The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1895-09-14


darkness, there was family audible tha
thud Of jhoofs, and q, minute. orr So
brought the rider full eanter, Into
their midst. He could barrel rein In
his horse at the hail OF the ma jor'ss
party. Every bod Ulcers, civilians
and even soldier sseem to SWARM.
about the courier in an instant. II YVES
Corporal Foley, OF Fosters troop Rec
ognizing the major. he threw himself
from the saddle and stood respectfully.
before the commander, handing him q
penciled note, which the major eagerly
opened and read. all eyes upon him. 5
1--WE found two Mexicans, . it said:
sswith a camp outfit. They were badly
frightened, but unhurt. They declare
they were attacked by Apaches, who
succeeded in running off two mules:
They say the Indians drew away north.
west toward the Sandy, and that there
was a PARTY Of prcspectors and packert
camped at Ration Springs eight miller
out, who were warned Of the outbreak.
but who wouldn't believe it. The
Mexican said they were trying to reach
the post when headed off, and that
there were enough Apacbes to wipe
out that party. They themselves only
escaped by hiding among the rocha
down in the deep ravine. Their story.
is told with such earnestness that I
have deemed it best to push On i'm
search OF the prospectors referred to:
We should reach the springs soon after
midnight. The Mexicans go with ua
in hopes Of recovering their mules.
(Signed) "Fos1ER,
.'Commauding Troop"
''Co1ne with me. gentlemen" said this
major, after a moments thoughts
'sThis is something I'll have to tails
over with you. No." he continued, 'as
many Of the frontiersrnen, too, showed
evident inclination to consider them.
selves included in the invitation.
ssExcuse me, now, if l have to talk vita
nv officers d moment. There ia nq
news except that Capt. Foster has
found a couple of Mexicars who
claimed to have been jumped by
Apaches, and who say the Indians
have gone to attack q small camp of
prospectors at Ration Springs. DO yoa
know any miners or prospectors who
could be there?" ~
A general shaking of heads followed,
No one knew. One or two went SD
far as to say they didn't believe il,
s'What sort Of looking fellows. were the #
Mexicans, corporal?" asked Ferguson,
the brainiest, apparently, of the civil.
ians.
sob, insignificant little runts, both
of them," replied Foley. Zone of them
spoke English enough to make himself
understood; the other could only jab.
Der some lingo didn't know no more
of than I do Of Apache. So far as I
could make out, they had all been trav..l
cling together, but when the bigger
part of the crowd stopped to camp at {
the springs, these two fellows came
ahead-said they were afraid to stay
there after what they had heard OF the
outbreak 81
sWell, what did they hear, and how?"
asked Ferguson. VS.
s'They said that they met some Of
the couriers from Prescott, and SONG
prospectors who were driven buck
from the Clear creek country-who +
were skipping for the settlements.
They told the couriers that they wers
going in, but despite that they came !
down to the Springs" 3
Queer" said Ferguson, refectively. #
ssThe only Mexicans in the Santa Ans
tia country were those half dozen that
Muncey was mixed up with-A1anuelt
lot--and a scrubby lot they were; but
they went off to Tucson over two
months ago, seems to me-" s5#
sss"What! The same Manuel that ssys !.
he was q brother-in-law to MacNntt,S
Munceys partner?" 4;ss
s'The same. I heard he took Mac1s
boy back to Sonora with him. and that y
the kid didn't want to 60 at all. !. Ivy ss.'sS
Indeed, he didn't" answered Foley,
stoutly, ''for he's worked his way bach
to the old post inside Of month. He's
down there now with the ordnance Ger
geant." s1Es .ss,
Eyes, and Muncey was pretending TON
be surprised when he heard OF y t. I.
night, and there was two letters came
to him from Tucson last week that
probly told him all about It, thoukh III 85
don't suppose Manuel could write
Where'd Muncey 60 to, anyhow
broke of Ferguson, suddenly. '.LG
reckon he knows where those fellows 4
are If any body does" hi III h
'.Gone to geta bracer, " laughed one ot !
the miners. Z sMnncey's nerve Ain'tsa
what It used to be, and he's ratified to.ss
night. He's been sl,alky ever since thatsS'
cloudburst swept his partner into II
eternity two years ago. Il never unde
stood what drew them together 4 Mac Il
was q square man and a hard worker, s.
and what's more, everything they had
in the way Of an out at was bough at with
money wagons, mules, bt1rros, grub;
tent and tools It was oil Macs, and he
had some coin and gold dust besides,
Yet when Capt. Cullen tried TO get hold A
Of ~ for the boy, nothing could BE-
found that Mnncey hadn't q lien on-rs5 HI n
him and that damn little greaser &,
brothers n-lsw ~ Mac what's his d
name, Manuel Cardozar z 5 4. / .f3 &
.Cardoza?'' exclaimed Corporal Foley. y
EMANUEL Gardoza? a ny, that's the
name off the boss off this party up neaS s
Ration Springs, where q troops gone.
i heard it given 10 Capt. Foster twice. < q
4 Ferguson turned quickly around. He}fs$sS
had been standing facing The north
keeping intent watch - the direct tn
taken ~ the Vow he ssllirled,s
% the corpo Arc you Y slle o4
that ~ hs said. the great jjnfnrin s
JehosspEat, tI,att means some thing g
hadn't B ta6ugh off. suncey ssycre
ma fl,af Elnax Ind ;pxYi1f "a E1SrffJrA MI