The Clovis news. [volume] (Clovis, N.M.) 1907-1929, 1912-02-15

THAT IS my name. what have you.
my man3"
Compliments Of Colonel Maitland.
chief Of stah. sir" ne said. handing
me a folded paper.
Dear Wayne:" the private note
read, Believing you would be glad
to have the detail I have just ar
ranged TO send you at once upon some
active service Please report at these
quarters Immediately. fully equipped
for the field"
Gladi It was the very medicine /
most needed, and within twenty min
utes OF my receipt Of this communi-
cation ] was with Maitland, thanking
him warmly for his thoughfulness.
Not another word, Wayne, be in
sisted 1T is not much, a mere scout
ing detail over neutral territory. and
will prove dull enough. / only hope It
may help to divert your mind a trine.
Now listen-you are to proceed with
twenty mounted men OF the escort
west as far as the foothills, and are
expected to note carefully three
things; First, the condition Of for
age for the ~sustenance OF a wagon
traie; second. what forces Of FEEDER
al troops, If any. are along the Honey
we'll; and third. the gathering Of all in
formation obtainable as to the report
ed consolidation of guerillas for pur-
poses Of plumber between the lines. II
time suffice, you might cross over into
the valley Of the Cowskin and learn
the condition Of forage there as we'll
A guide will accompany your party,
and you are to avoid contact with the
enemy as far as possible. Your men
carry Eve days %rations. You under
stand fully7"
Il do, sir; presume | am to start
at once7"
Your squad. under command OF
Sergeant Ebers, is already waiting out
side"
Are you all ready, s~ergeant7" 1
asked Of the rather heavyweight Ger
man who stood fronting me, his broad,
red face as impassive as though carved
from tone.
We Yos, captain"
Where is the guide7"
Dot Is him. init der mule, amt it3"
he answered, pointing with one huge
hand down the road.
Very well, we will pick him up
then as we 60"
cared so little as to whether or not
he accompanied US at all that We had
advanced some distance before the
thought Of him again occurred to me.
l knew the gentry fairly well, and had
experienced In the past so many evil
dences Of their stupidity, If not actual
%disloyalty, as to prefer my own knowl-
edge OF the country to theirs, Ny
thought, indeed, for several miles was
not at all with the little party Of
troopers jogging steadily at my heels,
nor, in truth, was 1t greatly concerned
with the fate of the expedition. That
was but service routine, and l rode
forward carelessly enough, never
dreaming that every hour Oh progress
was bearing me toward the most Inn
portant adventure Of my life. It a
the German sergeant who recalled me
to the responsibilities Of command.
Captain" he exclaimed apologet-
ically, riding up to my side and wiping
his round, perspiring face with great
energy, we are riding toe hard, amt
We? Mein GOtt, but der horses will
give u entirely, already"
lis that sO2H / asked In surprise at
his words. A single swift glance
around convinced me he vas correct,
for the mounts were exceedingly soft,
and already looked nearly played out
from our sharp pace. Very well,
we Will halt here"
With a sigh OF relief he drew back.
and as he did so my eyes fell for the
hrst time upon the guide AS live.
it was Jed Bungay, and when I stared
at him In sudden amazement be broke
into a broad grin
"Durn If didn't begin ter think as
how ye'd gone n clar forgot me,
Cap"
Not a bit Of It, Jed and / rode up
to him and extended my hand. But
how came you here? Are you the
guide?"
Sure thing, cap; know this we're
kintry like a bulk. faded horsemen
from the west, at evening to the castle
HAN1arAs ny sum gHN NNN AHNA-NNAA
an me through a blamed hard Jolt Of
It so fur"
"~Beelzebub2"
"Ye bet, Their mule; reckon as how
70 amt gone an forgot him, hey yer"
"Bungay. what has become Of Ma
riaY"
The little mans eyer suddenly hned
with tears.
Il list don't know, cap he answered
m%ournfuily. "Whin / got hum ther
OF cabin he'd bin plum burnt down.
nary stick o. It left, by gum an Ma
riar she wuz clean gone Hain't seed
neither hide ner hair o. her since.
thet's a fac. An I sorter drifted. back
ter you uns cause I didn't hev nowhag
else ter 60"
did you hunt for her among the old
plantations along the valley2' asked.
deeply touched by his evident feeling
she very likely sought refuge in