The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1898-10-09

guiduns were peepinR, hovered over
their winding trail the bold and COM
manding heights. Fort Worth's shelter
against the keen blasts that swept in
winter tine across the prairie from the
upper valley Of the Rio Bravo. Four
hours out and Just where the road dip
ped into that broad deep swale quar-
ter mile behind the rearmost troopers
just where the wreck of one of Fuller's
wagons and the bones of two Of Full
ler's mules and the soft spongy mud to
the west of the trail told how the wa
ters could gather there in the rainy
season and eYaporate to nothingness
when needed in the dry-a solitary
stake driven into the yielding soil bore
ON bullet perforated cross board the
legend, Twenty miles to Worth and
only 30 rods to hell"
Only 30 miles in four hours. with
fresh horses and the cool Of the morn
ing, and paymaster with $40, 900 in
deadly danger some 60 to 80 miles
away. Slow going that, yet scientific.
Not another drop of water could those
lively chargers hope to have until they
reached the springs at Crockett. 40
miles away.
Thrice has Brooks halted for brief ten
minutes rest, the resetting Of saddles,
ETC., and now, after ID minutes likely
jog, he signals walk" again, and
glances back to watch the march Of his
men. By this time the column is long
drawn out. The two troops srs split up
into four sections each, riding little
over a dozen men in a bunch; by this
means they are relieved from the i'll
effects of the choking clouds Of dust.
Mullane halts with the major. 1t
pleases him to convey the impression to
his men that Brooks can't get along
without him. A big pull at his pommel
canteen, ten minutes back, has tenn
porarily braced him, and he wants to
talk, whereas Brooks, intent ON the
duty before him, wishes to think.
"Hwat time will we make Crockett's,
major?'
mot before or $780," is the brief
answer.
Il troop can do it in two hours less. :"
$50 could d, if it hadn't to push on
again at nightfall." 1" Brooks answers in
civil tone, despite the hint conveyed by
the brevity of his words, despite the
conviction that is growing on him as he
somewhat warily glances over his COM
panion, that what l. might do its
captain won't do if he consults that
canteen again. Two silent but keen
cared orderlies are sitting in saddle
close beside their respective officers and
it will not do to give his thoughts
away.
Then Mullane tries another tack. He
seeks confidential relations with his
chief. and when all Irishman has man
he is jealous of to talk about and whis
ky to start him, he needs no supply OF
facts; they bubble from his seethinG
brain, manufactured for the occasion.
1.-The preacher was caught where he
couldn't get out Of il" says he, with q
leering wink at the leading horseman.
"Is he Iarnin his thrade from Lawrence.
afther robbin him of his throop?"
And now Brooks fires mp unexpected
ly. Turning quickly on the Irishmar
with anger in his eyes. the major bends
forward over the pommeL "Captair
Mullane." he says. so low that the
| nearby troopers fail to catch his words
SO distinctly that the captain cannot
fail to, "there are things Of more value
in a trade than the tricks Of it that yoT
seem to know so we'll You can learI
more from Captain BARCLAY that II
worth knowing than yoa can ever teacl
him, and I'll listen to no slur at his ex
pense. You've been drinking too much
Mullane. Take my advice and pull tn
stopper out of that canteen and put en-
ON your tongue.
The Irishman boils up with wrath
The idea of Major Mildmanners pitch
ing into him-him, that was once th