The Florence daily tribune., 1898-03-25

I'VE must try to make II seem that
she has ridden Off at dawn in hopes Of
meeting Randy on his return with ihe
prisoners" was Mrs. Haynes decision,
after she had recovered from the shock
and had heard the whole story: and
this commended itself 70 Gnitgn rs
wise when his wife came back 10 him
and he had returned from the never-to-
be-neglected morning stables" Aud
this too was what they intended at first
TO say 10 Merriam when he should come
in, ravcnops for breakfast and aston
iehed at not finding his wife. Rut high
noon came and brought no Randy In
he words Of the acting adiuiant, high
uoon brought only high jinks.
Crane, officer Of the day, and dozen
other officers had seen Hop Ling's
frantic charge across the rarade at
reveille, and numbers of men had heard
his announcement of the general hegira
at Merriam's. Before guard mounting
II was known that Mignon's trail led
straight awny to the upper forls Of the
Santa Clara--fnr from the direction IN
which Randy had gure. Atteu herds-
lady must have dropped this.n lie sew
her riding like the wind the short cut
for Jose's ranch on the old Navajo trail
and he handed over Poor Flurrje's little
travelling bng. which she liTd evidently
strapped to her sa6dle. never calculnt-
iug-perhars never caring-what the
strain MIGHT he. never missing Il when
It was core. They cent II 10 Mrs lIaync,
who could TO LONGER keep up her brave
face bu; sohhed over il as would moth
cr oe0r some priced relic of a lost and
beloved child.
Then Bux ordered ont three Of his
swiftest trailors and riders and the best
light wagon al the post. With Tie wag-
on went the post surFeon md Mrs.
Haync, wholeft her brood tea ccichbar's
care. They took with them such drugs
and restoratlves as seemed necessary,
aud at noon they were across ,Ae Santa
Clara on the road io the eantonment, eN-
peciing to reaah jose's by gighliaHand
find their runway darling ticte, eN-
hausied by her long hours IL sadtis aud
compelled TO stay under that iricdd.y
shelter, as sometimes with her father
and twice al least with Randy size had
stayed on her journeys 10 aud fro.
There she would have 10 remain over
night uutii AtgNou Should be able 10
go on again with the rise OF the morning
star.
Meantime tise wires from c;mrrron
Junction lad been hot with Hcws and
McGra,h, the oaerglor lived ghy day q
his life. ior hours the meet iragoliaRt
man at The post. Tie rioters Had got
wind OF the caming Of trcoes lnd he'd
sought 10 block the way hs wtCglirv
4 frgiaht cYocoSe in Ceie.c;is Gefse.
The Riiess Warmed out hsd ihegs
in shure Vithis the hoUr, u,ld went
whisf.ing on again. Eysrgosc kuew
troubie voted end the usnls lsetfhsy got
to the scene Of the strike. bat what
might no; hsFpea meantime?
Something Ind happened. On one of
the passenger trains htockaded beyond
Cimarron was a Chicago lawyer OF
most active mind and being, Chicago-
an of no little experience with scenes Of
the kind, aud this gentleman had Gred
message after message to Lieut.. Ran
dolph Merriam, at sedgwieil, and finally
demanded reason for that officers ST..
lence.
"What1l do with this here. sir?'
said McGrath, coming finally into The
adjutant's office. "There's three mes
sages here for Mr. Merriam, urgent
ones. too, and finally the sender asks
why he don't reply"
Say that Mr.. Merriam is still away
after Mexican murderers ard We ex-
peet him any minute. Ask if nny other
officer will do? Hello! What's that,
orderly?" he broke Off, at the souud OF
hoof beats and excited voices without
\ trooper entered, dust covered and
weary, to make his brief report Capt
Grafton darting in just in time for the
news.
Lieut.. Merriam's wounded, sir, an
his horse killed. and can the doctor go
back with me?"
MY Godl" thought Grafton ere he
spoke aloud. rs there to be 10 end to-
the calamites of this day?n Repress-
ing his own eagerness, .he waited ia
stern self-discipline while the adjuiaut
went quickly into details. rs was his
business, in striving 10 learn ihe extent
and nature of Merriam's wounds; then,
the colonel being over home, turned for
advice. to Grafton.
"only our contract doctor Left he
said. The others are off with the
Riflers or-in chase" Hurriedly he
wrote few lines TO Buxton and then
turned TO McGrath.
Tell Capt. Grafton about these mes
sages for Mr.. Merriam, win you?" said
he, ''and captain, win yeu Pltnse pt-
tend to that while look to Raadg's re-
lief? Thank God they didn't kill him.
he added as be went noisily out. "WHat
in heavens name did Buxton expect
him to dc, anyhow"
Have you a right to say what is
wanted of Mr.. Merriam and whom these
are from?' asked Grafton of The opera
tor.
81 couldn't say word sir, ordi-
narily, but believe they'l1 never blame