men, they say, are in sight
slowly returning, and the paymaster's
ambulance is only mile away, proba-
bly, waiting for the rest of the party.
How is Miss Ruth?''
Sleeping like a baby, bless her
heart
We'll, l have promised Mr.. Drum
mond that she should be his nurse. l
hope you will consent. He is sleeping
too. No fever yet, am thankful to
say"
Ruth Will be ready, and SO will ],
to help in any way we can. But when
are You to have a rest, may / ask -
"O-oh-by and by. Lee and the
others must have theirs first. They
have been in saddle much longer and
farther than /. When is Miss Harvey
to have her rest, may l ask?''
Well, l don't know. I'll say,
perhaps by and by too. Look, that
man is calling you"
Whirling about, Wing saw his senti-
mel reckoning, and in moment he went
clambering up the rocky trail, active
as mountain Apache.
What is it, Patterson?''
ut is signal smoke, sir, across the
valley. That amt more than eight
miles away, and down here in the range
amt more than six. What Indians
could be out here, would like to know?
Do they grow everywhere IN this in
fernal country"
Wing took his glasses and long and
earnestly studied the blush white
clouds rising in puffs, faint and barely
distinguishable in the opposite heights,
then fixed his gaze upon the filmy col
umn soaring up among the dark pines
at the heart of the range to the south
ward. His face grew graver every min
ute.
Stay here and watch" he said. II
must go and get those other men in
with the ambulance. OF course if it is
Apaches, they've sighted that party
and the few men struggling back, and
those signals mean, close in on them.
I'll send the team right in and then ride
and hurry the other fellows out
The sun WAS retiring behind the
Cababi range as Wing went leaping
down the trail
Sorry for you, Dick, cid boy" he
said to his horse, who was browsing in
The shade. More work for us both
now"
Never stopping to saddle, he leaped
upon the bare. brown back and went
gathering down the canyon.
Keep your eye on Moreno. there!"
he shouted up to the lookout. IF he
tries to slip away, shoot him."
Ten minutes brisk gallop through
the windings of the gorge brought him
to the edge of the sandy plain. There,
under little clu,np of willows, was
the ambulance, its mules unhitched and
hopnled sec,1ralv nihi1iny rlacid1y at