The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1899-03-10

I the otnsis oacK TO Tom D1aKs, VINO
meantime, with what little force he
had, would scout eastward for news of
/, the stage.
| But that plan was destined never to
be carried out The long day came to
an end The darkness settled down over
sandy plain and distant mountain The
silence of midnight reigned over the
| lonely biveuac and the somber ranch.
yet had not Blake given orders that ev-
cry man must remain close to the horses
throughout the evening adventurous
spirits from the troop could surely have
heard the ominous whisperings within
the corral and marked the stealthy glid-
ings to and fro At 9 O'Clock the ia
nous roam was cautiously led forth from
the gateway and close under the black
shadow of the wall, and not until we'll
beyond earshot OF the willows was he
mounted and headed eastward.
AT 10 Loring was sleeping soundly in
preparation for the night ride before
him, and Blake, nervously putting at
his pipe, was listening to the low, lnur-
murOus chat where the guard were
| gathered about their watch fire, when
soft, timid Turing. sweet. again he
heard the tinkle of that guitar. deceased
abruptly. There was minute of 81
lence; then trifle louder it began
again. again ceased as though waiting
a reply, and Blake sat up and listened
| Once more, not at the westward will
lows, not at the ranch, not on the open
plain, but somewhere close at hand,
close to his side of the bivouac, away
from the guard. away from the occa-
sionally stamping, snorting horses and
equally far from the dark, shadowy
buildings OF the stage station, and
Blake slowly, noiselessly got to his feet
and after listening one moment to Lor.
iDg's deep, regular breathing buckled
Oil his revolver belt and stole forth in
to the Starlight. Yes, there was the
| sound again--a few notes, bar or two
of the song Pancha was singing at the
willows the night before, and close to
the edge of the willows crouched the
musician. With his hand on the butt
of his revolver Blake strobe slowly to-
ward the shrinking form and reckoning
it rose and moved swiftly away. "Halt
where you are" growled the lieuten-
ant. III you want me, stay here.
For answer there came the same soft.
ly played bars and another gesture as
though imploring him to come farther
away from hearing of the ranch or even
of his bivouac, and, whipping out his
revolver, the tall trooper sprang for
| ward, and heavy hand came down on
the shawl hidden form, and there, trem-
bling, mploring-aye, weeping-was
Pancha. Before he could speak one
word she began, and to his amaze began
in English-broken English, to be sure,
disjointed, incoherent, tremulous-and
he listened, at first incredulous, then
half convinced, then utterly absorbed,
too absorbed to note that dark form
went scurrying from the shelter of some
stunted brush straight toward the
ranch, whence presently bright light
shone forth and loud voices harsh
| ly shouted the name of Pancha, Pan
cha = whose wrist he still grasped
Pamela, who, weeping, had implored
him to hasten with all his men, that
the stage was not three miles away
with officers from Grant aboard, that
wicked men had planned to murder
them to prevent their joining him, and
now in terror she sought to break away.
She begged him to release her They
would kill her if they knew
And even as she pleaded, far out on
the dark. eastward plain, there sudden
ly uprose chorus of yells, rafting
fusillade, and Blake darted to the
bivouac, shonting as he ran: Cup with
you, O troopl Mount. men! Mount"
And then all was stir and hustle and
excitement. Springing from their
blanket beds the troopers threw their
carbine sings over their shoulders and
flew to their horses. Never mind your
saddles-no time for thatl" yelled
Blake, as he Slipped the bit between
tic teeth of his startled charger, then
threw himself astride the naked back
Cup with you AID come on" Then
with dozen ready fellows at his heels
away he darted into the gloom. guided
only by the yells and flashes far ont
over the sandy plain. In less than two
minutes every trooper in the little COM
mand had gone squirting in pursuit. and
Lieutenant Loring, suddenly aroused
from slumber, revolver in hand, look
ing eagerly about for explanation Of
the row. found himself standing guard
over his treasure laden saddlebags-ut-
terly alone.
Then came the whish of a RATA
through the pulseless air. the quick
whir-r-r of the horsehair rope through
the loop as it settled down over his
head. snap as it few taut, sudden
and violent shock as his feet were jerked
from under him. the crack Of his re-
volver, aimless. stunning blow on his
l o.<,akx, 20 hona -kbo.,-.ainliusosa