The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1896-12-11

the same promised Mrs. DoWney she
should have that medicine before day
and I'm going"
And SO, seeing how earnest the boy
was, and recognizing from his descrip-
tion that Mrs. Downey must be in great
pain, the major reluctantly assented.
"I'd send a couple of men back with
you, lad, but 'tisn't likely the Indians
are anywhere along the road between
two parties of troops. l don't think
they'd risk that. At all events we'd
probably have known it before if they
were. We are all up here yet waiting
further news from Capt Foster. Mrs.
Foster is out there on her piazza now,
so you might see her while you're wait
ing. Then come over to my house and
have some coffee before you start"
1t was just 1:30 by the guard house
clock when once again the young
courier mounted his wiry pony, and
started for the ten-mile ride back. He
went loping away down the starlit
road the vial wrapped in his saddlebag,
after hurried good-by, his black eyes
cleaning, his white teeth firmly set.
Good grit, that boy" said the major,
having him for my own"
Good grit, indeedl' said Raymond.
"Most boys l know would rather do
anything than risk that ride in the
dark in the midst of an Indian scare.
What time ought he to get there?"
"Well, his pony's fresh and speedy
by three or threeffteen at latest Now
it's time to hear from Foster"
They were walking slowly back to
the porch of his unfinished quarters as
they talked-he, his adjutant and his
special friend, Capt. Raymond. Quiet
had settled down on the post. Wearied
with watching almost everybody had
gone to get such sleep as was possible,
but the guard and few officers still
remained wide awake. Mrs. Foster,
unable to control her anxiety, was still
restlessly pacing the veranda or rock
ing in her big chair, and the officer of
the day, returning from tour of the
sentry posts, was standing on the walk
and saying some reassuring words,
when the post commander and his party
came along.
81 feel dreadful nervous about that
boy, major" said she. ''Of course,
it was all very brave of him to take
such a risk for Mrs. Downey's sake, but
when Indians have dared to come with
in mile of us what's to prevent their
being all along that westward road now?
Couldn't you have sent few men?"
Gould, perhaps" said the major,
with an air that betrayed just little
how much he resented it that any of
the ladies should question his judg-
ment, "but there are two reasons why
1 didn't-more than two, in fact. In
the first place, the boy had just come
safely in over the road, and that shows
that it is probably safe for tonight
at least. Even Apaches have to
sleep sometimes, you know. In the
second place, Capt. Foster has driven
ahead Of him any Indians that
might have been out here to the
north - if, indeed, those Mexicans
weren't shooting at spoolzs. We have
only their word for it, you know. that
there were any Tontos at ALL"
'They ran off two mules" interposed
Mrs. Foster, impetuously.
"Wait moment. The MeXicans say
they did, but I've known these greasers
to lie like Ananias already, and we've
only been here few weeks. Even If
they had had two mules and boy, what
was to prevent the mules stampeding
into the hills on their own account, and
hiding in some ravine to the west of the
road, as their owners did to the east?"
but Capt. Foster wouldn't chase
spoolzs all night" said the lady, rock
ing rapidly and eXcitedly now. She
was full of conviction that the Apaches
were all around them, and there was no
comfort in being argued out of the idea,
"Capt. Foster" replied the major,
"knows as well as we do from official
reports that the Indians have raided
the mines and the Prescott road, and
he is gone on, like the good soldier be
is" added he, automatically, ito warn
or rescue these other parties, if they
really exist, and stir up the Indians if
they get in his way. South of til. cur
tain of mountains, he cont; ed Mt
ing to the black maesC Sc o,
land behind vo "a Xxi IN
line we are fre, or Ne (
this nos which var Il lie EN-. ,
'ho >" valley oI sg 'ng
f. c '2gh t. mt lie, ht .
r1. ro .. whl. l l, \. cans
. /. ;aV y adv to wv. fe O my
| /. an apt. fpr is tlat ho
g, d sic i ITS WHIT /
mt to 40"
"p' t, sjol." persisted L. s. : ,ste-,
suppose Leon should be cat OF by
by anybody. lie told me you said his
Mexican uncle was again here trying
to get him. Suppose he shouldn't reach
the old post by three o'clock or later,
how would you know?"
"Ah, thought of all that. / told
him to start a fire under what's left of
that old stack of condemned hay the
moment he 60 4. The sentries 0aaA
here on Three q. Four have already
received orders +, watch for fire at
the old post. If they don't see it by
half-past three at the latest, We'll start
party in scar h. But that firell be
there all right. Good night, Mrs. Fos-
ter-now don't worry"
But Mrs, Foster did worry. She wor-
ried about Leon--exposed, as she be-
! lieved, to anger from two sources.
She worried about her husband, even
though her native common sense told