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IHK SUMTER WATCHMAN, Established April, 1S50. "Be Just and Fear not-Let all'.the Ends thou Aims't at, be thy Country's, thy God's and Truth's." . THE TRUE SOUTHRON, Established Jone, 1366 Consolidated lng. 2,1881 SUMTER, S. C., WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1894. Sew Series-Yoi. XIII. No. 30. CHAPTER L The sun was just going down, a hiss ing globe of fire and torment. Airead; the lower, limb was in contact with th jagged backbone of the mountain cha ii that rimmed the desert with purpl and gold.. Ont on the barren, har? baked flat in front of the corral, jus where it had been unhitched when th* paymaster and his safe were dumper soon after dawn, a weatherbeaten am balance was throwing unbroken a mi li long shadow toward the distant Chris tobai The gateway to the east throng! the Santa Maria, sharply notched in th< gleaming range, stood a day's marci away^-a day's march now only mad* by night, for this was Arizona, and from the rising of the sun to the going down of the same anywhere south of that curdling mud bath, the Gila, the only human beings impervious to the fierceness of its rays were the Apaches. "And they, " growled the paymaster as he petulantly snapped the lock of his little safe, "they're no more human than so many hyenas. " A big man physically was the cus? todian and disburser of government greenbacks-so big that, as he stepped forth through the aperture in the hot adobe wall, he ducked bis head to avert unwilling contact with its upper edge. Green glass goggles, a broad brimmed straw hat a pongee shirt, loose trousers of brown linen and dust colored canvas shoes made up the outer man of a personality as distinctly mi? mili tary as it was ponderous. Slow and labored in movement, the major was correspondingly sluggish in speech. He sauntered out into the glare of the evening sunshine and became slowly f conscious of 3 desire to swear at what he saw; that, though in a minute or two the day god would "douse his glim" behind the black horizon, no prepara? tion whatever had been made for a . start There stood the ambulance, ev? ery bolt and link and tire hot as a stove lid, but not a mule in sight Turning to his left he strolled along toward a gap in the adobe wall and entered the dusty interior of the corral. One of the four quadrupeds drowsing under the brush shelter languidly turned an inquiring eye and interrogative ear in his direction and conveyed, after the manner of the mule, a' suggestion as to supper. A Mexican boy, sprawl? ing in the shade of a bale of govern? ment hay and clad in cotton shirt and "trousers well nigh as brown as the skin that peeped through occasional gaps, glanced up at him with languid inter? est au instant and then resumed the more agreeable contemplation of the writhings of an impaled tarantula. Under another section of the shed two placid little burros were dreamily blinking at vacancy, their grizzled fronte expressive of that ineffable peace found only in the faces of saints and donkeys. In the middle of the incl osare a rude windlass coiled with rope stood stretch? ing forth a decrepid lever arm. The whippletree, dangling from the end over the beaten circular track, seemed cracked with heat and age. The stout rope that stretched tautly from the coil passed over a wooden wheel and dis? appeared through a broad framed aper? ture into the bowels of the earth. Close at hand in the shade of a brush covered **leanto" hung three or four huge ollas, earthen water jars, swathed in gunnysack and blanket Beyond them, warped out of all possibility of future usefulness, stood what had once been the running gear of a California buckboard. Behind it dangled from dusty pegs portions of leather harness, which all the neatsfoot oil of the mil? itary pharmacopoeia could never again restore to softness or pliability. A newer edition of the same class of ve? hicle was covered by a canvas * * paulin. * A huge stack of barley bags was piled at the far end of the corral, guarded from depredation (quadrupedal) by a barrier of wooden slats, mostly down, and by a tattered biped, very sound asleep. "Where's the sergeant?" queried the paymaster slowly, addressing no one in particular, but looking plaintively around him. Still leaning a brown chin on a near? ly black hand, and stirring up his spider with the forked stick he held in the other paw, the boy simply tilted his head toward the dark opening un? der the farther end of the shed, an aperture that seemed to lead to noth? ing but blackness beyond. "What's he doing?" "No sa-a-abe," drawled the boy, never lifting his handsome eyes from the joys before Mm. "Why hasn't he harnessed up?" A shrug of the shoulders was the only reply. "Hey?" "No sa-a-abe, " slowly as before. "What's your name?" "Jose," "Well, here, Jose, you go and tell him 1 want him. " The boy slowly pulled himself to? gether and found his feet; started re? luctantly to obey; glanced hack at his captive, now scuttling off for freedom ; turned again; scotched him with his forked stick, and then with a vicious "huh I" drove the struggling araneina into the sandy soil. This done, he lounged off toward the dark corner in the wall of the ranch and dove out of sight Presently there slowly issued from this recess a sturdy form in dusty blue blouse, the sleeves of which were dec? orated with chevrons in far faded yel? low. Under the shabby slouch hat a found, sun5lisisred, freckled face,"bris tling with a week old beard, peered forth at the staff official with an expression half of languid tolerance, half of mild irritation. In most perfunctory fash? ion the soldier just touched the hat rira with his forefinger, then dropped the hand into a convenient pocket. It was plain that he felt but faint respect for the staff rank and station of the man in goggles and anthon ty. "Sergeant Feeny, I thought I told you 1 wanted everything ready to start at sunset." 14 Yon did. sir, and then yon undid it," was the prompt and sturdy reply. The paymaster stood irresolute. Throngh the shading spectacles of gree^ bis eyes seemed devoid of any expres? sion. His attitude remained un? changed, thumbs in the low cut pockets of his wide flapping trousers, shoulder* meek and drooping. "W-e-11," he finally drawled, "yon understood I wanted to get on to Camp Stoneman by sunrise, didn't you? Didn't my clerk, Mr. Dawes, tell you?" "He did, yes, sir, and you don't want to get there no more than I do, major. But I told you flatfooted if you let Don? ovan and those other men go back on the trail they'd find some excuse to stop at Ceralvo's. and. d-n 'em, they've done it." "Don't you s'pose they'll be along presently?" "S'pose?" and the sun blistered face of the cavalryman seemed to grow a shade redder as he echoed almost con? temptuously the word of his superior. "S'pose? Why, major, look here!" And the short, swart trooper took three quick strides, then pointed through the western gap in the adobe wall to the gilded edge of the range where the sun had just slipped from view. "It's 10 mile to that ridge, it's 10 minutes since I got the last wigwag of the sig? nal flag at the pass. They hadn't come through then. What chance is there of their getting here in time to light out at dark? You did tell me to have ev? erything ready to start, and then you undid it by sending half the escort back. You've been here in hell's half acre three days, and . I've been here three years. You have never been through Canyon Diablo; I have been throngh a dozen times and never yet without a fight or a mighty good chance of one. Now, you may think it's fun to run your head into an am? buscade, but 1 don't. You can get 'em too easy without trying here. I'm an old soldier, major, and too free spoken perhaps, but 1 mean no disrespect, only I wish to God you'd listen to me next time." "You wouldn't have had me leave those women in the lurch back at the crossing, would you?" queried the pay? master half apologetically. "Why, I don't believe that story at all," flatly answered Feeny; '*it'ssome d-d plant that fellow Donovan's springing on you-a mere excuse to lido back so they could drink and The Moldier just touched thc hot rim with his forefinger. gamble with those thugs at Ceralvo's. They've just been paid off and had no chance for any fun at all before they were ordered out on this escort duty. That money's been burning in their pockets now for three whole nights, and they just can't stand it so long as a drop of liquor's to be had by hard rid? ang. No soldier is happy till he's dead broke, major-leastwise none 1 ever see." "What makes you doubt the story, sergeant ? It came straight enough. ' ' "It came too d-d straight, sir; that's just the trouble. It came straight from Chihuahua Pete's monte mill. It's only a hook to draw 'em back, and they played it on you because they saw you were new to the country, and they knew I was asleep; and now, unless Lieutenant Drummond should happen in with his troop, there's no help for it but to wait for tomorrow night and no certainty of getting away then. " "Well, if Mr. Drummond were here, don't you suppose he'd have gone or sent back to protect those people?" "Oh, he'd have gone-certainly that's his business, but it isn't yours, major. You've got government money there enough to buy up every rumholo south of the Gila. You're expected to pay at Stoneman, Grant and Goodwin and Crittenden and Bowie, where they haven't had a cent since last Christmas and here it is the middle of May. You ought to have pushed through with all speed, so none of these jayhawkers could get wind of your going, let alona the Apaches. Every hour you halt is clear gain to them, and hero you've simply got to stay 24 hours all along of a cock and bull story about some stageload of frightened women 15 miles back at Gila Bend. It's a plant, ma? jor] that's what I believe. " Cid Plummer kicked the toe of J I shoe into the sandy soil and hung reflective head. "I wish you had] shut your eyes," he drawled at lengl "I wouldn't, sir, if I hadn't thong you'd keep yours open. You slept -, night, sir, you and Mr. Dawes, wh I rode alongside with finger on trig? every minute. " Absorbed in their gloomy con vers tion, neither man noticed that the woe en shutter in the adobe wall close hand had been noiselessly opened frc within, just ?n inch or two. Neitb knew, neither could see that behind it. the gathering darkness of the short eui mer evening, a shadowy form w crouching. "Then you think we must stay her do you?" queried the paymaster. "Think? I know it Why, the rani ahead is alive with Apaches, and \ can't stand 'em off with only half dozen mern Your clerk's no 'conn major. " ' Old Plummer stood irresolute. H clerk, a consumptive and broken dow relative, was at that moment lyii nerveless on a rude bunk within tl ranch, bemoaning the fate that had in pelled him to seek Arizona in search < health. He was indeed of littl " 'count, " as the paymaster well knev After a moment's painful thought tl words rose slowly to his lips: "Well, perhaps you know best, e here we stay till tomorrow night or i least until they get back. " One could almost hear the whispe in the deep recess of the retaining wal -sibilant, gasping. Some one crouct ing still farther back in the blac depths of the interior did hear. "Santa Maria!" But when a moment later the propri etor of this roadside ranch, this arti ricial oasis in a land of desolation strolled ? into the big bare room wher half a dozen troopers were dozing o gambling it was with an air of conti dential joviality that he whispered it the corporal in charge: "Our fren, the major, he rif?use m< sell you aguardiente-mescal, but wai -tonight." "Oh,.d-n it, Moreno, we'll be hal way to Stoneman by that time," in terrupted the trooper quite savagely "Who's to know where we got th< stuff? We'll make 'em believe Dono van's squad brought it in from Cer alvo's. Give me a drink now anyhow you infernal greaser; I'm all burnt om with such a day as this. We've got t< start the moment they get back, anc there won't be any time them " "Hush, caballero; they come not to night You will rest here. " "Why, how in blazes do you know?' "Softly!-I know not I know noting; yet, mira !-I know. They tali long in the corral-the major and that pig of a sergeant-for him 1 snap my finger. Look you!" And Moreno gave a flip indicative of combined de? fiance and disdain. "Don't you count on his not finding out Moreno. It's all easy enough so far as the major's concerned, but that blackguard Feeny's different, 1 tell you. He'd hear the gurgle of the spigot if he were 10 miles across the Gila, and be' here to bust things before you could serve out a gill-d-n bim! He's been keen enough to put that psalm singing Yankee on guard over your liquor. How are you going to get at it anyhow?" For an answer the Mexican placed the forefinger of his left hand upon his lips and with that of the right hand pointed significantlyto the hard beaten earthen floor. "Ah, I have a mine," he whispered. "You will not betray, eh? Shu-u! Hush ! He comes now. ' ' The gruff voice of Sergeant Feeny broke up th? colloquy. "Corporal Murphy, take what men you have here and groom at once. Feed and water too. Moreno, I want sup? per cooked for eight in 30 minutes Drop those cards now, you mern You should have been sleeping as I told you, so as to be ready for work to? night." "Shure we don't go tonight ser? geant" * * Who says that ?1 * demanded Feeny quickly, whirling upon his subordi? nates. The corporal looked embarrassed and turned to Moreno for support. Moreno, profoundly calm, was as pro? foundly oblivious. "Moreno there," began Murphy, finding himself compelled to speak. "I?" gravely, courteously protested the Mexican, with deprecatory shrug of his shoulders and upward lift of eye? brow. "I? What know I? I do but say the Corporal Donovan is not come. How know I you go not out tonight?" "Neither you nor the likes of you knows," was Feeny's stern retort. "We go when wo will and no questions asked. As for you, Murphy, you be ready, and it's me you'll ask, not any outsider, when we go. I've had enough to swear at today without you fellows playing off on me. Go or no go, no I liquor, mind you. The first man 1 catch drinking I'll tie by the thumbs j to the back of the ambulance, and he'll ? foot it to Stoneman. " No words were wasted in remon- | strance or reply. These were indeed j "the days of the empire" in Arizona- ! days soon after the great war of the re- ! hellion, when men drank and swore j and fought and gambled in the rough I life of their exile, but obeyed, and I obeyed without question, the officers appointed over them. These were the ! days when veteran sergeants like Feeny j -men who had served under St. George i Cooke and Sumner and Harney on the wide frontier before the war, who had . ridden with the starry guidons in many j a wild, whirling charge under Sheridan and Merritt and Custer in the valley of Virginia-held almost despotic powers j among the troopers who spent that en? listment in the isoiation of Arizona, j Rare were the cases when they abused ; their privilege. Stern was their rule, j rude their speech, but by officers and j men alike they were trusted and re- j spected. As for Feeny, there were not lacking | those who declared him spoiled. Twice : that day had tho paymaster been on ; tho point of rebuking hij apparent in- j difference. Twice had he withheld his 1 censure, knowing, after all, Feeny to be in the righr and himself in the wrong. And now in the gathering shades oJ night, as he stood in silence watching the brisk process of grooming, ano noted how thorough and businesslike, even though sharp and stern, was Fee? ny, the paymaster was wishing he had not ventured to disregard the caution of so skilled a veteran. And yet the paymaster, having a hu? man heart in his breast, had been sorely tried, for the appeal that came for help was one he could not well resist. Pass? ing Geralvo's at midnight and pushing relentlessly ahead instead of halting there as the men had hoped, the party v/as challenged in the Mexican tongue. 4'Que viene?" To which unlooked for and uncalled for demand the leading trooper, scorn? ing greaser interference in American territory, promptly answered: "Go ton-1!" All the same he heard the click of lock and was prompt to draw his own Colt, as did likewise the little squad riding ahead of the creaking ambu? lance. The two leaders of the mules whirled instantly about and became tangled up with the wheel team, and the paymaster was pitched out of a dream into a doubled up mass on the opposite seat. To his startled questions the driver could only make reply that he didn't know what was the matter: the sergeant had gone ahead to see. Presently Feeny shouted "Forward!'' and on they went again, and not until Ceralvo's was a mile behind could the major learn the cause of the detention. "Some of Ceralvo's people," answered Feeny; "d-n their impudence! They thought to stop us and turn us in there by stories of Indian raids just below us-three prospectors murdered 24 miles this side of the Sonora line. Cochises' people never came this far west of the Chiricahua range. It's white cutthroats maybe, and we'll need our whole command. " And yet in the glaring sunshine of that May morning, after they had un? saddled at Moreno's, and the sergeant, wearied with the vigils of two succes? sive nights, had gone to sleep in the coolest shade he could find, there came riding across the sunbaked, cactus dotted plain at the west a young man who had the features of the American and the grave, courteous bearing of the Mexican. "My name is Harvey," 6aid he. "My sisters, who have been in San Francisco at school, are with me on the way to visit our parents in Tucson. Father was to have met us at the Bend with relays of mules. Wo have waited 48 hours and can wait no longer. For God's sake let half a dozen of your men ride out and escort them down here. There is no doubt in the world the Apaches are in the mountains on both sides, and I'm trembling for fear they've already found our camp. None of my party dared make the ride, so I had to come. " What was Plummer to do ? He didn't want to rouse the sergeant. This wasn't going back to Ceralvo's, but riding northward to the rescue of imperiled beauty. He simply couldn't refuse, especially when Donovan and others were eager to go. From Mr. Harvey he learned txiat his father had married into an old Spanish Mexican family at Havana, had been induced by them to take charge of certain business in Mat amoras, and that long afterward he had removed to Guaymas and thence to Tucson. The children had been ed? ucated at San Francisco, and the sis? ters, now 1^ and 15 years of age re? spectively, were soon to go to Cuba to visit relatives of their mother, but were determined once more to see the quaint old home at Tucson before so doing; hence this journey under his charge. The story seemed straight enough Plummer had never yet been to Tucson, but at Drum Barracks and Wilmington he had often heard of the Harveys, and Donovan swore he knew them all by sight, especially the old man. The matter was settled before Plum? mer really knew whether to take the responsibility or not, and the cavalry corporal with five men rode back into the fiery heat of the Arizona day and was miles away toward the Gila before Feeny woke to a realizing sense of what had happened. Then he came out and | blasphemed. There in that wretched little green safe were locked up thou- j sands enough of dollars to tempt all the outlawry of the occident to any deed of desperation that might lead to the capture of the booty, and with Don- i ovan and his party away Feeny saw he had but half a dozen men for defense. At his interposition the major had at | least done one thing-warned Moreno j not to sell a drop of his fiery mescal to ? any one of the men, and when the Mexican expressed entire willingness to acquiesce Feeny's suspicions were redoubled and he picked out Trooper Latham, a New Englander whom some strange and untoward fate had led into the ranks, and stationed him in the bullet scarred barroom of the ranch, with strict orders to allow not a drop to be drawn or. served to any one with? out the sanction of Sergeant Feeny or ? his .superior officer, the major. Even the humiliation of this proceeding had j in no wise disturbed Moreno's suavity. ! "All I possess is at your feet, " he had j said to the major, with Castilian grace ! and gravity, 4'Take or withhold it as j you will." "Infernalold hypocrite!" swore Fee? ny, between his stror?g, set teeth. "1 believe he'd like nothing better than to get the escort drunk and turn us over bag and baggage to the Morales gang. " Thrice during the hot afternoon had Feeny scouted the premises and striven ! to find what number and manner ot' ; men Moreno might have in concealment j there. Questioning was of little use. | Moreno was ready to answer to any- j thing and was never known to halt at j a lie. Old Miguel, the half breed, who Sid odd jobs about the well and the corral, expressed profound ignorance both of the situation and Feeny's Eng- . Lish, Tho Mexican boy had but one i answer to all queries, "No sa-a-abe." Other occupants thero wore, but these j aven Feeny's senso of duty could not i prompt him to disturb. Somewhere j in the depths of the domestic portion I of trie r?hc?, where the crush on th fiat roof was piled most heavily an the walls were jealously thick, a] scouting parties or escorts well kne\ that Moreno's wife and daughter wer hidden from prying eyes, and runic had it that often there were more tha: two feminine occupants; that thes were sometimes joined by three or fou others-wives or sweethearts of oui lawed men who rode with Pasqual Mc rales-and all Arizona knew that Pas qual Morales had little more Mexica: blood in his veins than had Feen; himself. He was an Americano, ; cursed gringo for whom long years ag the sheriffs of California and Nevad; had chased in vain, who had sough refuge and a mate in Sonora and whos swarthy features found no difficulty i] masquerading under a Mexican nam when the language cf love had mad him familiar with the Mexican tongue Slow, to action, slow of speech as wa the paymaster, he was not slow to se< that Sergeant Feeny was anxious an( ill at ease, and if a veteran trooper whom his captain had pronounced th< coolest, pluckiest and most reliable mai in the regiment, could be so distnrbec over the indications, it was high tim? to take precaution. Y#hat was th< threatened danger? Apaches? The} would never assault the ranch with its guard of soldiers, whatsoever the} might do in the- canyons in the rang< beyond. Outlaws ? They had not beei heard of for months. He had inquirec into all this at Yuma, at the stage sta? tions, by mail of the commanding officers at Lowell and Bowie anc Grant Not for six months had a stage been "held up" or a buckboarc "jumped" south of the turbid Gila. True, thero was rumor of riot and law? lessness among the miners at Castl? Dome and the customary shooting scrape at Ehrenberg and La Paz, but these were river towns, far behind him now as he looked back over the desert trail and aloft into the star studded, cloud? less sky. Nothing could be more placid, noth? ing less prophetic of peril or ambush than this exquisite summer night. Somewhere within the forbidden region of Moreno's harem a guitar was begin? ning to tinkle softly. That was all very well, but then a woman's voice, anything but soft, took up a strange, monotonous refrain. Line after line, verse after verse, it ran, harsh, change? less. He could not distinguish the words-he did not wish to ; the music was bad enough in all conscience, what? soever it might become when sung by youth or beauty. As it fell from the lips of Senora Moreno the air was a succession of vocal nasal disharmonies, high pitched, strident, nerve racking. Unable to listen after the third repe? tition, Plummer slowly retired from the corral and once more appeared at the front, just in time for a sensation. Two troopers, two of the men who had ridden back with Donovan, came lurch? ing into the lighted space before the main entrance. At sight of the pay? master one of them stiffened up and with preternatural gravity of mien ex? ecuted the salute. The other, with an en? velope in his hand, reeled out of the sad? dle, fail.ed to catch his balance, plunged heavily into the sand and lay there. Corporal Murphy sprang eagerly for? ward, the first man to reach him, and turned the prostrate trooper over on his back. 4 * What's the matter ?" queried Plum? mer. "Is he sick?" "Sick, is it?" was the quick retort, as the corporal sniffed at the tainted breath of the sufferer. "Be the pow? ers, I only wish I had half his dis ayse." And then came Feeny, glaring, wrath fuL "Come down off the top of that horse, Mullan," he ordered, fiercely "How-how'd ye get here?. Which way'dyecome? Where's the rest?" With the ponderous dignity of in? ebriety, Mullan slowly pointed up the desert under the spot where the pole star glowed in the northern skies. "Sarsh'nt" he hiccoughed, "we're -we're too late; 'Paches got there first. " "Hwat! h wat!" thundered Feeny. "D'ye mean there were women-that it wasn't a plant?" "Fack." "Hware's your dispatches, you drunken lort? How dare you dhrink when there was fight ahead? Hware's your dispatches ? and may heaven blast the souls of you both!" "Here, sergeant," said Murphy, wrenching the soiled envelope from the loose grasp of the prostrate trooper. "It's to you, sir," said Feeny, with one glance at the sprawling superscrip? tion. "In God's name read and let us know what devil's work's abroad to? night " Even Plummer's pudgy fingers trem? bled as he tore open the dingy packet Old Moreno came forth with a light, his white t^eth gleaming, his black eyes flashing from one to another of the group. Holding the penciled page close to the lantern, the paymaster read aloud : "Camp burned. One man killed; others scattered; mules and buckboard gone. For God's sake help in the pur? suit Strike for Raton Pass. The In? dians have run away my poor sisters. 4 . EDWARD HARVEY. " The major dropped the paper, fairly stunned with dismay. Feeny sprang forward, picked it up, and eagerly; scrutinized the page. Mullan, standing ' unsteadily at the head of his wearied and dejected horse, was looking on with glassy eyes, his lips vainly striv? ing to frame further particulars. Leav? ing their supper unfinished, the other men of the little squad had come tum- ! bling out into the summer night. No one paid other heed to the trooper 1 sprawling in the sand. Already in ; deep, drunken slumber, he was breath- j ing stertorously. Feeny's eyes seemed j fastened to the letter. Line by line, word by word, again and again he spelled it through. Suddenly he leaped forward and crutched Mullan at the throat, shaking him violently. 44 Answer now. H ware'd you get your liquor? Didn't this fellow give it to you?" 44 On my honor-no, sarsh'nt 'pon i my *on" "Oh, to h-I with your honor and yon j with it! Hware'd you get it if it wasn't from him? Sh ure you've not ! been near Ceralvo's?" ! "No, sarsh'nt, no Ceralvo's. We I met couple genTmen-perfec' genT ! men, ranchers; they were going after the Indians. They gave us jus' o-one drink-'piece. Jus' five minutes-go. " "How far away was this? H ware were they? Answer or, d-n you, I'll" shake the truth out of you !" shouted Feeny, suiting action to word. "Spake i before you, too, are lying like that j other hog. Did you *ver see the camp? j Did you ever get to the crossing at all ? Douse a dipper of water over him, yon Latham, quick. Wake up, I say, Mul? lan. For the love of God, major, 1 be I lieve they're both drugged. I believe it's all a d-d lie. 1 believe its only a skame, to get you to send out the rest of your escort, so they can tackle you alone. Kick- him, Murphy, kick him; throt him round; don't let him get to sleep. Answer me, you scoun Holding the penciled pasje close to the lantern, the ^yrnaster read aloud. drei !" he fairly yelled,for Mullan's head" was droop .g on his breast and every lurch proi; *-q to land him on his face. Twice his knees doubled up like a foot rule and the stout little sergeant had to jerk him to his feet. "Search 'em both. See if they've a flask betune 'em, Latham. Answer me, Mullan, did you see the burned camp? Did you see the dead man? Did- Oh, raurther! Now he's gone! There's never a word to be got out of aither of them this night. But don't you believe that letther, major. Don't you trust a word of it; it's false as hell It's only a plan to rob ye of your es? cort first and your life and money later. That's it, men ; douse them, kick them, murther them both if you like-the curs!-and they'd drink when they knowed every man was needed. " And adding force to his words Feeny drove a furious kick at the luckless Mullan. "Do you mean there is no truth in this? Do you mean you think it all a fraud, a trick?" at last queried the major. "Why, it seems incredible!" "I say just what I mean, major, lt's a plot to rob you. I mean the gang has gathered for that very purpose. 1 mean that every story told us about the Apaches west or eouth of here or between us and the Gila is a bloody lie. The guard at the signal station hadn't seen or heard of them. They laughed at me when I told them what they tried to make us believe ai; Ceral? vo's. 'Twas there they wanted to have you stop, for there you'd have no chance at all. Shure, do you suppose if the Apaches were out-if this story was true-they wouldn't have heard it and investigated it by this time, and the beacon fire would have been blazing at the Picacho v" Then Murphy turned and ran around the corner of the corral to a point where he could see the dim outline of the range against the western sky. The next moment his voice rose upon the night air, vibrant, thrilling: "Look! God be good to us, majori It's no lie. The signal fire's blazing at the peak." [TO BE COOTTNUED.J Wigs. "All persons, " says Sir John Sin? clair in his "Code of Health," "ought to wear a wig after 60. It is alike ex? cellent for the old, the tender and the studious. " " The invention of wigs. ' ' says an old writer, "is of so great use and saves them so much trouble that it can never be laid aside; it helps to dis? guise the thief, to make an ill face tol? erable, the tolerable handsome and to ease the lazy of trouble. " On the other hand, a still older writer, Tertullian, bids those who have wigs consider whether they are likely to go to heaven in such things; more? over, he asked them "how they can be sure that what they are wearing may . not be the hair of some damned person or another." The language of "the fathers" seems to have been vigorous; if j&ne "talked like a father" nowadays lt would be considered rude.-London illustrated News. Butler and Father Byan. When General Butler was in. com? mand at New Orleans daring the rebel? lion, he was informed that Father Byan, priest and poet, had been expressing rebellious sentiments and had said he would even refuse to hold funeral serv? ices for a dead Yankee. General Butler sent for him in haste and began round? ly scolding him for expressing such nip-Christian and rebellious sentiments. "General," the wily priest answered, "you have been misinformed. I would be pleased to conduct funeral services for all the Yankee officers and men in New Orleans. "-San Francisco Argo? naut. Wherein They Were Alike. "My money bought those horses," said the millionaire wife to her impe? cunious husband as the family turnout drove up to tho steps. "Yes; it bought me too."-Newport News._ Made an Impression. Fogg-Was up at Grosgrain's last even? ing. His daughter spoke of you. You have made an impression there, you young rascal. Fenderson-I believe I am something of a lady killer. Fogg-Yes. The Grosgrain girls said they thought they should die a-teughing about you after you went away.-Bos? ton Transcript.