The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1899-03-25

more and declared, with hysteric tears,
that they were keeping her away from
Randy Merriam out of spite and hatred
just at the most critical time. Hell
die, he'll die" she cried, "and carry my
one safeguard with him to the gravel"
Sorely puzzled, Mrs. Grafton had to
leave her once in awhile for few min
utes at time to consult her husband,
who could frequently be heard moving
about the parlor or going quickly in
and out of the house. 1t was plain that
Grafton was troubled about something
besides Randy, and at II o'clock the ex-
PLANTATION came.
Up to shutdown Florence-Mrs. Mer-
riam-had not been seen or heard of at
Jose's ranch.
One of the trailers, Rafferty, by name,
declared that Mignon's tracks turned
suddenly to the northward and led away
from the ranch and into the maze of
foothills to the right of the cantonment
trail. At shutdown they had reached
Jose's, still hoping against hope that
she would be there, but no sign of her
had been seen, and, borrowing fresh
horse, Rafferty, started back to Sedg-
wick at the gallop to carry the news. He
met the doctor with Mrs. Hayne only
short distance from Jose's, and they
went on to the ranch hoping for better
tidings, but babe him ride for Sedg-
wick with all speed. Rafferty, could
ride week in and week out If the horse
could stand it. and Jose's broncho was
used-up quadruped by the time they
reached the Santa Clara. There he
turned him into a ranchman's corral
and borrowed another, never stopping
to say ''by your leave, sir" This was
on the queens service in Rafferty's
mind and no mans property was sacred
when "Miss Florence's" life was in
volved. Buxton was up and about when
| the courier came, and in ten minutes
had reached the Office and sent for
| Grafton. What he wished to know was,
had she any reason whatever for turn
ing away from the beaten track and
taking to the unknown regions off the
road and far to the northwest OF the
| settlements? Grafton knew of none.
There was indeed grave reason why she
| should not.
For so miles northward the Santa
Clara twined and twisted through a
fairly fertile valley, once the herding
ground of the Navajos, now wild and al
most unsettled. Americans and Next
cans both had tried it as stock range,
but American cattle and American
horses demanded a better quality of
grass and more Of it than would serve
the stomach of the Indian pony. Treaty
obligations sent the Navajos farther
into the mountains to the northwest
beyond the Mescalero-but there were
restless roamers who were constantly
off the reservation, sometimes on pass
but oftener on mischief, and on the pre-
text of trading they came recklessly as
far as the settlement, and then some
body's horses were sure to be missing,
spirited away into the foothills, whittier
it was almost useless to follow. The
Navajos said the Mexicans were the
thieves, the Mexicans declared them to
be the Navajos, and when both parties
were caught and accused, with prompt
unanimity both announced that
Apaches must again be raiding, and the
name of Apache covered multitude
| of sins. Time was when Victoria and
Mana led the cavalry some glorious
chases into the Mescalero, but both
those redoubtables had met their fate,
and agency officials across the Arizona
line were ready to swear that none of
their once intractable followers ever
thought of quitting corn or melon
planting for the forbidden joys of the
raid and the warpath. All the same the
foothills and the valley far to the north
west of the settlements were full OF
mystery and danger-the roaming
ground of the horsethief and the rene.
gade, and Merriam's men, just in from
their long chase, pointed out how the
Mexican ruffians, though starting
originally toward the southwest had
in long wide circuit gradually worked
their way northward, as though making
for this very region. The leader OF the
gang that shot Brady and Corcoran was
fellow by the name of Ramon Valdez
and there was no deviltry too steep fol-
him. The news, therefore, that Flor.
ence Merriam had not reached Jose's
but that her trail was lost somewhere
among the buttes and powders -four
miles to the eastward OF that frontier
refuge, struck dismay to the hearts Of
her friends at sedgwick. The tidings
went from lip to lip, from house t.
house, like wildfire, and by midnigh
an entire troop had ridden forth will
their ever ready three days rations
and with Capt. George Grafton in com
mand, and their orders were not to re
turn without Mrs. Merriam or defnit,
news of her.
Mrs. Grafton let her husband 90 only
with deep reluctance. Hewas very nee
essary to her now. She felt the need o.
his support in the management of he
truculent patient. She had to leave tn,
latter while assisting him In his busy
preparations, and she was surprised
and rejoiced to see that on her return
to her Fanny had become far more calm
and resigned. The ladies in man,
households were still up and fitting