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G. L. WILLIAMS,
Tobacco and Cigars,
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Jlirrtfc
C. L, WILLIAMS,
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VOL. IX.
NORTH PLATTE, NEBRASKA, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 3, 1894.
NO. 52.
MODEL
LOTH
1 illS
in
m
Great
Clearing
Sale !
FOR CASH ONLY.
12010
Goods,
Such as Clothing for Men,
Boys and Children, Gents'- ,
Furnishing Goods, Hats,
- Caps, Boots and . Shoes,
Will be Sold at
car-crx, cost i
Nothing will be reserved in this sale. Every
thing goes AT COST FOR CASH ONLY: Now
is your time to buy goods according ro the times:
Model : Clothing :; House,
Ifcsts: Einstein., Proprietor.
North Platte National Bank,
NORTH PLATTE, NEBRASKA.
!Paid tip Capital.
S75,000.
W W KIEOE,
C. r. IDDIJfGS,
A. T. BTBEITZ,
DIRECTORS:
O. yi. CARTEK,
M. C. LINDSAY,
H. OTTKN,
D. W. BAKER.
M. OBERST,
A. D. BOCE WORTH.
All business intrusted to us handled promptly, carefully, and at lowest rates.
C F
IDDING-
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LUMBER,
! COAL,-1,
3 C3-ltAI3Xr.
Order by telephone from Newton's Book Store.
Dr. N. McOABE, Prop. J. E. BUSH, Manager.
NORTH PLATTE PHARMACY,
Successor to. J. Q. Thacker.
ISTOlTH PLATTE, - NEBRASKA.
WE AIM TO HANDLE THE BEST GRADE OF GOODS,
BELL THEM AT REASONABLE PRICES, AND WARRANT
EVERYTHING AS REPRESENTED.
orders from the country and along the line of the UnioD
Pacific Railway Solicited.
IT. iT. BROEKER,
Merchant Tailor,
ak.XOZSXl. A "N"D II 352 HP -A. 1 3rt-23 H.
LARGE STOCK OF PIECE GOODS,
embracing all the new designs, kept on hand and made to order.
PERFECT FIT GUARANTEED.
PRICES LOWER THAN EVER BEFORE
Spruce Street, between Fifth and Sixth.
THE CASINO BILLIARD HALL,
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SUPERIOR BILLIARD and POOL TABLES.
Bar Stocked with the Finest of Liquors.
A QUIET AND ORDERLY RESORT
Where gentlemen will receive courteous treatment at all times and
where they .will always be welcome. Our billiard and pool hall
not surpassed in the city" and lovers of these games can
. be accommodated at all times.
CHAPTER IV.
And now, with such confirmation of
the truth of the story of an Apache
raid, the paymaster thought it only
right to release Moreno from the duress
in which Sergeant Feeny had placed
him. When so old an inhabitant of Ar
izona as Mr. Harvey gave entire cre
dence to the report, recognized the note
as-really his son's handiwork and has
tened at ell speed to overtake the pur
suers, -what room for doubt could be
left in the mind of a newcomer to the
soil? It was time, thought Plummer,
to form an alliance, offensive and defen
sive, with the Mexican denizens of the
ranch against the enemy common to
both. But again Feeny shook his head
in solemn protest.
"I may have been wrong as to the
Apaches, sir, but I can't be mistaken
as to Moreno. He's in the pay of the
Morales brothers, even if not an active
member of the gang. He is lurking in
there now, I'll warrant you, with two
or three of them in hiding, waiting for
the coming of the main body. . They'd
'a' been hero beforo this perhaps if it
hadn't been for the Apacho story.
They're more afraid of one of Cochise's
band than of all the sheriffs from Tuc
son to Tacoma. I wish the rest of Har
vey's people would get here,"' he con
tinued, looking longingly out into the
darkness. "Unless they are of better
stuff than most of these mule whackers
in the territory, you won't catch them
hustling out alone trying to find their
master this night. And yet what use
would they be to us'r"
Plummer turned anxiously away and
gavo himself up to thought. Nothing
but a faint glimmer now remained of
the beacon light. All was still as the
grave about the lonely ranch. Walking
over to c the eastward door, he entered
the dark room and was instanth- hailed
by the voice of his clerk.
'You're there, are you, Dawes?" he
asked. "Not getting sleepy, I hope."
"Not a whit, major. I couldn't, even
if I hadn't slept most of the day. I'm
sitting hero on the safe with a Colt's six
Bhootcr in each hand. If old Moreno's
door cracks, by gad! I'll let .drive."
4 Well, that's all right, but suppose
they como around through the corral
to this door':"
"I'm ready. I came within an ace
of blazing away at yon, but I happened
to recognizo your figure and step just
in tho nick of time."
A low whistle without broke up the
colloquy. Plummer waddled off in
the direction of the sound.
"What is it, sergeant?" "
"They'ro coming, sir. Harvey's
men, I mean. . Will you deliver his
message?"
"Just as you say. Why shouldn't
you?"
"It'll have so much more effect from
your lips, major. They may misdoubt
me."
Far out on the trail the quick trip
ping hoofs of . mules could now be
heard. Presently.'a horseman shot up
out of the gloom.
"Halt there!" sang out Feeny.
"Whose party's this?"
"Harvey's, Tucson. Looking for
Moreno's. Are we near?"
"You're there now, but you can't
stop. Mr. Harvey wants you to come
right along after him. Ho has taken
the trail to the Christobal, where the
Indiana have carried off his daughters. "
The man fairly reeled in his saddle,
shocked at tho dreadful tidings.
"When? How did it happen? Who's
gone with him?"
"Some time this morning, from all
we can learn. Two squads of cavalry
aro on tho trail, one with Ned Harvey,
the other just out from hero at dark.
The old man and Georgo followed .them
as soon as they got in. Who's with
you?"
"Two Mexicans, that's all. They're
no account. I'd best leave them here
with the mules. They're just behind
and have been scared to death already."
And bo in 10 minutes two moro of
tho low teste half breed Mexicans were
added to the paymaster's garrison, and
Sergeant Fceny's brief exposition of
the situation at the ranch only delayed
the incoming American long enough to
water his horse and stow a little grain
in a sack.
"I wouldn't wonder a d d bit
if the Morales gang were around here,"
was his discomforting assurance. ' ' None
of 'cm have been seen about Tucson for
a week before we left. Wish I could
stay and ctand by you. but my first duty
is with Mr. Harvey. I've been in his
employ nigh onto' eight years."
"What sort of looking man is Ned
Harvey?" persisted the sergeant, still
hopeful of some fraud.
"Tall, dark, smooth face looks like
a Spaniard, almost. I never saw any.
body who resembled him hereabouts.
I'm afraid it's no plant. I don't want
to offend yon, sergeant, but I wish to
God it was all the Morales gang's do
ings and that it was only your money
they were after. If it's Apaches, and
they have got the old man's children,
he'll never get over it."
"By heaven!" muttered Feeny to
himself, as the loyal fellow put spurs
to his horse and disappeared ; 4 ' by heav
en, I begin to believe it's both."
And now with gloomy face the ser
geant returned to where ho had left
Major Plummer watching the westward
trail. A brief word at the doorway as
sured him the clerk was still alert and
ready. A pause under the open window,
high above the ground, of the room
where slept Moreno's wife and daugh
ter, if they slept at all, told him, that
all was silence there, if not slumber,
and then he joined his superior.
"That fellow was of the right sort,
sergeant, ' ' said Plummer. 4 I wisk we
had one or two like him. "
"I wish we had, sir. Those greas
ers are worse than no guards at all.
They'll sit there in the corral and smoke
papelitoa by the hour and brag about
how they fought their way through the
Apaches with Harvey's mules, but for
our purpose they're worse than useless. '
At the first sign of an attack they'd be
stampeding out into the darkness, and j
,I8933YCHARLE5'
that's the last we'd see of them. Heard
anything further out this way, sir?"
"Why, confound it, yes. I try to
convince myself it's only imagination,
but two or three times, far out there
toward the Picacho, I've heard that
whip cracking. I have felt sure there
was a hammering sound, as though
some one were pounding on a wagon
tire. Once I was sure I heard a horse
snort. That I was in a measure expect
ing. If those fellows mean to attack,
they'll come mounted, of course, but
what wagon would they have?"
"One of Ceralvo's perhaps, to cart-off
tho safe in, if they couldn't burst into
it here."
"There! Hark now, sergeant! Didn't
you hear?" suddenly Kpoke tho major,
throwing up a warning hand.
Both men held their breath, listening
intentlj-. For a moment nothing but
tho beating of their own hearts served
to give the faintest sound. Then, out to
tho west, under the starlit vault of the
heavens, somewhere in that black ex
panse of desert, plainly and distinctly,
there rose the measured sound of iron
or stone beating on iron. Whether it
were tire or linchpin, hame or brake,
something metallic about a wagon or
buckboard was being pounded into
place or shape.
"It's them, sir, " muttered the ser
geant. "It's that bloody gang, for
there's no stage due tonight, and if it
was Harvey's ambulance, recaptured,,
'tis from tho northeastit would be com
ing." "Mightn't they have inissed'the trail
in the darkness, and having no ranch
lights to guide them got lost somewhere'
out there?"
"Not likely, sir. Shure, there'd bo
a squad of the troops and half a dozen
old hands with 'em if it was Harvey's.
This has come from the pass, and it
won't be long before they'll bo coming
ahead. You'll need your carbine then.
D n that man Mqllan ! Can't I wake
him yet?"
Apparently not. Even the well di
rected kick only evoked a groan. Tax
ing a couple of carbines, Feeny returned
to the major, silently handing him one
of tho weapons, saying," It's loaded, sir,
and here's more cartridges."
Then again both men listened in
tently. No sound now. The hammering had
ceased. One, two minutes they wait
ed, then nearer at hand than before
clear, sharp and distinct, out frcXftkef
darkness came tho unmistakable crack
of a whip. At the sound Feeny knelt.
Click, click ! went the hammer of his
carbine to full cock. Another moment
of breathless silence. Then the muffled
6onnd of hoofs, the creak of wagon
springs, then a voice:
"It can't be faraway. Ride ahead
and see if vou can't rout somebody
out."
And then Jbeeny s challenge again
rang out on the still night air, followed
instantlv bv muffled sound of stir and
excitement in the ranch behind them.
"Who comes there?"
"Hello! What's that? Who's thati
Is that Moreno?"
"who comes there, l say -Halt I 01
I'll fire!"
"For God's sake, don't fire, man!
We'vo got ladies here."
"What ladies? Who are you any
how? Quick!"
"Georgo Harvey's daughters of Tuc
son. I'm his sou."
"God be praised!" shouted Feeny,
springing to his feet and rushing for
ward. ' ' Are they all safe unharmed t
Where did you overtake them?"
"Overtake whom? What in blazes
are you.talking about?" queried a tall,
slender fellow, bending down from his
saddle. 4 ' Who are you ? ' '
"Sergeant Feeny of the cavalry, and
here s tho major just back of me."
"Major who?"
4 4 Major Plummer him you was talk
ing with this morning when you came
for help," answered Feeny, his voice
tremulous with excitement. Already
he was beginning to see light,
44 Why, I've never seen Major Plum
mer nor any other major today. The
only troops I met were Sergeant Wing
and his guard at the pass just after
nightfall. Have you met the Apaches?
You saw the signal of course."
4 4 Signal, yes, but devil an Apache,
Tell me now, wasn't it you was here
at Moreno's this morning begging for
troops to go and fetch your ladies down
from the Gila? Wasn't it you sent the
note saying they was run off by In
dians?" And as was the case when
ever excited, Feeny's grammar ran to
seed.
4 4 Not a bit of it. My sistere are here,
safe and sound. We'd have been here
an hour ago but for slipping a tire.
Is father here?"
4 4 Talk to him, major. I'm done up
entirely," was all poor Feeny could
say, as between relief, rejoicingand the
inestimable comfort of finding he "was
right in his theories, after all, he drop
ped his carbine, threw himself upon the
soft, sandy ground and fairly rolled
over and over in his excitement and
emotion.
What wondering eyes, what startled
ears were at the wagon doorway as, in
his ponderous manner, the major en
deavored to tell of the morning's adven
ture and the counterfeit presentment of
the Ned Harvey now before him. Long
before he could finish the thoughtful
son begged an instant's interruption.
4 4 And father has gone on the trail to
the Christobal?"
"Yes, an hour ago."
44 After him, Leon! Bide
devil, 'even if yon have to ride all
night. Fetch him back here as quick
as yon can. Tell him Fan and Bath
are safe here at Moreno's."
In 10 minutes the Concord wagon,,
with its fair freight, now trembling asd
excited, was standing side by side with
the paymaster's ambulance. The weary
mules were unhitched and "with the sad
dle horses led in to water. The major
and the sergeant, prompting each oth
er,, went oh with their recital, Hajryey
listening with attentive ear.
4 4 It is one of the most perfect plants
$iey"ever put up,-" he burst in, grind
XBg his teeth in wrath. 4 4 Of course
they knew of father's movements and
ofnune. They know everythiny. They
knew we were, to meet here probably.
Thf felt assured yon knew nothing of
it at all. They have used our supposed
peril to draw away your guard. They
hare succeeded even better than they
planned, for they have drawn off father,
too, and four of our best men into the
bargain. But to think that this old
scoundrel Moreno should be in it
We're always suspected the Ceralvo
tfet, but father has done everything for
Moreno, practically built his ranch for
aim, dug his well, set him up in busi
ness, and now he make3 this a rendez
vous for thugs and assassins. By heav
en, I'm glad you have him trappeu
Mow many has he with him do you
think?"
"I don't know. I only feel sure he
must have one or two, but it's the main
gang we have to watch," answered
Feeny. i They may be along any min
uteand I thought it was them when
jve, heard you."
"Ana tnat s wnat is worrying me.
Mr. Harvey," Baid the major as he
drew the young man aside. 4 4 All they
are after now, of course, is my safe ful
of money. It is my business to defend
it to tho last, and they can't have it
without a fight. You and your sisters
ordinarily they would not molest, but
by this time they know you are here.
Very possibly they've followed closely
on your trail and may be gathering all
around us at this moment. Let me be
brief. The sooner you can hitch in
those mules again, or those relay mules
rather, and get out of here the better."
4 4 Ah, but, major, how about the
Apaches in, the Santa Maria? We
would get there, you know, just about
daybreak."
4 4 By Jupiter, I never thought of them !
You wouldn't have your guard now
that your father's gone."
4 5 No. We've simply got to stay here,
tuajor. Personally I'm only too glad
!o be here to help you out. Ii cannot
be long before tho troops como hurry-:
ing back when they find they've been
tricked. very probably they have
found it out by this time. " Then, with
quick decision, ho stepped back to the
door of the Concord. "Girls! Paquita!
Kuthie! Tumblo out, both of you.
We ro to stay here at Moreno's to
night." And, the paymaster aiding,
the silent, trembling Bisters were lifted
from the wagon and led away into the
one guestroom the east room where,
pistol in hand, still sat Dawes on the
safe. The wraps and pillows were
quickly passed in. The littlo hurricane
lamp was stood in one corner. A bun-
.4
like the
The tllcnt, trembling sisters tccre lifted
from the xcttrjon.
die of cavalry blankets, left behind by
tho detachment when it took tho trail,
was spread out upon the earthen floor.
The safo was hauled into tho empty
barroom, 'and bidding his sisters lie
down and fear nothing, assuring them
of their perfect safety there and urging
them to seep all they could against
their move at dawn, Edward Harvey,
looking well to his arms and bidding
his two men to do likewise, came forth
and joined his soldier friends.
44 There are five of us now against
Morales and his outfit, and I'll just bet
my horse wo can thrash 'em."
' "Only 11 o'clock," muttered old
Plummer as he struck a match and
consulted his watch. "It's been the
longest evening I've ever spent; but,
thank God, our worst fears are at an
end. 1 never doubted for n moment
that your sisters wero captives. Who
could tho man have been who personat
ed you?"
44 1 don't know. I've heard of him
onco before. He is about my height
and build, but darker, they say, and
with moro of Mexico in his manner.
He has been to Tucson, but 1 never
heard of his masquerading over my
name until now, though 1 havo heard
of tho resemblance. Ho must have cop
ied my writing, too, to so completely
fool father."
"Oh, that was a mere scrawl on soft
paper with a broad, pointed pencil.
There was no time to scrutinizo it close
ly," explained the major. 4 4 Now, Fee
ny, you're officer of the guard. How
do you want to post us?"
'.'It's what I've been thinking of, sir,
ever since Mr. Harvey got in, and we'vo
no time to loso. Wo can't loophole
this adobe now, but we can barricade
the dcor of these two rooms and stand
off a good sized gang. Mr. Harvey will
of course want to be where ho can look
after the ladies, but if I can put one
of his men in the corral ono who can
be relied upon to shoot down any of
Moreno's peoplo who should try to
.come out 1 think we can look out for
the rest Any minute now they'll bo
coming. First thing, run these two wag
ons around to the corral, so as to clear
the approaches. There mustn't be any
thing behind which they can hide or
take shelter. " And laying hold of the
pole while willing hands manned the
pokes Feeny soon had the Concord and
the weather beaten ambulance safely
out of the way. Then came a moment
of consultation as to which of Harvey's
men would be best suited for the oner
ous post opposite the enemy's door and
then a sudden and breathless silence.
Listen 1" whispered Feeny. "That
is a signal. Hist I you'll bear it again
presently."
Grasping their rifles with nervous
hjidn! the five men stood huddling in a
little group at the west end of tho low.
flat building.
i Somewhere out on the dark expanse
'toward the peak a long, low whistle,
coding in an abrupt high note, had
aomnded, For a moment there Was no
ranArJon. The invisible foe was sig-
aliB for reply, rrom whom coma
aacwer be expected oni Aiorenor
Watch the old scoundrel's window
tain and this shutter over here, " whis
pered the sergeant, indicating a board
borered- port in the westward wall.
iTbay'll try to show a light perhaps.
Bun around into the corral. vanH smash
the first ( man that tries to come out.
I'll tend to any feller that shows a head
hereabouts. "
I Harvey turned with his employee
and ran with him as far as the other
. end of the ranch. Here he entered the
i low doorway. The little lamp burned
dimly, but two pairs of dark dilated
eyes gleamed eagerly upon him.
4 4 I'm going to close this door now,
girlies," he whispered. 44 Lie stilt
Do not venture near it or the window
and don't be frightened. It looks as
though some of the Morales gang were
around here hoping to find the paymas
ter unguarded. We'll give them a les
son they'll never forget if they attempt
to attack him."
For all answer Ruth Harvey only nes
tled closer to her sister and clung to
her for courage and support Paquita,
however, became amazonian at once.
4 4 Is there nothing I can do, Ned? I
can't bear to lie here listening and tak
ing no part Surely I could shoot a pis
tol well enough."
"You can help ns best and most by
lying flat and showing not so much as
a "finger at tho door. We can tend to
them, Fan. It won't bo long before fa
ther and the troop como galloping back.
Don't show a light, now, unless we
call."
Then he darted to the barroom.
'Are they coming?" hailed the clerk
in a hoarse whisper.
"Somebody signaled out "on the plain.
It's probably they. Look out for More
no now. Don't let him or anybody
through that door."
Far out on the desert again, louder,
shriller, clearer, tho whistle was re
peated. "Ah, blow and bo d d to ye!"
muttered Feeny. "There's no answer
from here ye'll get this night. Watch
out now. Sonio of 'em will try to
crawl up after a little."
But nearly five minutes passed with
out other sign or sound. Then closer
in a horso stamped and snorted. A
coarse Mexican voico muttered a savage
oath. Feeny, crouching low, darted
into the darkness in the direction of the
sound. Plummer and Harvey would
have restrained him. but it was too late.
He was gone before either could speak.
Then a latch creaked and snapped be
hind them, and slowly and cautiously
the wooden shutter began to open out
ward. In an instant Harvey had raised
his rifle and struck the resounding board
a fierco blow with the butt The door
flew back, crashing in violent contact
against the grizzled pate of Moreno
himself, who. with a howl of mingled
rago and anguish, fell back from the
aperture.
4 4 Open thit again, and I'll blow your
head off, you scoundrel !" growled Har
vey. "Don't you daro show hair nor
hide outside your room. Every man
has orders to shoot you on sight if
that's any comfort to you."
Only for a second had the old Mexi
can's head appeared, only an instant
had ho for ptea or protestation, but that
instant had served to show a narrow
streak of light from the room within,
and this mere crack revealed to tho
watchful eyes out upon tho plain the
position of tho ranch possibly told
them something more, for in less than
half a minute two horsemen came loom
ing up out of the darkness and canter
ing fearlessly toward them. Phlegmat
ic as he was, old Plummer's nerves gave
a twitch as, sharp and stern, young
Harvey challenged.
"Halt there! Who are you? Halt!
or we fire. "
"Friends, "shouted ono voice," Amer
icans, " tho other, as promptly the or
der to halt was obeyed, tho trained
horses going almost on their haunches
under tho cruel force of the huge Mexi
can bit
4 4 We are seeking Moreno's," contin
ued the first voioe. "The Apaches
jumped our outfit just after sunset and
we had to rum for it"
4 4 How many ore thero of you all
told?" demanded Harvey.
"Only us two. We're partners, pros
pecting. Been down toward the Sono-
ra line. For tho Lord's sake, gentle
men, don't keep ns out here. We've
lost everything we've had packs, pack
ers and grub. We're about dead beat
for a drink and something to eat"
44 What do you think of this, major?"
whispered Harvey. 4 4 Those aro Amer
icans sure.
44 Well, I'd let 'em in," said tho ma
jor, 4 4 but whero the devil's Feeny?
He s the best judge, really. Their story
may be all true. They may be alone."
"1 don't know it isn't likely. You
heard that voico out there a moment
ago. That was Mexican beyond any
doubt. We've got to stand those fel
lows off till we hear from Feeny."
Then, raising his voice, Harvey called :
4 4 Just stay whero you are a moment
You're all right perhaps, but our
guards havo orders to be on the lookout
for Morales and his gang, and you
might get shot by mistake."
"Well, for God s sake, turn out your
men, if you've got any, and help us
catch these murdering thieves," was
the impatient reply. 4 4 How many aro
you?"
4 4 Oh, there's plenty of us here," was
Harvey's cheery answer. 44 Most of C
troop, but we've other business on hand
. The order to halt was obeyed.
just now. You wait there quietly for
a minute or two until the sergeant
comes around with the patrol. He'll
see to you."
And then, as though the whole thing
had been planned beforehand, out in
tho darkness to the north Feeny's voico
was heard in low toned but sharp com
mand: "Patrol, halt! Close up thero, Ken
nedy. Whero are you, No. fi?"
And so, cool and confident as though
he had a dozen, troopers at his back,
Feeny came striding up to tho spot.
"What's the matter, sentry? Didn't
I hear you parleying hereswith some
body?" 4 4 Two strangers out there, sergeant,
say they're prospectors and been jump
ed by Apaches."
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4 4 Where away are they?" Then in a
low tone, 44 Go you cut beyond the cor
ral," ho whispered to old Plummer.
44 There's four of them out thero. Chal
lenge if they try to como in." Then
aloud again, 4 'Shure, I don't seo any
thing, sentry."
"Right but ahead there, sergeant
Two men, mounted."
"Come down, one of yo. Dismount
and como in here. L'ave your gun be
hind. Give your reins to your pal
there, " was Feeny's next mandate.
There was a moment of hesitation,
a faint sound of whispering as though
the self styled prospectors were in con
sultation, and again Feeny spoke in a
tone more sharp and imperative :
"Dismount, one, I say. Come in
hre, or I'll send a bullet for your
cards. Quick now."
Still anbTher "delay. The "prospec
tors" seemed anxious to edge off into
deeper darkness.
"If ye'ro not off that horse's back in
10 seconds, be jabers, I'll fire. So be
lively." And as his excitement rose
30 did Feeny's Irish.
Four, five seconds ticked by, and still
there was no approach. Fiercely, with
sharp emphasis, tho sergeant brought
his carbine to full cock. "It's aiming
I am," said he tis he quickly raised
tho butt to his fchoulder. Thero was
a sudden scurry and scramble of horses'
hoofs, low voiced words of warning
and a muttered curso or two. Then
leaped a tongue of fire into the night
and from the corral corner came a sharp
report followed by a cry, a gurgle, a
groan, then silence.
"My God! they've shot tho major!"
exclaimed Harvey as ho leaped away
in the direction of the shot At the
same moment away sped the two horse
men in front of the post No use to
fire. They wero shrouded in thick
darkness and out of harm's way before
one could pull trigger. Then came two
flashes, two quick Teports, then half a
dozen rapid, sputtering revolver shots,
then a vengeful howl and a rush out on
the plain. Feeny ran liko a deer on
the trail of 3r. Harvey, and in less time
than it takes to tell it they camo upon
the paymaster, sinking, shocked and
nerveless to tho sandy soil, his hands
clasping on his sido.
"Pick him up, you and your man
there. Carry him into tho ranch. I'll
bate back thoso blackguards yet," mut
tered1' Feeny as he took a quick snap
shot at sonio dim object flitting across
the plain and sent another into the dark
ness, aiming vaguely whero ho could
hear the thud of horses' hoofs. For a
moment, running from point to point
after each discharge, ho kept up a rapid
fusillade, under cover of which the hap
less paymaster was born swiftly away
around tho corner of the ranch and car
ried into tho bar, where, wild with
anxiety, bnt faithfnl to his trust, Mr.
Dawes still guarded tho safe. Then
Harvey stepped through the narrow
doorway to tho eastern room.
1 nave to borrow tho lamp a mo
ment Fan," ho whispered. "Now, lie
still. We may havo to stand a siege
awhile until father can reach us."
Two minutes more, bending low and
with his last cartridge crammed into the
chamber of his carbine, Feeny turned to
make a run for the ranch. Just as he
came speeding in past the westward
wall the wooden shutter was hurled
open, and a strange voice, loud, exult
ant, strident burst upon his ear.
"Come on, Pasqual! Come"
But the rest was lost in the roar of
Feeny's ready weapon. The rude fa
cade of adobo blazed red ono instant in
tho flash of the carbine, and the loud
report went bellowing out across the
plain. But within the ranch there
went up a wail of terror and dismay,
for Ramon Morales, shot through the
brain, was stretched lifeless at tho foot
of Moreno and his shuddering wife.
And then Feeny, unscathed, leaped
inside the barroom.
"Now for it, men! Drag in those
two drunken brnto bastes," he cried,
laying hold of Mullan's limp carca.
"Lug in wan of them water jars. Stick
their d d heads into that trough
beyant. Now bo lively. Tho whole
gang'll bo on us in less than a minute."
CHAPTER V.
At midnight the situation at More
no's ranch was a strange one. The oc
cupants of tho two rooms farthest to
tho east wero bcng besieged by 10 or
15 outlawed men, somo Mexican, some
"gringo," but all cutthroats, and np
to this moment tho besieged had had
the best of it.
And yet their plight was desperate.
In the easternmost room, secure from
bullet or missilo of any kind so long as
they crouched clodc to the ground and
back from the doorway, lay trembling
in silence old Harvey's daughters. At
the door, only tho barrel of his rifle
protruding, keeping under cover all he
possibly could behind an improvised
parapet of barley bags, knelt their de
voted brother, cool and determined, ev
ery now and then whispering words of
hopo and encouragement In the ad
joining room, connected with tho east
ern chamber by a doorless aperture
through the adobe wall, lay tho pay
master, sorely wounded, but still con
scious and plucky, his faithful, clerk
ministering to him as best he could,
stanching the flow of blood and comfort
ing him with cool water.
At the doorway opening on the hard,
trampled space at the southern front of
the ranch, sheltering himself behind
his breastwork of barley, but never re
laxing vigilant watch, knelt Sergeant
Feeny, a bandana bound about his foror
head, the blood trickling down his right
cheek, tho sleeve of his flannel shirt
rent by a bullet that just grazed the
upper arm. Kneeling on the counter
and peeping through a hole in the bot
tom of tho wooden window shutter,
one of Harvey's men'kept guard. The
other faced the doorway into Moreno's
domestic apartments, every now and
then letting drive a shot through the
woodwork to keep them, as ho 'iaixL
4 1 from monkeying with the bolt on the
other side."
In planning his roadside ranch More
no had allowed outer doors only to those,
rooms which wero for public use. The
threo which lay to the. west of the bar
could not be entered except through
that resort or by a door giving on the
corral, both of these doors being sup
plied with massive bolts as security
against intruders, and all three rooms
being furnished with air ports rather
than -windows, pierced at such a height
through tho adobo that no one from
without, except in saddle, could peer
through the aperture and seo what was
going on within. Tho travelers' room
and the barroom ports, however, were
low and large, and all the rooms were
spacious. Tho bar of course, being
tho dining as well as drinking room,
carried off the honors in point of size.
This, too, was furnished with an open
ing into the corral, but Feeny's first
thought on reaching bis comrades was
to barricade.
Springing into the walled inclosnre
and bidding Harvey watch while tho
others worked, ho had soon succeeded
in lugging a score of big barley sacks
into tho interior and piling them into
breastworks at tho three doors, the one
opening into tho corral being provided
in addition with a high traverse to
protect its guard against shots that
might como through from Moreno's
room. All this was accomplished amid
the wailing of tho Mexican women and
the fusillade begun by the assailants in
hopes of terrorizing the defense before
venturing to closer quarters. Like fa
mous Croghan of Fort Stephenson, Fee
ny had kept up a fire from so many dif
ferent points as to impress the enemy
with the idea there were a dozen men
and a dozen guns where there was in
reality only one, and even tho tempta
tion of that vast sum in the paymaster's
safe was not sufficient to nerve tho fol
lowers of Morales to instant attack.
Tho valor and vigor of tho defense
and the appalling death of one of their.
leaders had so unnerved them that Iras
qual himself, raging, imploring, threat
ening by turns, was unable to urge
them to close quarters. "Most men
are cowards in the dark" is a theory
widely believed in. Indians certainly
are only brave against defenseless wom
en and children at such a time. Not
until the firing had ceased and vtwas
evident that the defenders had retired
to the shelter of the ranch, and then
only very slowly and cautiously, would
these brigands of the desert be induced
to resume their stealthy approach. For
fully half an hour thero was a lull in tho
fight and then, guided by the light Mo
reno was now able to show, Pasqual
and two of the stouter hearted knaves
approached the western wall and held
a brief consultation with tho rascally
owner.
Rage at the death of their leader's
brother and ally, tho thirst for ven
geance and the hope of securing such
rich booty all were augmented by Mo
reno's fiery assurances and encourage-
At the door knelt their devoted brother.
ment All tho soldiers were gone, ho
said, except tho "pig of a sergeant"
and two drugged and senseless swine
Somebody among them was wounded.
There were only three, possibly four,
left. Let his companeros make com
bined attack, two or threo through his
(Moreno's) rooms, two or three rush in
from the corral, and the same number
from tho south front at once, and be
yond doubt the cursed Yankees would
succumb. Then no quarter, no quarter
for the men. His connection with the
outlaw band was now known, and these
witnesses must bo put to death. Then
then the paymaster's safe could read
ily bo battered open, then there was tho
mint of monev to ha ri?viripi nmv.-.,.
. , ma
victors, then away to Sonora with their
oyun aim wim oia narvey's beautiful
daughters. What ransom would he not
be willinir to nav that
rul father! Was over luck so creat?
Ti. 1 i , , o-""
.out nasie: nasie not a moment could
be lost They must act at once.
And so Morales hurried to station
and instruct his mm. Prrri;nr. 1:1..
coyotes through the darkness and at re-
opcnm ui&iance irom the guarded end
of the corral ranch, half a
f " uwacu Ui IUU
number crept into the corral. Others
wero distributed over the southern
front Three of the lighter and more
slender of tho band were "boosted"
through tho high west window into Mo
reno s domain. Then through the mid
dle room thev madA tw. i
sat the senora, rocking, weeping and
: " tv"v mo uuuy oi the outlaw
leader, where, hiding under the bed.
shivering and praying, crouched the
senonta, her daughter, and then, bare
footed, they crept into the room adjoin
ing the bar and listened, breathless, to
the low toned instructions of the veter
an sergeant. From without no glim
mer of light could guide the assailants
or help them in their aim. The black
apertures of tho doorways were poor
marks for night shooting, and the more
enterprising and adventurous, crawling
like snakes to reconnoiter, were soon
able to report that most scientifically
had the defense thrown np their breast
works. From group to group flitted Pasqual.
At his shrill battlecryall handswer.
to rush simultaneously to the attack,
COSTIKlTEn O.V FOURTH PAGE. '
