The Advocate and news., 1898-12-28

worth, Tor, while 10 was telt that
Brooks would lose no moment and was
we'll on his way at 4 o'clock Of this
bright Sunday morning, he had still
some 90 miles to traverse before he
could get TO Crockett, rest and bait his
men and horses, pick up Cramer's troop
there camped and then push ahead for
the San Saba, where he expected to find
the outlaw gang disposed in ambusCade,
confidently awaiting the coming Of
their prey.
Now, Brooks had men enough to
thrash them soundly. but unless he
caught them in the act Of spoliation he
lacked authority. Just as sure as he
pitched into a force Of armed frontiers
men they would appeal to the courts,
and public sentiment would be dead
against him. He could doubtless push
ahead through the range, careless Of
lurking scouts Of the would be robbers.
meet Major Pennywise and his protect.
ors and escort them back in safety
That problem presented no great diff
Guilty, but what Frazier wanted and
Brooks wanted and everybody presum.
ably wanted was that the outlaws
should be caught in the act and be pun
ished them and there. The question was
how to catch them in the act without
being themselves discovered, and be.
fore the gang had had time to inflict
much damage on the paymaster's party
There was the rub. "Why, their first
volley, delivered from ambush, might
kill half the outfit and the paymaster,
too, =" said Frazier "No we dare not
risk it, Brooks. Push through and pull
him through, that's the best we can do
unless, and here came the redeem.
ing clause, "unless on the way you
should light on some unforeseen chance
Then--use your discretion.
Mounted ON the very horse he used to
ride as troop commander, and with the
old familiar horse equipments, Ned
Lawrence left the post at the majors
side. He had slept as only soldiers can,
Curled up in the stagecoaoh, during
the previous afternoon and was in far
better trim for the long ride in saddle
than Captain Mullane, who with bleary
eyes and muddled head rode solus in
front Of the leading troop, his one lieu
tenant, Mr.. Bralligan, being reported
by DR.. Collabone's assistant as sick in
quarters, which indeed he was, with a
lump the size Of an apple on the side Of
his head, and another, apparently the
heft and density Of a 6 FOUNDER cannon
ball, rolling about inside of it. ID
troop, jogging easily along at the rear
Of column, was led by Barclay and
Brayton, both Of whom had marked the
absence of the subaltern of the leading
company, and neither Of whom was
surprised when ten miles out there came
galloping past them, with a touch of
the hand to his hat brim, the late regi-
mental commissary. Lieutenant Harry
Winn.
"That's gOodp said Brayton as he
saw his classmate ride up to the major
and report, then fall back and range
himself alongside Mullane. But Bar
clay was silent
"You think he ought not to have
conner" asked Brayton, half hesitating.
ly, as he glanced at his silent leader.
"I'm thinking more of others-who
should be here, was the answer. "Yet
those two have so much to leave" And
Brayton, following the glance Of hil
captains eyes, fully understood.
The morning grew warm as the sur
began to climb above the distant low
lying hills to the east. The dust soon
rose in dense clouds from beneath the
crushing hoofs, and, leaving Brayton
with the troop, Barclay cut across the
chord Of long arc in the trail and
reined up alongside the major. The
command at the moment was moving
at a sharp trot through long, low de.