The Irish standard., 1895-09-21

the same trouble before, Is said he, and
/ can give her the medicine she needs,
Leon; but you onghtnt to5risk going
back to-nigh fs. ISL, 81. ss8s
..Oh, I've simply got to 90, doctor.
said the boy, eagerly. Mrs. DoWney
has always been mighty kind to Randy
and me- She always gave us lunch at
her ranch when we were down there
fishing, and I told her I'd fetch the
medicine before daybreak or get
nabbed trying Why, the Indians them
selves don't know the country around
here better than Randy and do,
though I've never been out this far at
night" #5. n
The ma jor, too, interposed an objec-
ton. 81 feel that we are responsible
for you, Leon, until Maj, Cullen gets
back and claims you. It isn't Apaches
only to be avoided. They tell me your
Uncle Manuel is here again, and tbs
man you met riding full tilt was your
fathers old partner -Muncey going to
meet Manuel, Judge, somewhere on the
old Tonic trail through the socorro."
Then, indeed, Leon looked very
grave. ''I'm more afraid Of them than
am OF Apaches, he said. They don't
mean to take me back to mothers peo-
pie. I shouldn't want to go if they did.
to stay here and grow up in the cav
airy. Randy and are going to enlist
Just as soon as we're eighteen. But all
the same / promised Mrs. Downey she
should have chat medicine before day
and I'm going"
And so, seeing how earnest the boy
was, and recognizing from his descrip-
ton that Mrs. Downey must be in great
pain, the major reluctantly assented.
sid send a couple of men back with
you, lad, but 'tisn't likely the Indians
are anywhere along the road between
two parties of troops. l don't think
they'd risk that. At all events we'd
proba bly, have known it before if they
were. We are all up here yet waiting
further news from Capt Foster. Mrs.
Foster is out there on her piazza now,
80 you might see her while you're watt
ing. Then come over to my house and
have some coffee before you start;
It was just 1870 by the guard house
clock when once again the young
courier mounted his 5wiry pony, and
started for the ten-mile ride back. He
went Looping away down the starlit
road the vial wrapped in his saddlebag,
after a hurried good-by, his black eyes
cleaning, his white teeth firmly set
'tGood grit, that boy, said the major,
looking after him. II wouldn't mind
having him for my own:
.aood grit, indeed!" said Raymond.
''Most boys know would rather do
anything than risk that ride in the
dark in the midst OF an Indian scare.
What time ought he to get there?"
"Well, his pony's fresh and speedy
By three or three-ffteen at latest. Now
IT'S time to hear from Foster"
. They were WALKING, slowly back to
the porch Of his unfinished quarters as
they talked-he, his adjutant and his
special friend, Capt. Raymond. Quiet
had settled down on. the post Wearied
with watching almost everybody had
gone to get such sleep as was possible,
but the guard and a few officers still
remained wide awake. Mrs Foster,
unable to control her anxiety, was still
restlessly pacing the veranda or rock
ing in her big chair, and the officer Of
the day, returning from a tour of the
sentry posts, was standing on the walk
and saying some reassuring words,
when the post commander and his party
came along. ss
81 feel dreadful nervous about that
boy, major said she. 'sOf course,
it was all very brave Of him to take
such risk for Mrs. Downey's sake, but
when Indians have dared to come with
in q mile of us what's to prevent their
being all along that westward road now9
Couldn't you have sent a few men?'
Gould, perhaps" said the major,
with an air that betrayed just q little
how much he resented it that any Of
the ladies should question his judg-
ment, ''but there are two reasons why
didn' t-more than two, in fact. In
the first place, the boy had just come
safely In over the road, and that shows
that it is probably safe for tonight
at least. Even Apaches have to
sleep sometimes yoa know. In the
second place, Capt. Foster has driven
ahead Of him any Indians that
might have been out here to the
north. - If, indeed, those Mexicans
weren't shooting at spooks. We have
only their word forsit, you know, that
there were any Tontos at all. !" S.
They ran off two mules, = interposed
Mrs. Foster, inpetuously
s'Wait q moment. The Mexicans say
they did, but I've known these greasers
to lie like Ananias already, and we've
only been herea few weeks. Even il
they had had two mules and q boy, what
was to prevent the mules stampeding
into the hills on their own account, and
hiding ii some ravine to tbs. west OF; the
road, as their owners did to the east?''
BUT Capt. Foster wouldn't chase
spooks all night said the lady, rock
ing rapidly and exeitedly now. She
was full Of conviction that the Apaches
were all around them, and there wasno
comfort III being argued out Of the Idea.
Capt. Foster, Z replied the major,S
slknows Is well rs we do from Official
reports that the Indians have raided
the mines and the PRESCOTT road, and
lie is gone on, like the good soldier he
is, 4 added he, diplomat teal 'to.yvarn
or rescue these other parties, II they
reilly exist, and stir up the Indians IS
they get in his way. South Of that cur
tain 81 monntai ns, Z he continued, point
ing to the black mass 81 the socorro,
..and behind your husbands s1irmiah1
line Ne are free from dang Westsof.
this post, hich guards the descent to
the Sand vale no indian is going. to- to-