Arizona republican., 1898-04-07

Far away on either hand. the Iumpy, sandy barren, dotted everywhere with little duli-hued tufts of coarse herbage or stunted sage. Ahead of him the tor tuons, twisting, dusty trail, dented with scores of footprints, the tracks of Grafton's troop on it's way to the res cue. By this time Randy was burning with thirst, but the water in his can teen was warm and nauseating. He raised the felt-covered flask to his lips from time to time and rinsed his mouth and moistened his parching throat, but that did not allay the craving. He had still 30 miles to go before he could reach Jcse's and exchange Brown Dick for a broncho, and have Dr. Gould renew the dressing of his wounded arm. He knew that Florence had failed to appear there, but he knew her pluck and spir- 1t, and believed he knew the reason that there might be sojourners there either from the Catamount or from the post who would seek to turn her back or hold her there; and he knew that in her overwrought, half-maddened state she was starving for her mothers pet ting and her fathers arms. He knew her so well that any attempt to dissuade her now would result, he felt assured, only in frantic outburst and more de termined effort to push ahead.
 Then he had another and even better reason for thinking he could quickly find Mignon's trail, although it might | n,, their return from their latest visit to the Catamount they were having a glorious run with the hounds one love ly November morning, and the jack rabbits led them far out to the north of the road among the buttes and powders that clustered about the course of little stream, barely yard wide anywhere, that rippled out from among the foothills only to be lost in the sands of the desert to the east. One vigorous old rabbit, close followed by the hounds, had tackled suddenly and darted up this narrow valley, and Floy and Mignon, all excitement, darted aft CT him, while Randy, guiding Brown Dick behind, watched with fond, proud eyes his young wife's graceful, fear less riding. Far up toward the head of the brook poor jack had been tossed in air by the pointed muzzle of his closest pursuer and then bounced upon by the panting hounds, and Ran dy found that they were in little am- phitheater among the buttes-found the little spring in which the streamlet had it's birth, and there they dismount- eC and unsaddied and let the horses roll; and here they took their luncheon, and had happy, loving hour, all alone with the horses and hounds in this lit tie world of their own; and Floy had named the spot-a fond, foolish little caprice, perhaps, and vowed that it was to be her refuge by-and-by. "This is where I am coming to build my lone iy cloister one of these days, when you grow weary of me, sir," she had laugh ingly said. And now, as he piled spurs to Dicks heaving sides, Randy won- dered, wondered whether it might not be that she had made that wide detour around Jose's purposely to find and re- visit that romantic little nook and there pour out her grief to the solitude of the silent foothills
 At five o'clock Brown Dick was black with sweat and dust and streaked with foam, but still pressed gamely on, and Randy, with white, set face, in which deep lines of pain and weariness were craving, gazed fiNedly ahead with burn ing, fevered eyes, conscious that strength was failing him and praying fer the first sight of those dun adobe walls of Jose's sheltering ranch.
 Just ct seven o'clock of the early win er'sevening the denizens of loses heard the thud of horses hoofs at the gate and the hail of feeble voice. loses wife at that moment was in half-tearful talk with Mrs. Hayne, who from dawn till dark had been on watch-hoping against hope for tidings of Florence and who now, wearied with long vigi and well-nigh worp out with anxiety was lying down in search of sleep Gould, veteran soldier and surgeon that he was, could no longer bear the sus T.ense and inaction at the ranch. H. had borrowed one of Jose's horses, and with a half-breed Mexican for guide lad ridden away at dawn, hoping tt strike Grafton's trail and follow hin into the mountains, whither he Wa: supposed to have ridden in pursuit O tne Apaches. Gould was skeptic. H. said he didn't believe dozen Apache were off their reservation. He didn' believe half a dozen had ventured eve tl,e New Mexican line, and if any hat le vas willing to bet a months pa. they were not hostile. This was com forting to Mrs. Hayne. but Jose's peopl were not so easily cured of their con vction. By the time the rumor reaches the ranch, brought in by stampede herdsmen, no one of whom had seen a
 Indian, but each of whom could tel tremendous tales of their doings in tE val1ey, it was declared that at least , of Victories old band were raiding tn Santa Clara and might be expected t assault Jose's at any moment. Tn corral was filled, therefore, with scrag gy cow ponies and swarthy men, ar