The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1897-01-01

S&~ W ~ - |~vSlEE vySevvEz
''wE'LL JOIN HIM AT THE OLD POST"
air little dust cloud far out near the
Prescott road telling of some party in
rapid movement. "Muncey and Car
doza skipping for all they're WORTH"
hazarded Kelly. but Turner shook his
head. ''That clouds coming this way"
said he, land coming fast-and it's
some of our own people"
And so it proved. Less than half an
hour later, down by the splashing
waters, the two detachments came to-
gether. Comrades of the same regi-
ment, yet from stations miles apart.
The spnburned, dust-covered fellows
from far up the Sandy rode in to the
welcoming ranks from Retribution.
''What news of the Indians?" was nat
urally the first inquiry, and rapidly,
officer to officer, man to man, the two
parties exchanged views. The captain
of the little party from Camp Sandy
was a soldierly fellow, Tanner by name,
and with him were two or three ex-
perienced scouts. AL Zeiber was one,
man who knew Apaches and Arizona
even as their old guide, Buffalo Bill,
knew the Pawnees and the plains.
"There isn't hostile west of the Sandy
this day." said he They've all had
their Jump and done what damage
they could, and now they're skipping
back to the Mogollon country" But
Zeiber looked grave and troubled when
told of the deeds of the previous night
"They are little detached war parties"
said he. ''We may strike one of them
down near the springs, but doubt it.
In brief conference the officers decided
what should then be done. Tanner sent
his lieutenant with q scout and twenty
men down along the north face of the
Socorro to find Foster and follow full
speed any of the struggling Apaches
whose trails they might discover, hop
ing even yet to recapture Leon. Then
the pack train came up and presently
cook fires were blazing in the timber
and from the Camp Sandy supplies "a
hearty dinner was served out to Thorn
tons men while Tanner proposed his
plan. ''My instructions" said he,
''were to leave an escort of twenty
men here at the ford for the generals
ambulance. He is hurrying down from
Prescott and should be here by sunset
we have little party to meet him at
the ranch oyer toward Willow creek.
Now, you and your men and horses
need few hours rest. Suppose you
stay here with your detachment and
I'll take my men and see what we can
find up yonder in the hills" and Tan
ner pointed to the Socorro. Icons
captors may be waiting there for dark
ness before attempting to cross the
open country toward the Mogollon.
You can have four hours sleep and be
ready to ride on to Retribution with
the general tonight"
So said, so done. Capt. Tanner
called up his men, saddled and rode
away, Thornton's horses were given a
good feed of barley from the pack train,
and, with a small herd guard on duty,
the rest of the command sprawled any
where they could find shade and were
snoring in ten minutes time.
The sun went down red in the west
ern sky. The smoldering fires IN the
Sandy bottom beganto glow with the
deepening twilight. One after another
and vawn and ask if further news had
come. and Just at nightfall one of Tan
ner's sergeants brought in three jaded
Givilians-Ferguson and his friends.
All night they had hunted Muucey
without success. All day they had
hidden from Apaches, who at dawn,
said they, were thick as leaves in
| Socorro, and Ferguson was loud in dis
gust at the escape of two arch thieves
And not ten minutes after they came in
from the south, covered with dust and
drawn by six spanking mules, with q
dozen grimy troopers as escort, the
| generals Dig black ambulance drove la
| from the north.
First to emerge from the interior vas
. snappy aid-de-camp, followed quickly
by the grave, quiet hammered chief
himself
whats the truth about Muncey's
party?" asked the aid in gasp. HE
and Mexican rode by us like mad
said they'd been cleaned out completely
and were SO dempralized they couldn't
STOP"
"Only a case of diamond cut dia-
mond," answered Thornton, briefly
They had been running off horses,
mules and boys for what know, and
the Apaches caught them red-handed
| These gentlemen" said he, indicating
Ferguson and his party, want them
for horse stealing, Kelly for murder
and mule stealing, and all of us,
fancy, for boy stealing"
tall man in scouting dress was back
ing out of the ambulance at the mo-
ment, helping bright blue-eyed lad to
alight. he turned in quick anxiety as
the general asked; ..sMbat boy2'