The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1899-08-31

was no way or waving Dack the coming
convoy or of signaling danger. Crockett
Springs lay long days ride to the
southeast, and the little troop of cav
airy there in camp was looking for the
coming Of no call upon it for duty un-
til early Oh the morrow it should sup
ply the paymaster and his party with
breakfast, the ambulance with fresh
mules and driver, and the night riders
Of the escort with their relief Forty
troopers from Crockett Springs would
take the place of those who had come
from the San Saba and trot along with
the paymaster until somewhere about
midway to Worth they should meet
the 40 sent out the previous night to
bivouac on the prairie and be ready to
take up the gait and keep it until the
man Of money and his safe were we'll
within the limits Of the reservation.
But the so mile stage from Crockett
to the southeast was the worst on the
! long line. The road wound over the d.
vide to the valley of the San Saba and
on the way had to twist and turn
through defles of the range of hills
|
and outlaws had defied the little detach-
ments of cavalry scouting after them.
The worst part Of the pass lay some 20
miles beyond the stage station at Crock
EFT Springs. Neither Indians nor out
laws, to be sure, had been heard Of in
that neighborhood for several months,
but that proved nothing. It was easy
for the latter to sweep from their sup
posed Businesses in the Apache range to
the west and, issuing from the Wild
Rose pass, to water miles below the
springs and then line the rocks in the
heart Of the San Saba pass without a
trooper being the wiser. Forty cavalry
men, as Lawrence knew, would be the
majors escort from the camp on the
Rio San Saba beyond the range. Forty
men disciplined and organized ought
ordinarily to be able to cope with any
band Of outlaws to be found in Texas.
But when, as was now reasonably Ger.
tain, this far famed Friday gang had
received accessions from the troops
themselves and had welcomed the de-
serters and desperadoes SO frequently
sloughed off from the soldier skin Of
Uncle Sam in the days close following
the great war, there was grave reason
for precaution and graver still for anx-
iety. Question as he might, Frazier
could not shake an atom of the original
statement of Fuller's men. Fifty
mounted outlaws, at least count, with
a dozen led horses, they had seen
through their fieldglass far over the
prairie, pushing southeastward from
the direction Of Wild Rose pass of the
Apache range, straight for the lower
valley through which ran the little
stream that had it's source at Crockett
Springs.
SO there were anxious hearts at
Worth, for, while it was felt 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 60 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 am buscade,
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 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 verybody presum-
ably wanted was that the outlaws
should be caught in the act and be pun
ished then 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 infict
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 no.
risk it, Brooks Push through and pull
him through, that's the best we can d.
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 t.
ride as troop commander, and with thu
old familiar horse equipments, Me-
Lawrence left the post at the MAJOR
side. He had slept as only soldiers can
curled up in the stagecoach, during
; the previous afternoon and was in ia,
better trim for the long ride in saddl'
than Captain Mullane, who with blear,
eyes and muddled head rode solus i,
front Of the leading troop, his one lieu
tenant, Mr.. Bralligan, being reported
by DR.. Collabone's assistant as sick il
quarters, which indeed he was, with
lump the size Of an apple on the side O
his head, and another, apparently tn
heft and density of FOUNDER cannon
ball, rolling about inside of it. I
troop, jogging easily along at the rea
Of column, was led by Barclay ant