The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-01-31
Tn, old yellow ambulance, sergeant,

"All right, Patterson. Try to see
where tho rest have gone and what
they're doing. I'll send the glass up to
you presently. What Pm afraid of,
lieutenant, is that in their rage over
Donovan's death, and Mullan's, and all
the devils work done there at Moreno's.
ana your mishap, too, tho men havo
oecomo uncomfortable and will never
iet up on the pursuit until they havo
killed tho last one of that gang. These
two who are coming in with the bodies
OF the Morales brothers probably have
wornout horses, or perhaps Lee ordered
them to stay and guard the safe. The
last saw OF any of the gang they wcro
disappearing over tho desert to tho
SOUTH striking for Sonora pass
wonder they didn't all como in
here, said Drummond.
well, hardly that, lieutenant. They
knew they would be followed hero, pen
ned up, where their capture would only
be II question of time. A hundred cav
alrymcn would be around them in n
very few hours, and we could send to
Lowell for those old mountain howitzcrs
and just leisurely shell them out.
Then, when they surrendered-as they'd
nave to-the civil authorities would
immediately step i'll and claim jurisdic-
tlon-clalm tho prisoners too. We'd
SIMPLY have to turn them over to JUS
tlce as n matter of course, and YOU
know, and they know, that the only
judge apt to sit on their case would be
that of our eminent frontiersman and
fellow citizen-Lynch. They are scat
tering like Apaches through the noun
talns and will reasonable and count
hoses later on. Thanks to you and G
troop, they have lost all they had gained
and their leaders besides. No, sir, they
won't stop this side of the Mexican
line
There's one, Wing, l hope to heav-
en- they'll never lose sight of till they
run him down.
who's that, sir?"
The fellow who was enlisted in G
troop last winter az Tucson and desert
ed last night to join this gang He
drove for the stage company last year
and was discharged. He gave his name
as Bland.''
"Blandl Henry Bland!" exclaimed
Sergeant Wing, leaping to his feet in
u.
mean it, sir? Had he enlisted? Do
you mean that he was the man Miss
Harvey spoke of-the disguised soldier
she called hilG?''
And Drummond, amazed at Wings
emotion, gazcd mp to see the sergeant's
features working almost convulsively,
his face paling, his eyes full of intense
anxiety.
why, l cannot doubt it, sergeant.
He ran away from us on the discovery
of Donovans body and rodc straight
for Moreno's, beating us there proba
bly, by an hour or so, for no enc hap
pened to miss him.
Wings hands were raised on high in
n gesture almost tragic, then dropped
helplessly by his side. With IL stined
groan the tall soldier turned abruptly
away and went striding toward the
opening of the canyon, leaving Drum
mond wondering and perpleXed
When, IL quarter of an hour later. tie
sergeant retl: -aed, bringing with him
some improvised splints and bandages
and DruInmond believed it his duty
to make inquiry rs to whether he knew
Bland and what WAS the cause Of his
excitement, Wing turned his grave.
troubled face and looked his young su-
pcrior straight in the eye.
Mr.. Drummond, have known that
man for good and for i'll many 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, ieutenant-lotn now"
Was D"Ilnmond dreaIningl He could
have declared that tears were starting
i'll the sergeant's eyes as he turned has
lily away, unable for the moment to
continue the setting and bandaging 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
mutcly 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 off to sleep
All efforts to keep awake proved vain.
His heavy cyclids closed, and presently
he was III dreamland
Meantime Sergeant Wing had busted
himself i'll many IL way First he had
gone to loosen old Morenos bonds
enough, at least, 10 relieve his pain, yet
hold him securely The soldier sitting
drowsily on tho rock beside the prisoner
I ~