The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1898-04-02
CHAPTER Nj.

"Mrs. McLanc," Merriam was saying
at the moment, intcrrupting the plead
ing, weeping woman who was clinging
to his arm, lit is useless to talk of it.
Had you let me know why you wished to
see me, all the pain Of this meeting
could have been avoided. Every paper
1 had was given to MIR. Parry, your law
yer, months ago. know less about the
matter, probably, than you do; and
now, forgive me, but must go at once"
Almost forcibly lie drew her clasping
hands from his arm. and turning sharp
ly and without another word to the
cringing woman, FASTENED on through
the narrow pathway that led between
Grafton's cottage and that TO the east
ward, and prexntly emerged again into
the moonlight at the back of the house.
going stra ght to the captains stable.
For moment his late companion stood
there at the trellis, staring after him in
mingled misery and incrcdulity. She
had planned it we'll. She had marked
his coming just as Grafton had said, had
hurried down to the shady nisle be-
tween the quarters and halted him
there-astonished at her daring. He
would have walked dozen miles that
night rather than see her at all, but to
meet her this way, to feel that he was
trapped, made Merriam's blood boil
with wrath. His voice, though, was
stern and cold as he babe her say why
she wished to see him. Ent her aim was
to thetain, to soften, TO charm and then
to plead, and she had Il dreadful, dread
full story to tell aud none TO tell it to
hut him. Even then she was halkcd, for
Merriam b!untly babe her omit the
story, as he knew ali he needed to know,
and come to the point at once. What
could she want OF him? Advice-sym-
puthy, she cried; and for advice he re-
ferred her to her lawyer-for sympathy
she must not come to him. She must
have some purpose in calling on him
what was it? And then ii proved to be
the packet with certain papers, given
him by the young miner in the Mes
calero. "[t was turned over to your
lawyer long ago." said Randy; and then
she burst into tears and said she. WAS
undone, and walled: ooh. Randy, Ran
ly! what can I--what am to tlo?" And
he suggested gravely, courtcously, but
positively, that she should Mt once go
indoors, while he went on his way.
His heart was bitter against hcras he
strobe out hey ond the fence line, and, n it.
ercarefully inspectingt he doors of Graf
tons stable, he closed and locked, the
gate. lie wished now more than ever
to hurry on westward and enter his own
little home and surprise Florence,
{,F, L
parlor lights and interpreted them as
indicating that she must be well over
the unrcasoning stage of this her first,
and, he prayed God. her last, Jealous
trouble. He turned toward his own
gate, intending only to glance at the
other stables on the way and give the
sentry additional orders; but when he
got SO far toward the western end of the
row as TO enable him to distin g1,ish any
object as big as a man he found tn Ills
veXation that there was no sentry there
at all, and that lie must retracc hiA
steps and look for lin toward the other
end. 1t was Il backward tramp of over
300 yards, and he was rrtated enough
to feel like scoring the sentry when
finally he came upon him.
"You shouldn't be here, sir" he be-
gan, after the customary challenge and
reply. "Wherc you are most needed is
along toward the other end, where there
are private horses in timsy stables"
"Ikncw, sir" said the soldier, prompt
ly, "but there's something amiss out
there on the road toward town. heard
II scuf1le and cries for help, and then a
in 1nyy MT n ha l,pt ff,1,,
The corporals gone out to see. I'm
afrad there's been blood split sir"
And even as they stood and listened,
the still night air was split by The loud
report of carbine. echoed back from
the opposite wall of the shallow, mar
row canyon. 1t was followed almost
instantly by cry for aid.
Come right along" shouted Merriam
to the sentry, and he sprang away in
the direction Of the alarm. "Ncvrr mind
your post!"
A run of nearly 400 yards, crossing
diagonally the Junction road as they
ran, brought the lieutenant to the edge
of the chasm, at a point where one
could see some distance down the
stream. the sentry painting several rods
| Dei.llHi. liz hloDulISllL WAS ldlIi, but
still sufficient to enable him to make
out the form Of n man apparently crawl
ing on hands and knees up the bank,
while another lay moiionIcss close to
the waters edge. Over this latter Corp
oral Mahoncy was hending, imr,nringin
grief-strickcn tones. Randy went
bounding down the abrupt slope. sure
footed as goat.
"Whst's the matter. corporal? What
is it?"
"Brady, sir-stabbed to death, I'm
'fraid. There was three of en- OF. him,
and more at poor Corcoran yonder-
Mexicans all of en, and they lit out
stru ght for that monte shack across
the mesa. Their horses are there, I
reckon. Look up. BRADY. man, for
Gods sake! Here's the lieutenant come
to help"
Merriam knclt, threw opcn tho blue
blouse and placed his hand over the
heart, waited moment and shook his
head. His hand was dripping with
blood as he drew it out. CAL over with
poor Brady, 1 fear" said he. run
quick. No. 2 followed me out. Tell
him to hurry for the surgeon and send
the litter from the hospital Who
fired?"
II did, sir. I hoped to bring down
one OF the gang, but they were too far