Arizona republican., 1898-03-22
(Continued From Yesterday.)

J Rifiers' train should have started. He heard the call for the surgeon, and promptly turned out in person. The sleepy horses of the patrol were stand ing Eeekly and wonderingly at the guardhouse when the distant shot was fired, and, borrowing one, the sergeant galloped out. When Bux appeared he borrowed another. and one for the sur geon. Then, after hearing Merriam's brief recital, he ordered him to mount forthwith, take the entire patrol and gallcp in chase of the greasers.
 There was no difficulty in learning at the wretched shack at the edge of the reservation which way they had gone Nine at least were in the party, and the hoof tracks led away southwestward across the flat until they struck the line of the railway, two miles west of the Junction. Here there seemed to have been brief halt. discussion. possibly q divide, and a split. Two horses had crossed the track and gone south; the others, veering westward, had lit out'' for the Santa Clara. and Randy Mer- riam, trifle hungry now, was wishing with all his heart he had gone first to Florence, and left the inspection of the stables until afterwards. It was some where about two o'clock when they started. The men were booted and spurrad, but Merriam was in ordinary trousers. and the troop horse he rode was quick to find the spur was gone and slow to mind the heel. The McCIel- Ian saddle, too, with its upright pommel and cantle, worried him after the ease of his own Whitman. When dawn came he was well-nigh ready to give up the chase after fording the Santa Clara and finding the trail had turned northwest ward, when sharp-eyed trooper swore he could see the quarry making for the foothills and not two miles ahead; so Merriam borrowed a single spur and pushed vehemently, vigorously on.
 Then broad daylight came, and there could be no doubt they were gaining. The chase was hot. The pursued were tossing off saddle bags, riatas, and oth- CT detachable horse furniture to tighten their weight, but they stuck to their guns and ammunition. Merriam's men were considerably strung out, not more  ing distance, when the fact that they were in range of the greasers was dem onstrated by the zip and sing of bull let close alongside.
 That's business" muttered the trooper who rode close on his left rear. Shall I try shot. sir?'
 Merriam shook his head. The situa- ton had few points in it's favor. Obedient to his orders to pursue and capture the gang. Randy had ridden hard, vet over many a mile had he asked himseif the question-Suppose they re- sist arrest. what's to be done? He had no warrant. He was not even a deputy sheriff, not even the humb.est con stituent of posse comitatus. If he or his men returned their fire and shot some of these unnatural naturaiiZed voters and citizens. like as not an in Gictment for murder would be hanging over his head. if not hanging him in the course of 3 fortnight. True, there was no sheriff within 70 miles, and .ong be- fore the civil authorities could be brought into pay the murderers of Brady would be scattered ali over the face of the earth. All the same, under the strict Interpretation Of the civil law. Lieut.. Merriam knew that he and his people had TO more business trying to arrest these renegades than they had 10 vote at a territorial election. In point Of fact, like many another officer and man. soldier of Uncle Sam on the broad frontier. he was aware of the fact that even horse thief had more civil rights than the trooper. His expedition therefore, in the eye of the law was nothing more nor less than a lawless dash, winding up in possible free fight, and ali against the peace and dig nity of the people of New Mexico. Per haps Buxton knew this. too. but the or Gers he gave were peremptory. and Mer- Tiam never stopped to reply, reason why, or exp0stuiate. But now when the renegades began to shoot the reasoning why had to be done. His men were hot for battle-so was he-but the nation expects of it's officers that, no matter what the temptation, provOcation or eX- asperation. they keep cool heads and tempers, only shoot when the law per mits. out then shoot to kill. No claim of self-defense could be allowed. They were the pursuing and therefore the attacking party. and. though these Mex jeans were followed red-handed, hot footed, there could be no question what d civil jury would say if any of their dingy hides were punctured by the balls of brutal soldiery.
 Zip-bang!-a second shot. Bing- g-g-e wrrr1I-bang! another, and Corp oral Butts ducked his head and swore and Trooper Mullen's charger squealed and unged ard kicked viciously with the seam Of bullet scathing his flank and blowing the Glaunch. They were clos
 ing OF the rufiians fast, then, and the temptation was oyerpowering. Il can't
 to be shot down like ride my men in
 dogs" grovled Randy. Tn for penny in for pound. They started it, any