The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1896-12-25

away IN the direction OF his hOmes
Never until that instant had it seemed
to dawn upon them that by any human
possibility Leon had striven to return
had found the Indians interposed be-
tween him and the old post in the
valley, and then realizing what it's
original projectors had not thought
possib ble-that the Indians had proba bly,
SO closely invested the post itself as to
prevent anyone's getting out to fire
the beacon-he had risl1ed his own
brave life in the attempt; had given
the signal that brought rescue to them
at the gallop, and in so doing had
betrayed his own presence to the
lurking foe. Here again, therefore,
was a case where the ground remained
in the hands of one party, but all the
telling blows were dealt by the other
The soldiers had felt the sting Of
Kelly's words. True, no one of their
number had been ordered to make
that perilous ride, though all had
heard Mrs. Downev's cries and means
and appeals for aid, and some one
might have volunteered and been al
lowed to go, but not until Leon was
well on his way, True, had Downey
been there he would not have permit
ted the sacrifice, and was now ready to
bitterly upbraid his weaker half for in
spring it. A good woman in many a
way was Mrs. Downey, and very fond
of the boys, Randall and Leon, but the
least pain or illness prostrated her, and
a serious pain frightened her to the
verge of distraction. All this Leon was
too young to appreciate. He believed
her suffering terribly and in dire need,
as did all who heard her, perhaps, but
kelly's girls and her own Mexican
maid OF all work-and so, just as he
thought Randy would have done had
he been there, he determined to go
and went without IL word to Crane, who
might have stopped him, as, indeed.
Mrs. Downey was shrewd enough to
declare he would if he happened to hear
of it,
And now Crane and his party were
well away into the Socorro in pursuit,
and Kelly, returning wrathful to his
home, was anticipated in his search for
Leon by the coming of Turner's troop,
followed within moment or two by
Chariton's dramatic announcement of
the discovery of the slaughtered pony.
Half an hour later while the old SER
geant was bending over and examining
the stiifened carcass of his pet broncho,
Turner's best scouts, afoot, were scour-
ing every square yard of those Jagged,
bowlder streWn flanks of the butte in
search of Icons trail or that of his In
dian foes. Others were examining the
signs in the timber and along the Sandy,
and the more they found the more they
were mysti6ed. Apaches, as a rule, in
those days were foot warriors. The
Tontos, Sierra Blancas, Hualpais,
Apache Mohaves and Apache Yumas
had small use for horse or mule, yet
there were more hoof than moccasin
prints in the timber and around Kelly's
corral. What was more, both mules
and horses were shod. That meant
that they had run off a good deal of
stock and were riding instead of walk
ing, said Turner's men, but Kelly,
growing graver and less disposed to
talk with everya moment, continued
searching on his own account, and
| neglecting many a chance to snub
some callow young trooper hazarding
| theories as to the numbers and move
ments of the Indians.
Maj Thornton contenting himself
with sending a platoon on the trail of
Cranes party, had ridden up to Kelly's
ranch to rencil some instructions for
Raymond. 1t was now seven o'clock,
| I. l. I, = L
single Indian; neither had he news of
Foster nor tidings of any kind, vet
with the events of the night still fresh
in his mind, with the death of Ruckel
and Rafferty, and Kelly's Mexican as
sistant and the loss of Leon to mourn,
the major felt convinced the Indians
had swooped in force upon the valley,
and would have killed, burned and de-
stroyed everything in sight but for his
! prompt answer to the signal which his
| forethought had caused to be provided
at Che top of the butte. The Apaches
| had desisted from their attempt only at
his approach, and had fed into the
| hills, whittier his men were now pur-
suing. Such, at least, was his theory
! i
port to department headquarters, to be
sent forward by detachment that
day Already he was framing his die
ton, and after few penciled words to
Raymond, bidding him hold the fort,
as he wasn't coming-for the present,
at least, the major had borrowed big
sheet of the ordnance sergeant's official
paper, and began:
"KELLY's RANCH, South of Apache
Canyon, June 2, 1877. Assistant Ad-
jutant General, Headquarters Depart
ment of Arizona:
"Sir-I have the honor to report that
on receipt of your dispatch notifying
me of the Apache outbreak, and direct
ing me to guard well my working par
ties at old Fort Retribution and the
road connecting it with the new post,
| detached Lieut.. Crane, with twenty
of Capt. Raymond's troop, and sent him
to camptemporarily at the abandoned
corral, and also took steps to notify the
settlers north and south of the post OF
the new danger, Deeming it possible
that the Indians might attempt to pass
around us and raid the ranches, had
caused beacon to be built on the sum-
NIT OF Signal Butte, and instructed
Lieut.. Crane to fire it If he learned the