The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1899-03-02

anu WHlic ne WIS hipplnP tne cO1Iet
and resting on bunk in the main room
Mrs. IIayne came fastening in with out
stretched hands and eyes still dim Will
weeping. She was shocked at hi.
hnggard appearance. She could only
press his hand in silent sympathy ant
struggle hard to beat back the tear,
that would have flowed afresh. "Yol
will stay here with us now until DR.
Gould returns" she said. II look fol-
him any moment"
81? No, indeed. I go on at once, al
soon as they can saddle a fresh horse
for me. She must be more than half
way to the environment by this time, If
Mignon hasn't given out"
And then Mrs. Hayne sobbed aloud.
"Oh, Randy, Randy Haven't you
heard? Floy never regained the road
at all. The mail carrier from Cata-
mount got in an hour ago and saw moth
ing whatever of her"
"rhen know where to find her." said
Randy, promptly. "A lovely spot we
visited together hardly month ago,
and | could find it easily after moon
rise"
But Mrs. Hayne only sobbed the
more. How could she tell him? Yet it
had to be.
GOD grant II" she cried. "God grant
1t! But, oh, my friend, we've had q
dreadful fright! Capt. Grafton's men
struck an Apache trail yesterday, and
they are following it fast as they can
go at this moment"
And with that announcement van
ished all thought of further rest for
him. bidding the two troopers saddle
anything on four legs that could carry
them, he sprang forth into the still and
radiant night and was astride his mon
grel mount in twinkling. In vain Mrs
Hnyne came out and pleaded with him;
Merriam would listen to nothing
nothing but tidings of Florence. 1t was
barely eight o'clock when, fully armed,
the little party rode swiftly away I'M
der the northward stars, following an
old trail that led to the upper foothills
OF the Mescalero. They were not half
an hour gone when sergeant and Two
men rode in from the west, inuuiring
for DR.. Gould and Mrs. Iiayne. They
were three of Grafton's men sent back
from the chase to say they were hot on
the trail. There were five Apaches
afoot and one shod horse-so the traces
told infallibly. Florence, then. was
probably bound prisoner on that
horse, and Grafton would recapture her
or lose every horse and man in the at
tempt.
And ii that night was one of dread
and detection at the ranch, what must
it have been to Merriam, reeling and
well-nigh exhausted, yet riding grim
ly, desperately forward through the
long hours, searching vainly. yainly I'M
der the wan moonlight, even along
Into the palid dawn, for. that little cleft
in the foothills Floy had named Mon
Abri." Faint and shimmering the day
beams came at last, and then, and not
until then, Murdoch. II faithful trooper.
now riding by his leutenant's side and
supporting him with his arm, turned to
his conrade. who, dismuunted, was
striving with the aid of match or two
to study some footprints they had
found in the soft surface. Jimmy" he
whispered, there's something moving
along that ridge yonder-coming this
way. What is it?"
And though soft the whisper II
caught poor Randy's drowsy ear, and
he strove to straighten up in saddle.
What? Where?" he family asked.
Wonder, sir, not half mile away.
It's some of our fellows, or I'm duffer.
\ ell to 'em, Jimmy"
And obedient to the word Jimmy
yelled. Over the rolling surface the SOL
iier's voice went ringing through the
dawn and echo sent it Gathering back |
from the buttes and powders to the |
west. This way, you fellers!-this
wny!" he cried, and then, mounting, |
,lapped spurs to his pony and sputtered |
way down the intervening swale.
Ten minutes later Randy Merriam
was lying on the ground in a swoon.
md George Grafton, with grave, sad
ace, well-nigh as huggard as the lieu
was bending over him and
to force some brandy down his
'hroat. Following "for all they were
worth" the Apache trail. they had over
'auled the supposed marauders not 90
niles back in the foothills-a pacific
provided with the agen.
y pass and safeguard, and culpable
'nly in that they had come too far and
lad picked up on the plains an Amer.
can horse, abandoned at sight of them
~ some MeXicans who galloped
ar away; and that American horse
minus saddle and bride, was Floy's
'retty bay mare, Mignon.
Then where iii heavens name was
he?
IL was some minutes before Merriam
evived. Then he strove to stagger TO
is feet, but fell helplessly back. 1t
vas nearly broad daylight, but the sun
7as still below the distant Guadaloupe.
altering his feeble energies, Randy
Irove to describe the little cove and to
nplore Grafton to bear him thither.
nd was interrupted by an eager
ergeant, who said: 1--WE passed lust
nch brook, sir, not mile back. Shall
take half-a-dozen men and follow il
p?"
es, at once" said Grafton, land I'll
o, too. Stay here. Randy" Indeed, the
'utien was not needed, for Merriam
as past moving now, poor fellow, and
is head sank help,essly back upon the
'Idlers supporting arm. And then
ley rode away, Grafton and balf-, ,