People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1895-11-28

ltner S, OUT InlS proved a QlmcuIU TASK
MacNutt had had partner In his min
ing ventures, but the partner swore
Istoutly that Mac hadn't cent in the
world that wasn't swept away In the
food Of Apache canyon; he even went
SO far as to declare that Mac owed him
money, and more than once appeared
lat Retribution when times were hard
at the mines saying he thought the of.
fcers or somebody ought to pay 1t be-
cause they now had Macs boy as Sc.
curity. he generally compromised, as
he called 1t, however, with requests TO
be supplied with bacon, -four. coffee
and sugar at commissary prices, which
were far less than those at the mines.
The soldiers found out that this man,
Muncey, by name, was in bad re-
Ipute among his fellow miners, and
Openly fouted him when he came
among them, but the officers, unable
to prove anything, continued to show
courtesy to him even though they dis
liked him.
! Capt. Cullenb troop marched away
from Retribution in April, ~, Just
as soon as Capt. Raymond's Of the til
cavalry arrived, Mrs. Cullen and Randy
In the meantime having been sent
away by stage to the Colorado and
thence by steamer around to San Fran
cisco. This was long before railroads
were known In Arizona But weeks be-
fore the departure of the troop there
arrived at the old post a swarty little
fellow from Tucson, who announced
himself as a brother of the late Mrs,
MacNutt and as Icons uncle. He had
come, he said, to take Leon back to his
mothers people in Sonora. He brought
letters from officials in Tucson which
established his claim and was fortified
In his statements by MacNutt's former
partner, the malodorous Muncey, who
came with him. The officers and the
men had no claim upon the boy other
than those of friendship and affection.
They were his rescuers and supporters
that was all-but Leon was by this
time far more American than Mexican,
'"far more Yank than Greaser," as the
men expressed it-and he not only
begged and prayed not to be taken
from them, but he kicked and scratched
and fought like young bear cub when
finally forced away.
Mrs. Cullen and Randy were spared
that scene. She had been siling little
as result Of too long stay on the
flats of old Retribution and had been
taken up to the mountain perch of
Prescott for change Of air while the
packing for the move was going on,
Randall going with his mother, sorely
.sggrieved because Leon was not In
.cluded In the invitation sent by the
,coloners wife. Capt. Cullen, probably,
was party to the arrangement. he
knew they could not keep Leon always,
and the longer the stay the harder the
parting. Less than week after Icons
friend and playmate had gone his un-
Gle and partner appeared; less than
fortnight and the poor little fellow was
pulled of the blackboard In the dusty
streets OF Tucson and turned over to q
Mexican packer for transportation to
Sonora, and less than month after the
Cunens and &c" troop had LETT the
post, haggard, half starved, tootsore
and In rags, little Leon reappeared at
old Rstribution almost as utter
stranger as when, half drowned, he
was borne thither In Sergt Ke1lyb
srms eighteen months before.
hyou had lived year or more IN @
certain village and knew every mem
Der Of every household within four
blocks of your home and were 10 be
taken away for month or so, and re-
turning faint, iootsore, hungry and m
ragA yet thrilling with hope and 10Y
1t the thought Of being restored 70
knd friends and hospitable frssidaa
only to find everything but the houses
changed, you can fancy little Icons
dumb misery as he dragged from door,
TO door along Officers Row" meeting
only total strangers he reached the old
post Just about two o'clock Of q soorch-
Ing May afternoon, when everybody
was seeking shelter within doors, and
the servants who came to answer hisrl
timd knock looked sskance at the little
blaek-eyed ragsmuf1n, and could only
say that the people be sought were
gone he had turned away with q
choking sob from the third door, the
big house where the major Of the
Eleventh cavalry used TO live, not
knowing whittier now to go, and had
sunk down upon the steps In
u1Ve9 oesolaton when he heard
through the screen Of the open window
a childish voice pleading: at must be
Leon, mamma Do let me call him
back" And the next minute flsxen-,
haired girl Of ten was athis side Leon
never could tell Just how 1t all came
about he remembered trying hard to
keep stiff upper LIP and be brave and
selt-controlled and tell his story calm
ly and coherently, but he was weak,
starved, crushed with the bitterness Of
his disappointments, and he broke
down entirely and sobbed IN utter
abandonment, and there was no more
thought Of siests at Capt Fosters
quarters that afternoon. A plying,
sympathetic group surrounded the bow.
Mrs Foster and her daughter Nellie
wing with one another In ministering
to his wants, and other kind women
coming In from adjoining quarters as
the story swiftly went the rounds 1t
was ell over the post In a few hours
how little tsaon vvho rsaS - "a; -