University of South Carolina Libraries
li ll TBS SUMTER WATCHMAN, established April, 1850. kBe Just and Fear not-Let algthe Ends thou Aims't at, be thy Country's, thy God's and Truth's." THE TRUE SOUTHRON, Established Jone, 136 & Consolidated Aug. 2,1881. SUMTER, S. C., WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21, 1894. Sew Series-Vol. XIII. No. 34 On? or two of the band strove tc point ont that the faintest indignity of? fered to the sisters would array not only all Arizona, but all Mexico against them. Like dogs they would be hunt? ed to their holes and no quarter be giv? en. Returning hitherto with theil spoils, Chihuahua or Sonora had wel? comed them with open arms, but what outlaw could find refuge on Mexican soil who had dared to wrong the chil? dren of George Harvey and Inez Rom? ero? It was even as they were point? ing this out to Pasqnal and urging that he consent to be lifted into the ambu? lance and driven away southward be? fore the return of the cavalry that Mo? reno himself appeared. Slipping out of his western window, dropping to the ground and making a complete circuit of the corral, he suddenly joined in the * excited conference. What he said was in Spanish, or that pan-Arizona patois that there passes current for such, and was a wild, fervid appeal. They had ruined him-him and his. He was unmasked, betrayed, for now his connection with the band was estab? lished beyond all question. Now he was known and would soon be branded as an outlaw. His home was being de? stroyed before his eyes-not that that amounted to much new that he could no longer occupy it-his wife and child must flee at once for Sonora, and he go with them, but recompense for his loss he must have. Never again could he venture into Arizona. He would be known far and wide as the betrayer of his benefactor's children, though he called God and all the saints in the Spanish calendar to witness he never dreamed of their being involved in this plot. The paymaster's funds, not the lives of any of the paymaster's men, were what he had sought to take, and now lhere lay the dollars almost within their grasp, but unless captured at once would be gone forever. "I know that pig of a sergeant! May th? flames of hell envelop him for all eternity!"he cried. "He will not scru? ple to do as he says. He will cast ev? ery package into the seething furnace. Mira! Look! The shed is now all ablaze! In one minute the roof of the rancho will burst into flame ! There is not an instant to lose! I adjure you, let the daughters of Harvey, the son, the men, come out at once. Swear to them safety, honor, protection. Let them go their way now, now! Then you will have to deal with only two or three, and the treasure is ours. Look you, Sanchez. Pedro, Jose, down with that shed next the rancho! Hurl it. drag it down so that its fire cannot reach the brush beyond: then we can parley; we can win their ear. They will be but too glad to be spared togo on their way unharmed. Yonder are their mules across the corral. Hitch them in at once. Save the others for the ambu? lance and the buckboard here and for our noble chief. Is it not so, eaptain? Am I not right?" Approving murmurs followed his fiery words. So long as the Yankees held to? gether there was little likelihood of the outlaws gaining the ground except by burning out, and that now meant the destruction of the very money they were after, the utter loss of the fortune ?hat, divided even among so many, would enable them to live like princes in Her? mosillo or beyond. They would be he? roes, conquerors. But if that were lost after all their plotting, planning, labor and crime, there was absolutely no rec? ompense. Even through the brain cloud? ing fury of his revenge Pasqnal Morales saw the sound sense of Moreno's plea. He made no effort to check the men who ran to do his bidding and were even now with lariats and stalwart arms dragging the props from under the shed and letting its western end come pat? tering down. Within the eastern room the dense smoke was already finding its way. The sound of falling beams and timber only conveyed to the occupants the idea that already the shed was in embers and that any instant the roof over their heads would burst into a tor? rent of fire. Ned Harvey's brave spirit was taxed to the utmost. Unless relief could come, and come at once, nothing remained for him but death, nothing for those fair sisters but a fate far worse. At one instant he was on the point of urging the paymaster to comply with the outlaw's demand, pledging himself and his father's fortune to make good to the government every cent so sacrificed. His father could pay it four times over and would rather sink his last cent than that the faintest harm should come to those beloved children, but the next moment Feeny's splendid defiance had sc thrilled him that he could not frame the words he thought to speak, and yet here was awful peril close at hand. What right had he to further jeopardize the life, the honor of these, his father's fondest treasures? If it were only himself, he would stay and fight it ont to the bitter end. But if the robbers could now be content with the money alone and pledge safe? guard for the property, was it not his duty, would it not be his father's man? date were he there, to buy the safe and contents from the agent of the general government and pay the ransom levied? But he little dreamed of the fury of revenge and hatred burning in the ?oui of Pasqnal Morales. He little fath? omed the treachery and cunning of the outlawed scoundrel. Even a* he was revolving these thoughts in his mind, ever and again listening with new hope for the sound of rallying trumpet, the beat cf rescuing hoofs, there resound? ed through the night the sonorous and ringing voice that so short a time 1 fore had called for the surrender of t safe. "Edward Harvey, we pledge sa conduct for yon, your sisters and yo I party. Here is yonr wagon ready, yo I ?team hitched in. Throw yonr arms o ! !0f the door. Come forth as you pleas j Put the senoritas in the wagon. Lo< neither to the- right nor left, but dri away, and God be with yon. We ha no quarrel with yon and yours. V war only with these soldiers who ha' killed our chief.*' Put yourself in his place. Death f him, perhaps for them-dishonor an; way-was all they could look for if ] rescue came. Was it not his dnty his parents, to his sisters, even to Go to accept these terms-to withdraw h little force? Why should he be peri ing such precious lives and names i the defense of a government official wi had been so wreckless as to part wi1 his guard and put himself and his f une in such a predicament? From the otl er room, in which the major now la^ feebly moaning, no word of remoi strance came. Even in their extremity then, the soldiers of the governmei would not urge that he stay and ei counter farther peril in their defense One of the drugged troopers was begii ning to regain some atom of sense, an sitting np was miserably asking whs had happened, what was the matte now. *4 Go and douse water over your d worthless head, Mullan," he, heard th sergeant say. So Feeny was evident! alert as ever and must have heard th proposition from without. At his feet huddled close to the floor where th thick smoke was least distressing, Fan ny and Rnth still citing to one another the latter trembling at the sound of th voice from without. But Fanny ha< quickly, eagerly, raised her head to lis ten. For a moment no reply was made Then came the impatient query : "Har vey, do you hear? You have no tim? to lose. Yon have but a minute ii which to answer.*' "Major," he burst forth at last in ai agony of doubt, 44 yon hear what the] say, you, see how I am fixed. If I wert here alone, yon would never need to asl my sendees-I*d fight with you to th< bitter end-but think of my father, mj mother, if anything befall my sisters, Can nothing be done?'* From the lips of the stricken paymas? ter there came only a groan in reply. **I fear he cannot hold out long. Mr. Harvey, ' * mnttered the clerk. 4 41 doubl if he heard or understood you.** 44Well, whynot let them have thc safe if they'll guarantee that that is al) they want ? How much have yon there I feel sure my father would make ii good." "There'sover$25,OOO, Mr. Harvey.*' .'Well, if it was only 25 cents, Mr. Ned Harvey, all I*ve got to say is dev;l a wan of them would they get so long as I could load a shot or pull a trigger. Go you, if you will. Take the leddiea by all means if yon think it safer, but before I*d trust the wan sister I ever had-God rest her soul-to the prom? ise of any such blackguard party as this, I'd bury my knife in her throat. " An awful stillness followed Feeny's words. For an instant there was no sound but quick beating hearts, the mutterings and complainings of poor Mullan, staggering about in search of his carbine, the quickened breath and low moaning of poor old Plummer. Then again came the loud hail from without : 4 4 Once more, Ned Harvey, will you come out and be saved or stay there and roast? Surrender now and you're all right; but, by the God of heaven, if yon refuse it*s the last chance for you or those yon were fool enough to bring here. Think for your sisters, man. There's no hope for one of yon if you delay another minute." And then it was a woman's voice, tremulous but clear. "Ned,wasn't it to save ns that Major Plummer sent his men? Wasn't it for our sake he gave np all his escort?'* "It was, Fan, yes-at least he thought so.'* 4 4 And now you would desert him, would you? Leave him to be murdered by these robbers, the worst gang we ever had or heard of? I say yon shall not. I for one will not go into their hands. Ruth cannot go without me. Stay and fight it out, Ned, or you're not your father's son." "Fan! Fan! you're a trump! God bless your brave heart!" cried Harvey. 4 4 It seemed cowardly to go, yet the re. ! sponsibility was more than I could bear." 4 4 May the saints in heaven smile on your purty face for all eternity!" mnt? tered Feeny in a rapture of delight 4 4 The young leddy is right, Mr. Har? vey, though it wasn't for me to say it. Shure you can't trust those scoundrels. They'd stab ye in the back, sir, and rob you of your pretty sisters and drag them away bexore your dying eyes. That man r'asqual is a devil, sir, nothing leds. Shure we'll fight till rescue comes, for come it will. I tell you the boys are spurring toward ns, h-ll to split, from every side now, and we'll whale these scoundrels yet. ' ' Then from without came the final hail: 44What answer, Harvey? Now or never.'* "Go to h-ll, you son of an ape and worse than a greaser!" yelled Feeny. **If you had a dhrop of Irish blood in yer veins, ye'd never ask the ques? tion. Now, if you think you can take this money, here's your chance. No Harvey eyer went backonWs_friends." Even brain muddled Muflan felt a maudlin impulse to cheer at Feeny's enthusiastic answer. Even poor old Plummer gave a half stifled cry. Pos? sibly he dreamed that rescue was at hand, but there was little time for re? joicing. Springing back whence he came, the unseen emissary was heard shouting some order to his fellows. The next instant the rifles began their crack? ing on both sides, and the bullets, with furious spat, drove deep into the adobe or whizzed through the gunnysacks into the barley. Tho unseen foe was once more investing them on every side and not a shot could be wasted in re? turn. Once more the furious crackle and roar of the flames were heard close at hand, and then the smoke grew thicker, the heat increased, and poor Ned Har? vey, his eyes smarting, knelt, steadfast, at his post and prayed-prayed for the coming of rescue, for the return of the loved father, all the gallant troop at his back-and then, even as though in an? swer to his prayer, there came a sudden lull in tho fight. "Something'scoming!" shouted Fee? ny excitedly. ' * They see or hear some? body sure. Look, Mr. Harvey, ain't that two of their fellows scudding away westward ont there ?" Surely enough. In the glare of the burning sheds the besieged caught a glimpse of two of the gang bending low in their saddles 100 yards away and scudding like hounds over toward the open plain. "Is it rescue? Are our people com? ing?" was the query that rose to every lip. "God grant it!" Heavens, how hearts were beating! How ears were straining underneath that now blazing roof! Louder, fiercer roared the flames. Furious became the snapping of sun baked branch and twig. Stifling and thick the smoke. "Quick! Come here for a breath of air, " called Harvey to his sisters. "It's safe for a moment at least." And in? stantly they joined him at the doorway, still clinging close to the floor. Listen ! Hoofs ! The thunder of gal? loping steeds ! A distant cheer! A sol? dierly -voice, in hoarse command: "Steady, steady there! Keep togeth- | er, men!" "God be praised!" screamed Feeny mecstacy. "Look up, major, look up, sir. We're all safe now. Here come tho boys. Hurroo!" And mad with relief and delight the sergeant sprang Thc sergeant sprang from his lair Just as a tall trooper shot into sight. from his lair just as a tall trooper in the Union blue shot into sight in the full glare of the flames, sprang from his foaming steed, waving his hat and yelling : "All right! All safe, ladsl Here we are!" Down went Harvey's rifle as he leaped out into the blessed air to greet the j coming host. Down went Feeny's car? bine as, with outstretched hand, he ? sprang to grasp his comrade trooper's. ] With rush and thunder of hoofs a band of horsemen came tearing np to the spot just as Feeny reached their leader- j reached him and went down to earth, ! stunned, senseless from a crashing blow, even as Ned Harvey, his legs jerked from under him by the sudden j clip of a rawhide lariat, was dragged j at racing speed ont over the plain, j bumping over stick and stone, tearing \ through cactus, screaming with rage j and pain, until finally, battered into j oblivion, the last sound that fell upon j his ear was the shriek of agony from i his sisters' lips, telling him they were j struggling in the rude grasp of reckless ! and infuriated men. CHAPTER VI. Harvey could not long have lain un- i conscious. No bones were broken, no ? severe concussion sustained in the rapid | drag over the sandy surface, and the : awful sense of the calamity that had ? befallen him and the dread and doubt as to the fate of his beloved ones seemed j to rally his stunned and bewildered fae- s ulties and bring him face to face with : the horror of the situation. Barely able | to breathe, he found himself rudely j gagged. Striving to raise his hand to tear the hateful bandage away, he found that he was pinioned by the el? bows and bound hand and foot by the very riata probably that had dragged him thither. No doubt as to the na? tionality of his unseen captors here. The skill with which he had been looped, tripped, whisked away and bound-the sharp, biting edges, even the odor of dirty rawhide rope-all told him that, though Americans were not lacking in the gang, his immediate an? tagonists hailed from across the Sonora line. Who and what they were mat? tered little, however. The fact that after hours of repulse in open attack the foe had all on a sudden carried their castle by a damnable ruse was only too forcibly apparent. Writhing, struggling in miserable effort tc- free himself from his bonds, poor Harvey's burning eyes were maddened by the picture before him only a couple of hundred yards away. There in the fierce light of the flames now bursting from every window and roaring and shooting high in air from tho brush heaped roof of Moreno's ranch-there stood the Concord wagon, stalwart men clinging to the heads of the plunging and excited mules, a big ruffian already in the driver's seat, whip and reins in hand ; there beside it was the paymaster's ambulance, into which three of tb.9 gang were just shov? ing the green painted iron safe-the Pandora's_pox that had caused all their soiT?ws^-there Moreno's California i bnckboard, pressed into service and be? ing used to carry the wounded, drawn by the extra mules, and then-God of heaven! what a sight for brother's eye3 to see and make no sign ?-then one big brute lifted from the ground and hand? ed up to a fellow already ensconced within the covered wagon the senseless, perhaps lifeless, form of pretty little Ruth, his father's idol. The poor child lay unresisting in the ruffian's arms, but not so Paquita. It took two men, strong and burly, to lift and force her into the dark interior, and one of these, to the uttermost detail of his equip? ment, was to all appearance a trooper of the United States cavalry. There stood his panting horse with hanging head and jaded withers, the very steed whose rush they had wel? comed with such exceeding joy, sad? dled, bridled, blanketed, saddlebagged, lariated, side lined, every item complete and exactly as issued by the ordnance department. The trooper himself wore the field uniform of the cavalry-the dark blue blouse, crossed by the black .carbine sling, whose big brass buckle Ned could even now see gleaming be? tween the broad shoulders and gath? ered at the waist by the old fashioned "thimble belt" the troop saddlers used to make for field service before the woven girdle was devised. Even more. Harvey in his misery remem? bered the thrill of joy with which he had noted, as the splendid rider reined in and threw himself from the saddle, the crossed sabers, the troop letter "C" and the regimental number gleaming at the front of his campaign hat. Who-who could this be, wearing the honorable garb of a soldier of the United States, yet figuring as a ringleader in a band cf robbers and assassins now add? ing rapine to their calendar of crime? Edward Harvey's heart almost burst with helpless rage and wretchedness | when he saw his precious sisters ! dragged within the canvas shelter-saw ! the tall, uniformed brigand leap lightly ! after them and heard him shout to the ready driver, "Now, orr with you!" Crack ! went thc whip as the men sprang from the heads of the frantic mules, and with a bound that nearly wrenched the trace hooks from the stout whippletree the Concord went spin? ning over the sands to the south, whirl? ing so near him that over tho thud of hoofs and whirl of wheels and creak of spring and woodwork he could hear poor Fanny's despairing cry-the last sound he was aware of for hours, for now in dead earnest Harvey swooned away. Half an hour later, the rafters of the ranch having by this time tumbled in and turned the interior into a glowing furnace, there came riding from the west a slender skirmish line of horse? men in the worn campaign dress of the regular cavalry. With the advance there were not more than six or eight, a tali, slender lieutenant leading them on and signaling his instructions. With carbines advanced, with eyes peering out from under the jagged hat brims, the veteran troopers came loping into the light of the flames, expectant every instant of hearing the crack of outlaw's rifle or perhaps the hiss of feathered arrow of unseen foe. Though some of the steeds looked hot and wea? ried, the big rawboned sorrel that car? ried the young commander tugged at his bit and bounded impatiently as though eager for the signal-. ' charge. " Straight into the circle of light, straight to the southern entrance, now a gate of flame, the soldier rode and loudly hailed "Moreno!" But hissing, snapping woodwork alone replied. Guided by an experi? enced sergeant, some of the troopers, never halting, rode on into the east? ward darkness, and there were sta? tioned as vedettes to guard against sur? prise. Returning to where he had passed his lieutenant, the sergeant dismounted, allowing his weary horse to stand, and then began a minute examination. Fol I There in the fierce light of the flames stood the Concord wagon. ] lowing the freshest hoof tracks, he ? found the young officer riding about i through the thick smoke within the I corral. I "Any sign of Moreno or his people, ! sir?" he hailed. j "Not yet. Just see what's beyond [ that doorway. My horse is frightened j at something there and I can't see for I the smoke." j Obedient, the sergeant pushed ahead, ! bending low to avoid the stifling fumes, j Between the tumbledown heap of bar j ley sacks and the crumbling wall lay I some writhing objects in the sand, and j his stout heart almost failed him at the j moan of agony that'met his ear. j 4 * Help ! water I Oh, for Christ's sake, i water!" One bound carried him out of sight of his superior. The next instant, dragging by the foot a prostrate form, he emerged from the bank into the fresher air of the center of the corral. Off came his canteen and was held to the parched lips jf a stranger in scorch? ed civilian dress, his beard and hair singed by the flames, his legs and arms securely bound. "Who are you and what's happened? Whose work is this?" demanded the j lieutenant, leaping from saddle to his j aide. The man seemed swooning away, but the sergeant dashed water in his face. "Quick!--the others!-or ?they'll burn to den th." "What others? Where, man?" es claimed ihe soldiers, springing to thei feet. "Oh! somewhere in there-the fa end of the corral-or Moreno's wes room," was the gasping reply. Another nish into the whirling, eddy ing smoke, another search along nnde the wall, and presently in the fiickerin light the rescuing pair came upon barrier of barley sacks, burning i: places from hnge flakes of fire fallin from the blazing rafters of the ovei hanging shed, and behind this, senseless suffocated, helplessly bound, two othe forms. Thrusting the sacks aside, th troopers seized and dragged forth thei hapless fellow creatures. Jarred b; sudden pressure, a burning nprigh snapped. There was a crackling, crash ing sound and down came the rafters sending another column of flame to ligh up the features of men rescued not ai instant too soon from the death tha awaited them. 4'My God !" cried Sergeant Lee,44 thi is old Feeny-and yet alive." Together the two raised the senseles form, bore it out into the open space laid it gently beside their first discover and ran back for the next, a big heavy, bulky shape in loose and blood stained garments. It took all thei: strength to lug it forth. Then the lieu tenant bent by the side of the slowly recovering civilian. 44 Are there any more we can reach?' he questioned eagerly, his heart beating madly. "No-too late!-others were insid? when the roof fell in. More water more water!" Sergeant Lee sprang to the ollas gleaming there in the firelight anc brought back a brimming dipper, hold? ing it to the poor fellow's parched lips until he could drink no more, ther slashing away the thongs with whict he was bound. 4'This is greaser work," he cried. "How could they have left yon alive? Where are Moreno's people? Who's done this anyhow?" "Pasqual Morales. Moreno was in il too. 'Twas the paymaster they were laying for, but they've killed Ned Har? vey and got his sisters-old Harvey's children-from Tucson." "What?" cried the oflBcer, leaping tc his feet. "Harvey's daughters herei -here? Man, are you mad?" ' "It's God's truth! Oh, if I had a drop of the whisky that's being burned in there ! I'm nigh dead. ' ' "Run to my saddlebags, Lee; fetch that flask, quick ; then call in the men and send one back to hurry up the rest. Where have they gone? What have they done with their captives?" 44God knows! I could hear them screaming and praying-those poor girls ! Mullan and the pay clerk picked up Feeny after he was stunned, and they rushed him back through here, where the paymaster had dragged himself, to where you found him. That-that's the paymaster you've got there. Then they tried to save a drunken soldier while all the gang seemed crowding after the safe and the girls, but they were shot down inside and must have burned to death if they wasn't killed. Oh, God, what a night!" And weak, unstrung, unmanned, the poor fellow sobbed aloud. At this instant there rode into the corral a couple of troopers. 4 4 Lieutenant Drummond here : ' ' cried one of them. 44 We've found a man out on the plain to the southeast, gagged and bound. Shall we fetch him in?" 4 4 You go, Quinn, but get some one else to help you. Patterson, your horse is fresh, gallop back on the trail. Tell Sergeant Meinecke to come ahead for all he's worth. Let the packs take care of themselves. Send Sergeant Lee in here to me again. " Then with trem? bling hands the young officer turned his attention t? his other patients. Sever? ing the cords with his hunting knife, he freed them from their bonds, then dashed water over their scorched and blackened faces, meantime keeping up a running fire of questions. Between his sobs, the young civilian told him that the outlaws had hitched in both teams and taken also the spare mules and the buckboard. They had lifted the Harvey girls into the Concord, the safe and Pasqual Morales into the pay? master's ambulance, while the wounded men and Moreno's people probably were put on the open wagon. Then they had all driven furiously away to the south, leaving only two or three men to complete the work at the ranch. Finding the paymaster and sergeant well nigh dead, they had contented themselves with binding and leaving them to their fate, tobe cremated when the roof of the shed came down. Then one of the gang whom he had once befriended in Tucson pleaded with his fellows to spare the life of the only one of the party left to tell the tale. Pas? qual and the Mexicans were gone. Those who remained were Americans, ju dging by their speech, though two of them were still masked. 4 4 My name is Woods, ' ' said the poor fellow. 4 4 But that bandit had to beg hard. They were ready to murder anybody con? nected with the defense, for Ramon was killed and Pasqual shot through the leg. I did that, though they didn't know it. They bound and left me here, but made me swear I would tell Harvey and his friends when they got back that it was no use following; they had 30 armed men and three hours' start. They never thought of any one else getting here first. Oh, my God! who can break it to Mr. Harvey when he does come?" And then Sergeant Lee came hurry? ing back, one or two men with him, and together they labored to restore to consciousness the paymaster, breathing feebly, and old Feeny, bleeding from a gash in the back of the skull and a bul? let hole through the body. For neai'y a quarter of an hour their efforts we e vain. Meantime Drummond, weil ni^h mad over the delay, was pacing about like a caged tiger. He set two of the men to work to hitch the bewildered little burros to the well wheel and get np several huge bucketfuls of water against the coming of the troop. He ordered others to rub down his hand? some sorrel, Chester, and the mounts of two of the advanced party. At last after wha? must have seemed an age. yet conld not have been ever 30 min? nies from the time of their arrival, a soldier running in said he could hear hoofs ort on the plain, and at the same instant two men appeared lugging be? tween them, bleeding and senssless, the ragged form of Edward Harvey. Scratched, tom, covered with blood and bruises and still unconscious though he was, Drummond knew him at a glance. They had met the previous year, and though only once it was enough. Hen with yoting and lovely sisters are not soon forgotten. Kneel 1 C /?.../ A fir Tico men appeared Ivstoing between them thc ragged form of Edward Harvey. ing by his side, the lieutenant sought anxiously for trace of blade or bullet. Rents there were many and many a bloody scratch and tear, but, to his in? finite relief, no serious wound appeared. Still in deep swoon, his friend seemed to resist every effort for his restora? tion. The dash of water in his face was answered only by a faint shiver? ing sigh. The thimbleful of whisky forced between his lips only gurgled down his throat, and Drummond felt nb responsive flutter of pulse. The shock to his system must indeed have been great, for Harvey lay liko one in a trance. Drummond feared that he might never again open his eyes to light and home. And then the weary troop carno trot? ting into view, old Sergeant Meinecke in command. Halting and dismount? ing at his signal, tho men stood silent and wondering at their horses' heads, while their leader went in to report to his commander. Drummond barely lifted his eyes from the pallid features before him. "Unsaddle, sergeant; rubdown; pick out the best and likeliest horses. 1 want 20 men to go on a chase with me. How soon can the packs get up ?' "They must bo fully half an hour be? hind, sir." "Sorry for that, sergeant. We've got to take at least four of them; load them up with barley, bacon, hardtack, ammunition. Kick off everything else. We'll feed and water here before start? ing, then we've got to ride like the devil. Send Trooper Bland here as soon as he has unsaddled. I want him to ride with me. He knows all the roads to the south." Meinecke saluted in his methodical German fashion, turned away and pres? ently conld be heard ordering "Un? saddle," and then shouting for Private Bland. "Are there any of our men besides the farrier who have any knowledge of surgery?" asked the lieutenant of Ser? geant Lee. "They say Bland has, sir. I don't know any one else." "Well, I've just sent for him. Mr. Harvey here doesn't seem to be wound? ed, yet it's impossible to bring him to. Give Woods a little more whisky and see if you can get a word out of the ma? jor or Feeny." [TO BE CONTINUED.] Hi? Wife's Name* An old farmer, intent on making his will, was asked by a lawyer the name of his wife, when he gravely replied: "Well, indeed, I really don't recollect what it is. We've been married for up? ward of 40 years, and I've always called her my old woman. " The lawyer left a blank to be filled up when his old woman's name was ascertained.-New York Mail and Express. One of the most interesting collec? tions of historical papers in the country is in the possession of Joseph Hilton of Pittsburg. The collection includes manyi old, rare autographs and newspapers. An "election extra," issued by The Ledger in 1844, is a prized relic belong-? ing to Mr. Hilton. Catarrh From Infancy Hood's Cured-Cave Perfect Health .V Xx ; Lennie West, Mountain, North Dakota, "CI. Hood ti Co., Lowell, Mass. : " My little boy has been troubled with catarrh' from his InJaney. After trying several remedies without any benefit, I conoluded to give HoodV Sarsaparilla a triaL When I oeameneed giving] the Sarsaparilla to Lennie he was taree years' old and weighed only a pounds. Et had apt1 grown any for over a y tar and wa* lust **?Y ana bont?. I continued giving hill the laejU-J cine three tunes daily for over six months. Ss his taten only 3 bottles and he ls as well and heUtfcy looking boy as can be found in North Dakota. He has grown considerable and hal Hood's^Cures fleshed up some. I highly recommend Hood's Sarsaparilla to my neighbors and others as an excellent blood purifier." Mas. P. Waar. Mountain, North Dakota. Hood's Pills cure all liver ills, bilousness, Jaundice, indication, sick headache. 28c.