The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1896-01-09

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THORNTON TURNED AND RODE HARD TO
THE RANCH.
old post long enough to give them
warning, and then had ridden away for
Kelly's. Just as quick as I've warned
the old man I'll come back to you," he
called to Lieut.. Crane, who had
thanked him somewhat inadequately
for the service rendered. Crane shared
the universal suspicion, perhaps, and
disbelieved Munccy's report on general
principles, Muncey was squirting off
when Crane hailed him: You must
ha We met Leon mile or so out. Didn't
you turn him back?" And Muncey
whirled around in saddle, evidently
astonished and for a moment confused.
''Leonl Never saw nothin of him
or anybody" he muttered. Never
knew he was back here-at least-er-
didn't know it until l heard rumor
of it tonight" Evidently it wouldn't
do for Mr.. Muncey to tell that lie, as it
would soon be known how they had
been talking but few hours before of
Icons return. "How'd you come to let
him go?" he queried, turning about
again and apparently forgetting his
urgent mission to Kelly's.
swell, he never stopped to ask me, !"
said Mr.. Crane, which was very true.
'But l can't understand how you
missed each other if you kept the road.
However, go ahead and warn Kelly,
and then come back here and we'll
talk about Leon
And Muncey had gone on to Kellys,
but that was the last seen of him, de-
spite The fact that he gave Kelly to
understand that he must hurry over to
Crane again at once. Ferguson and
his friends came galloping in to old
Retribution and stirring up the guard,
and they could tell of Icons safe
arrival within easy range of the new
post, and of their warning him to stay
there, but they, too, had pushed on
over to Kelly's, and thence, scoffing at
Kelly's story of Muncey's return to the
outpost, and telling him the man was
liar, which Kelly already knew, and
horse thief, which he more than sus-
pccted, they had ridden straight back
past the lower gate of the canyon and
made for the trail to Ratoa Springs.
Whether they had met or had escaped
the Indians no one could tell. The
fate of Muncey and his pursuers be-
came for the time being 4 secondary
consideration. Thornton's first effort
was to ascertain what had become of
Leon.
With any luck at all the boy should
have got baclSto the old post by three
or quarter past three in the morning.
Crane and his little guard, Mrs. Downey
and her sympathizing friends, how
ever, had reasoned that he would not
be allowed to attempt to return, and SC
had ceased to look for him. Crane con
veycd to. the woman the tidings
brought by Ferguson, for up to that
moment he ad disbelieved Muncey's
wild tale Then, doubling his sentries
but telling the rest of his party to lie
down and rest, he coolly sprawled him
self on his blankets and went to sleep
The next thing he knew it was nearly
dawn, and the sentries had reused the
guard. Springing to his feet, Crane &c
manded the cause of the alarm, anc
was told there was firing up by Kelly''
ranch. 1t was still dark, though the
eastern sky was beginning to flush az
the little detachment quickly, noiseless
ly assembled in the starlight in from
of the old guard house. Two veteran
war soldiers, Tracey and Collins, wer'
on post at the time, and both declared
that there had been rapid fusillade-
at least dozen shots. 1t could hav,
come from nowhere but Kelly's, saiC
they, though from their stations the,
could not see the farm buildings. Cor
poral Foot, on duty, was inside the cor
raj wall when the distant firing began
and ran for the gateway at once, but i
had ceased by the time he got to
point whence Kelly's ranch was visible
Then for a moment the lieutenan
was in quandary. His orders requires
him to send to and fire the beacon a
the butte il the Apacnes appeared il
the valley; but this might not hav
been Apaches at all. 1t might hav
well been a skirmish between tn
horse thief and his pursuers, who ha
tracked him to some refuge near Kel
ly's. That was a matter in which mil
itary interference could hardly hav
; been tor -ratea.. = -Settlers and frontiers
men, though eager enough to ha.cesth
army les5k after the Indians, much pre-
: fer 70 dispose of their own reprooat'
! in their own way. If an attack ga
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