People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1895-12-12

orro range, 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 rift in
this clump from the Ration 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 foamed 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, at 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!"
IF they reach the lower Sandy by
might 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 Signal
Butte"
And now, one o'clock of the hot June
might had come. There had been skirm-
ishing to the north, a chase to the
northwest, signal fires ablaze to the
east, across the broad basin. Couriers
had been pushed out northwestward
after Foster with news of Muncey's
bolt and information as to the Cardoza
party. Ferguson and two friends-dar-
ing fellows, well armed and mounted
had just left the post determined to
ride westward in the hopes of over
hauling Muncey, and-well, hanging
was the horse thiefs penalty in those
days. The troops of the garrison
arms and equipments close at hand
were sprawled about the veranda of
the new quarters, eager for the order
TO saddle, and the major had just dis
patched messenger to say to the cap
tain that the men might as well turn in
for the night, when once again there
came the clear and ringing summons
for the corporal of the guard-this
time from the westward bluff. Those
who happened to be nearest that side
of the garrison had already before the
cry heard the sharp, stern challenge:
"Who comes there2"
Even before the majors little party
could reach the north side the tain
figure of Corporal Lynch came bound
ing back up the slope. "What was the
matter, corporal?" hailed the post CON-
mander, and Lynch, hating short,
brought bis carbine to the carry and his
gloved left hand to the salute, replying
with soldierly brevity:
Its MacDuff, sir"
"MacDuff? You mean little LeonP"
"Yes, sir, with note for the doctor.
He stopped to water Sergt. Kelly's
'broncho at the spring"
Another minute and riding briskly
up from the dark, low ground to the
west'of the mesa came the 1.-THE, young
courier himself. He refined in the In
slant he heard the majors voice, and
threw himself from the saddle.
What on earth brought you here at
this time, Leon2"
Mrs. Downey, sir, was very sick.
The women folks from Downey's ranch