The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1895-12-19

ScTRtdnb VI ltlc Budfu udu OiucIcu HiS
belt taken off--and that is the soldier
way of saying that the ex-sentry was to
be relieved for good as untrustworthy
his arms and equipments turned over
to his first sergeant and he himself
turned over to the charge of his fellow
members of the guard, a prisoner
awaiting trial by court-martial for neg
lect of duty as sentry. Everybody felt
sorry for Casey who had lost good
reputation, but sorrier for Ferguson,
who had lost what was considered of
even greater worth in the old frontier
days-a fine horse. Even as Casey was
ruefully slipping out of his carbine
sling and waist belt Ferguson and 9TH
ers, with lanterns, were tracing the
hoof prints of the beautiful roam. Out
from the corral gate, around to the
south wall, they followed them in the
soft, dusty soil; but they were soon lost
along the slope. No one believed for a
moment Muncey had ridden eastward
any distance, however. That was the
quarter from which the Apaches had
come. Westward, along the south face
of the Socorro, was his probable course;
for if Cardoza had slipped through
from the Springs toward the old post,
as now seemed possible, they could
meet at the fords OF the Sandy, not a
mile from where the dim lights were
iwinkling there at old Retribution
earlier in the evening-not half mile
from the base of Signal Butte and
! barely short rifle shot from old Sergt.
Kelly's ranch. ~
And now the question arose: Where
were the Apaches9 The miners and
prospcctors who had fled from the
Santa Anita said they fairly swarmed
in that valley, fifty milcs to the east.
The Disqualification department head
quarters represented thcm as having
already, at three different points,
swooped down upon the Prescott road,
both east and west of the Sandy but,
SO far as heard from, they had not ven
tured into the valley south of the Soc
orro range, a cluster of rough, rocky,
pine crested .upheavals that bulged out
eastward from the main range, jutting
like some huge promontory into the
Tonic basin. 1t was through a rift in
this clump from the Raton Springs to
the site of old Retribution that ran the
| Tonic train of past generations, and
through another, still further to the
west, deep jagged assure in the bed
rock, that the Sandy foamcd and chafed
and tore-the ill-favored Apache can
yon. Fifty miles north of the Socorro,
on the banks of the same stream and in
the very heart of the Apache country
was military post somewhat larger
than Retribution-old Camp Sandy
and there were stationed the head
! quarters and four strong troops of the
new regiment that had replaced the
Eleventh cavalry, all commanded by
Col. Pelham. Thornton, OF Retribution,
felt well assured that by this time Pei
ham would be pushing out his scout.
ing parties after the Tonic raiders, and
that between Sandy and Retribution
they could make it very lively for the
Indians in day or two, but meantime
should they work around into the
Sandy valley, south of the old post, just
as Capt. Raymond said: Heaven help
the scattered settlers there!"
III they reach the lower Sandy by
I lisht or day." were the majors orders
to Lieut.. Crane, who commanded the
guard at the old site, don't wait an in
slant. Fire the beacon on Sigma
Butte.H
| And now, one o'clock of the hot Jun,
night had come. There had been sllirm
ishing to the north, a chase to thu
northwest, signal fires ablaze to tn,
east. across the broad basin. Courier'
had been pushed out northwestwart
after Foster with news of Munceyi
bolt and information rs to the Cardoz,
party Ferguson and two friends--dar
ing fellows. web armed and mounted
had Just left the post determined t.
ride westward in the hopes of over
hauling Muncey, and-well, hanging
was the horse thief's penalty in thos,
days, The troops of the garrison
arms and equipments close at hand
were sprawlcd about the veranda o
the new quarters, eager for the orde
to saddle, and the major nad Just dis
patched a messenger to say to the cap
tain that the men might as well turn il
for the night, when once again Their
came the clear and ringing summon
for the corporal OF the guard-thi
time from the westward blaif. Thos
who happened to be nearest that sid
of the garrison had already before tn
cry heard the sharp, stern challenge
"Who comes therc?"
Even before the majors little part
could reach the north side the trir
figure of Corporal Lynch came bound
ing back up the slope. "What was tn
matter, corporal?n hailed the post con
mander, and Lynch, hating shorr
brought his.carbine TO The carry and hi
gloved left hand to the salute, replyin
with soldierly brevity:
ats MacDuff, SIR"
sMacDuff? You mean little Leon?"
"Yes, sir, with note for the doetol
He stopped to water Sergt. Kelly
broncho at the spring" t
Another minute and riding brisk
up from the dark, low ground to tn
west.of the mesa came the 1.-THE. youn
courier himself. He refined in the Il
slant he heard the majors voice, an
threw himself from the saddle.
"What on earth brought you here /
this time, Leon?"
"Mrs. Downey, sir, was very sicl