El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-09-07

They were going to make a ride to
the foothills and back-Captain Cline
and the coloners daughter. That meant
q galIop of 30 miles 1t was straight
away down the stage road for ten
miles, then across scrub and plain for
Eve more to hit the natural curiosity
called the Devils BASIN
Not an Indian has been seen this
side of the range for four months"
said the captain as he talked over the
proposed ride with the colonel, land
the trip Is perfectly safe l will detail
an escort from my own company, but
II will be only for appearances sake"
"Yes. it will be safe, and May will
enjoy the gallop," said the colonel, and
no more was said about It.
At sunrise all were ready to set forth.
As the girl stood on the veranda wait
ing for her horse six OF the men of A
troop came riding up under command
of Corporal Haynes They halted 80
feet away, aud as she looked them over
abe gave a start of surprise. and flush
overspread her face Next moment
her cheeks went white. and she gasped
as IL choked for breath. The corpo-
RAILS hand slowly lifted. and his head
was uncovered for an instant. and I'ri-
waite Harkins whispered to Private
O'Brien:
"And did ye see that, Jim? By
smoke. but IL our corporal and the
eolonePs daughter haven't met before
then I don't know a jack rabbit from a
long drink of whiskyv'
But how can 1t be z" asked O'Brien.
How can the grass grow. ye thick
head1 Don't we call Haynes the Gen
tfeIpan CorporalY Isn't 1t agreed in
Troop A that he has the education and
manners of any officer from West
Point and that he's seen the day when
he trained with the tiptoppe&T
"And they may have lovedT' unused
O'Brien.
That's 1t, but it's all over now. me
boy. II me own sister was married to
the second leotenant. I'd not dane 10 as
much as wink me eye at her, It's a
big gulf 'twixt officer and man. and II
the man tries to bridge It he gets drop
I'd to the bottom. See the girl walk
ing TO and fro? She's doing some think
ing. and don't ye forget it"
"And the corporal isn't bit easy in
his mind" added the other.
1t all took place In a minute, and
then Captain Cline rode mp. followed
by the girls horse. She called out a
good morning and announced that she
was ready, and when the captain raj
lied her on being a bit nervous she
forced n laugh and charged him with
being four long minutes behind the
hour agreed AS she was lifted into
the saddle she caught one more glance
Of the corporal. and the watchful Pr
waite Harkins again whispered to his
chum:
lin. we've got a mystery here or
I'm an old woman. The girl is flushing
ag'in- Who knows but what we may
have n marriage between our Gentle
man Corporal and the coloners daugh-
terY"
Remember the gulfr' growled
I'D find a way to fly over 1t If 1 was
In love"
The two riders went galfoping away.
followed at n distance Of 100 yards by
the escort 1t was a beautiful morning
In summer. with the blue haze lying
thick over the distant mountains and
blood of both horse and man Jingle
Now and then the pace was slackened
down a bit to breathe the horses, but
no halt was made until the Devils
basin was reached Close up against
the base of Fire mountain was a natu-
al dip. and in this dip. OF basin. were
half q dozen spouting hot water
springs There was also a circular
axe which steamed and dubbed. and
now and then from the crevices of the
rocks at the west end of the basin
steam was forced out, with the notes
of a fog horn The escort halted 40
yards from the riders. and the men sat
about on the rocks and ate the break
fast they had brought with them and
smoked their pipes and gossiped. Mean
while Corporal Haynes climbed to the
top Of a great bowlder and surveyed
the country about with his keen eyes
Ii was three-quarters of an hour be-
fore he suddenly started and looked
dxedly into the north beyond the basin
and after three or four minutes came
sliding down the rock and said to the
lounging troopers:
Men. see to your arms and lie close.
Pm going up to report to the captain"
Captain Cline and the coloneTs
daughter were breakfasting on fiat
topped rock overlooking the basin.
while their horses were fastened to a
tree near by. They saw Corporal
Haynes approaching, and the captain
likewise noticed that the girl flushed
and became nervous. He was single
man. and. though not exactly in love
with her, a spark OF jealousy blazed up
IN his heart. The eorporaPs past was
q sealed book to his troop commander
rs well as his comrades. He had been
made n corporal because of his atten-