The Advocate and news., 1899-01-11

AAoWs OuAy DAAoAy unu bHoy uNAboA nAN
docked about the painting Bteed, for
stern was the need that held them to
their course With awestrioken faces
and compressed lips they looked into
each others eyes, as though 90 ask:
What nextG Who nsxtP The major,
tender hearted as a woman, we'll nigh
shocked with distress and anxiety as he
burned to Barclay for counsel, and long
before the rearmOst Of the column had
reached the spot the decision had been
made. The leaders were again pushing
on Young Brayton, with half dozen
troopers had been dispatched south.
westward along the fslda, ordered to
search high and low for Lawrence, dead
or alive There was only one theory
chat, pushing eagerly ahead to the re.
lief Of Oraner's crippled troop, the gal
liant ex-captain had taken no thought
Of personal danger; the old instinct Of
leadership had possessed him, and, fore.
most Of his little squad. he had been
picked Oh by lurking bushwhackers OF
me outlaws, CEouching like Indians in
the shelter Of the rocks, and had fallen
another victim Of their desperate
efforts. "One more fight in Texas" in.
deed Poor, brave, warm hearted Ned !
That one more fight, reported in Wash
ington by an indulgent department
commander, might bring about immedi-
ate measures for his restoration to the
army, but was It worth the riskP Was
IL worth what might befall those moth
erless children, praying for father hour
after hour that livelong day9 Should
it have been permitted, had there been
any one 10 prevent, in view Of the fact
that no longer was there soldier duty to
lead him ONT The government bad re.
leased him from all chat, had hidden
him 60 It had no further use for the
services Of such as he; IL had turned
him loose upon che world, with heavy
stoppages against the stipulated bonus,
ooh, what right had he," cried
Brooks, "to forget those babies back at
Worth, we'll knowing, as he must, that
no mans life is worth hair in front
Of the rifles of that outlaw gang much
less an enemy such as Lawrence has
shown himself to be!' The majors
heart and head were heavy as once more
the order forward was given. With
every inclination to turn from his
course with his entire command, to
hasten in search Of Lawrenoes little
party and Cramer's halted men, he we'll
knew that should the paymaster and
his precious thousands fall into the out
law hands Of the Friday gang he would
be held responsible, even though San
gaba's cantonment sent with him a
hrCe of 40 men.
Once within the jaws Of the pass the
little detachment had closed ON the
head Of column, the advance guard,
Barclays leading section, riding ON and
dispensing itself under his instructions,
while Brooks held the other sections
until Winn's men were all closed mp,
bringing with them the little squads
chat had secuted toward the short cut
Of the San Saba, and had found no liv.
ing soul in sight, yet had followed fresh
hoOf tracks coming their way for miles
Whoever they were the scouts Of the
gang were we'll ahead; whoever he
was, Friday by this time knew the
troops were coming. Then, with the
flankers securing the slopes we'll out to
right and left wherever possible,
Brooks main body, too, had entered
the winding defile and was lost in the
bowels Of the earth.
Az IL o'clock a watcher, gazing back
into che broad, shallow depression in
which lay CEoCketh's and then north
ward TO the low lying hills along tho
trail to Worth, could have seem no
gleap af light far QE near that Would