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


Three days later, just at SHUTDOWN
the lcunsers at Sancho's were treated
to sensation Up from the south, the
old Tucson trail, came, dusty. travel
stained and weary, half troop of cav
airy, escortiNg apparently some person
age of distinction, for he was an object
Of the utmost care and attention ON the
part OF the lieutenant commanding and
every man in the detachment AS the
cavaicade approached the dun colored
walls of the corral and without word
or sign to che knot of curious spectators
gathered at the barroom door filed away
to the spot where wandering commands
OF horse were accustomed to bivouac for
the night (tents would have been super
fiuous in that dry. devices atinosphere)
the women, whispering together behind
their screened window place, stared the
harder at sight Of the leaders. One was
Lieutenant Blake-no installing him
the longest legged man in Arizona An
other was big Sergeant Feeney, veter-
an who had seen better days and duties,
but served his flag in the deserts of the
ella as sturdily as ever he fought along
the Shenandoah three years before.
Between these two, dapper slender,
natty, with his hat set jauntily on one
side and his mustache and imperial
twirled to the proportions of toothpicks,
rode third cavalier whom every one
recognized instantly as the fugitive Of
Camp Cooke, the urgently sought Cap
tain Nevins. and. though Nevins arms
and legs were untrammeled by shaclsles
of any kind, it was plain to see that he
was helpless prisoner He had parted
with his belt and revolver His spurs
were ravished from his heels, and his
bride rein, cut in two, was shared be-
tween Blake and his faithful sergeant
Behind these three rode another set
Sandwiched between two troopers was
man whom sancho's people we'll re-
membered as Nevins clerk and assist
ant, despite the fact that bushy beard
now covered the face that was smooth
shaved in the halcyon days of the sup
ply camp Then came some 30 horse
men in long, struggling column of twos,
while straight from the flank to the
gate of the corral, silent and even som
Der. rode the engineer. Lieutenant Lor
ing To him Sanuho whipped OF his
silver laced sombrero and bowed, while
two jaded looking vaqueros, after one
long yet furtive stare, glanced quickly
at each other and sided away to the
nearest aperture in the wall Of the
ranch, which happened to be the dining
room door
Loring mechanically touched his hat
brim in recognition of the ranchkeep-
er's obeisance, but there was no liking
in his eye. AT the gate he slowly, some
what stiffly. dismounted. for it was evi-
dent he had ridden long and far The
roam with hanging head tripped eager
ly yet YEARLY to his accustomed stall,
and a swarthy Mexican Embossed at once
the cincha and removed the horsehair
bride. Thus Sancho and the engineer
were left by themselves, though inquis
tive ranch folk sauntered to the gate
way and peered after them into the
corral. Over at the little clump of will
lows Blake's men were throwing their
carbines across their shoulders and dis
mounting as they reached the old famil
lar spot, and Loring cast one look thither
before he spoke.
Who were the two men who follow
ed me?' he calmly asked, and his eyes,
though red trimmed and inflamed by the
dust of the desert, looked straight into
the dark face of the aggrieved Sancho.
Surely know not, senior teniente.
He had dropped the Captain" as too
transparent fattery.
Don't lie, Sancho. There's ten more
dollars. . and Loring tossed an eagle
into the ready palm. "That's $50, and
I shall want that horse again in the
morning.
Tomorrow, senior! Why, he will
not be fit to CO."
But to this observation Mr.. Loring
made no reply. Straight from Sancho's
side he walked down the corral, halt
ed behind two rangy, hard looking
steeds that showed still the effects of
recent severe usage, and these he studied
coolly and thoroughly a few minutes,
while, peering from two narrow Sits in
the ranch wall between the windows,
two sun tanned frontiersmen as closely
studied him. With these latter peeping
from the shaded window was "the wife
of my brother, !" exchanging with them
comments il low. guarded tones. In the
adjoining room, a bedroom, girl of
perhaps iG, slender, graceful and dark
eyed, peeped in the opposite direction
over toward the willows where Blake's
men were now unsaddling, whence
presently, with giant strides, came
Blake himself, stalking over the sand.
Sancho, despite his anxious scrutiny
Of Loring's silent movements, saw the
coming officer and prepared his counte
nance for smiles. But, with face set
and forbidding, Blake went sternly by,
taking no notice of the proprietor, and
made directly for the little group now
ffp. 4 y 4