Pittston Gazette

              ESTAHLISIIKI) IHSO. t VOL,. XL.III. NO. SO. , Oldest Newspaper in the Wyoming Vi lley. 1'ITTSTON, LUZERNE CO., 1*A., FRIDAY, MARCH 2, IH'.II. A Weekly Local and Family Journal. j#1.50 J'KR ANXl'M I IN ADVANCE 1893JTCAAKLC5 KIWQ- str«»imix tortli trom ins tent putting at a battered brier root pip*'. Southward and a few hundred feet below his perch tho Yuma road camo twisting through tho pass, and then disappeared in the gathering darkness across tho desert plain that stretched lietween them and the distant Santa Maria. Over to tho east tho loftiest crags of tho Christolml wero still faintly tinged lDy the last touch of departed day. Southward still, beyond tho narrow and tortuous pass, the range rose high and precipitous, covered and fringed with black masses Cjf cedar, stunted pine and juniper.story atloat alxmt Apaches," ho nnaiiy said. "The paymaster's escort throw ge.uit wing was jerKeu violently to C arth; dragged into a tent, strapped to a cot, deftly gagged and then left to himself. An instant later the Picacho was lighted up with a lurid, unearthly glare; the huge column of sparks went whirling and hissing up 011 high, and far and near the great beacon was warning all seers that tho fierce Apache hiding, conn* out gets a bullet through him Tho man who atte? its to Plmnmer'fitlicrc the paymaster. He'll tell you all wo know." KILL AN!) BARBARA. in conclusion, Mr. ttnriey, tliat I am ready at any time to write out a thesis or an exhaustive treatise on almost anything for those who do not feel like it. All I ;usk is that you will make allowances for the fact that my opinions when 1,800 miles from my library are purely off hand and may err at times. lot me I There had been shrill protestation in Mexican Spanish and Senora Moreno's strident tones when first he conveyed his orders to the master of the ranch, but Moreno himself had made no audible : reply, and, as was conjectured, had | enjoined silence 011 his wife, for after ! that outbreak sjie spoke nc D more. A moment more and, with glaring eyes, with agonized, ashen face, the Arizona merchant shxxl at the entrance NYE IN THE HISTORIC TOWN WHERE of the ranch, clinging to the horso rail for impport, listening with g;isping breath to Plnmmer's faltering recital of the events of the morning. SHE LIVED AND DIED. lie Sees Many Interestliijf Tiling*, Includ- was out in force and raiding the Yunia ing Jolm Brown's Pike —A Sample Let- You are right in attributing the Queen's death to weakness. Weakness and lack of strength together carry off many of our best queens, I think. road. "I've got this approach covered anyhow," muttered the veteran. "Now if I only had men to watch those doors into the corral, I could pen Moreno and whatever he has here at his back. It's that gang of hell hounds we passed at Ceralvo's that will pay us a call before morning, or I'm a duffer." he moaned "Are you sure it was my son- ter From a Man Who Seeks For Infor- Away out across tho desert its red glaro chased the Concord wagon wherein. all unconscious of tho danger signal, tho bisters wero now chatting in a low tone. J never Raw him before, Mr. Har. lut some of my men wero sure, mation—An Entertaining Experience. [Copyright, 1«H, by \V. Nye.] Frederick, Md., Feb. 13. Regarding the madness of Samlet, I agree with Mr. O'Connor tliat it was only temporary, and in Mr. O'Connor's own conception of the part I think it was caused especially in Peoria by the fact that 27 great coarse boys brought in a pair of frozen rabbits apiece and threw them with unerring skill at a soliloquy which Hamlet was trying to fm; himself of. If that would not make Hamlet mad, I don't know what would. Still, as I say, without ray library I am not sure of anything. id old Moreno lit re Tlic wooden P This is the historic town where Barbara Frietchie lived and died. She was a good old lady, and every one loved her, but she did not, as a matter of fact, have any difficulty with Stonewall Jackson, for General Jackson was not nearer than a block away from Barbara's house in going through Frederick, and so when the poet wrote the following lines he gave his poetic license wholesale privileges, whereas it was only a retail li- butter behind them 1 the inner darkness tnree uays ago wo Knew that Major Plummer was starting on his first trip. Ho ought to have lDeon at Ceralvo's last night. By Jupiter! suppose ho was North of west, on tho line of the now invisible road and far out toward tho Uila, a faint light was just twinkling. "Drive yonr host," had Harvey muttered to his Mexican jeliu, aw ho leaned out of the saddle to reach hin ear. Mr rero s voice, tremulous with" sympathy and distress, fell upon their ears. "Honor Harvey, my heart bleeds for wung otxn [conthtukd.] Once again he fonnd the paymaster wearily, anxiously patrolling his selfassumed ]HDst out beyond the westward wall. The presence of common danger, the staff official's forgetfulness of self and his funds in his determination to aid the wretched women whom he tirmly believed to have been run off by the Apaches, had won from tho sergeant the tribute of more respectful demeanor, even though he held the story of the raid to be an out and out lie. Now this, said tho rank and file, w;is proof positive of something radically wrong, either in his disposition or his record. It was entirely comprehensible and fully in accordance with human nature and the merits of tho case that a man should quit drinking when he quit tho army, but that a man with the blot of an occasional spree on his escutcheon should enlist for any other cause than sheer desperation and should then tiecome a teetotaler was nothing short of prima facio evidence of moral depravity.Thero lay Ceralvo's, and nowhere else, save where the embers of the cook fire still glowed in a deep crevice among the rocks, was thero light of any kind to Ik* seen. A lonely spot was this 111 which to spend one's days, yet tho soldier in charge seemed in no wise oppressed with sense of isolation. It was his comrade, sitting moodily on a convenient rock, elbows on knees and chin deep buried in his brown and hairy hands, who seemed brooding over tho desolation of his surroundings. "Not a word to alarm the girls," ho cautioned his companion, "but be ready for anything." The tulU r hurioiomt hrltl c/t his hand. vou w h l.ut an instant, hut it —and had but a small escort? What elso could that signal fire mean? Here! get those men out to the front now at once; wo must push ahead for all we're worth." whicli. 11'/in/ shouk with citrilittl fervor. off a detiwliment toward the Gila this morning, and 1 sent cue of my two men back to Ceralvo's to inquire. You must have met him." ''Godof heaven! Anil yotir men have gone, all of thom!" "All but Feeny hero." "Northeast, toward the Christobal?" "Yes, but stop ono moment now and look atthis note. Is it your son's writim; ?" And Plummer produced the crumpled pacce while Feeny held the 11,;Ut. Feverishly Harvey examined the scrawl, his hand trembling bo hard ho could in-t steady the paper. "It is he moaned. "It was written in euch mad haste. My horse!" he cried, "and you come with 1110, George. Send the others on our trail as soon as tluy gC t in. Give mcanother pistol if you can, I have l.ut one, and in God's name order along the first troops that reach you." Then in less than a n.inute even the call ;ping hoofs had muffled their dull bunder in the darkness and distance. Vith wild dread spurring him on. the g- i e tu tii-C rescue of his ■lildren. leaving old Plummer and his • a:;, ft ' r-h-» kC d and nerveless Senor Edward, your son Far out beyond the swaying, bounding vehicle; far out across the blistered plain, tlio glare and gleam fell full upon the brown adobe walls at Moreno's, and glittering eyes and swarthy faces peered through the westward aperture, whilo out in the corral the night lights-were dancing to and fro, and Feeny, sore perplexed, but obedient to orders, was hurrying the preparations of his men. "Speaking of being entertained while traveling and lecturing over the country," remarked Bret Harte to me a few weeks ago, "I do not murmur or repine because this matter is not always managed successfully, but I remember some cases when I look over my glorious past where I should have known better than to accept from strangers the hospitalities which really gave me a pang. And so at "midnight, with steeds p;inting and jaded, with tho pass and the Picacho only four miles ahead, tho little detachment was tripping noiselessly through tho darkness, and, all alert and eager, Drnmmond was riding midway between his scouts and the mam body so that no strand close at hand might distract his attention from hails or signals farther out. Suddenly ho heard an exclamation ahead, the snort of a frightened horse, then some muffled objurgations, a rider urging a reluctant stwd to approach some suspicious object, and, spurring his own spirited charger forward, Mr. Drummond came presently upon the corporal just dismounting in the darkness and striving to lead his boon companion, whom he could not drive, up to some dark object lying on the plain. This, too, failed. A low whistle, however, brought one of the other scouts trotting in to the res- "No, wo made a circuit—came by the old trail around the head of the slough. We haven't passed anybody, have we, Tony?" he asked of the silent horseman by his side.- "Any signs or sounds yet, sir ?" ho questioned in muffled tone. '"None, senor; but there were many hoof trails leading to Ceralvo's," was the answer, in the Spanish tongue. "There's somethinglDehindit all, fellers," said Corpo.al Mflkpby; "and 1 mean to keep an eye on him from this out. If he don't dhrink next payday, look out for him. He's a professional gambler laying for your hard earned greenbacks." Watching him in silence a moment, »• quiet smile of amusement on his lips, Serjeant Wing sauntered ever and placed a friendly hand on the broad blue shoulder. "Why, I thought—just a moment ago—I heard something like the crack of a whip far out there on the plain." Murphy's wild announcement had carriod conviction to the major's soul, despite all Feeny's pleadings, and the sight of that lDeDacon furiously burning, the thought of those helpless women liciug liorue off into the horrors of captivity among the Indians, had conspired to rouse the paymaster to unlookeel for assertion of himself and his authority, lit vain had Feeny lDegged liim to think of his money, to remember that outlaws would resort to any trick to rob him of his guard and might have even overpowered Wing and his party and then lighted the beseem. The chain of evidi nco, the straight story told by his morning visitor, the awful news contained 111 the penciled note brought in by Mullan, wero considerations too potent to be slighted. "Then you'll need water here, Mr. Harvey. It's a 10 mile puli across to Moreno's," said Wing, as the four runlo team came laboring up to the sjxit and willingly halted, the lantern at the forward axle slowly nettling into inertia from its pendulumlike swing. "That's mighty strange, sir; no stage is due coming east until tomorrow night, and no stage would dare pull out on this stretch in face of the warning there at Picacho.'' "Once I received a letter from a man who had been a 'constant reader' and who wanted me to make his house my home, and all that sort of thing—no airs, no scallops, but just a glad contrast to hotel life. I was to be at his town in a few days, and so in an unguarded moment I accepted. I used to accept everything in those days—everything that was not tied down too hard. "Well, Pikey, are you wishing yourself back in ' Frisco i"' And bo while tho seniors among the sergeants were becoming gradually the associates, if not the intimates, of this fine looking trooper, the mass of the regiment, or rather the little detachment thereof stationed at Li Dwell. looked upon Bland with the eye of suspicion. There was one sergeant who repudiated him entirely, and who openly professed his disbelief in Bland's account of himself, and that was Feeny. "He may have testimonials from all Texas," said he hotly, "but I've no use for that sort of credentials. Who can vouch for his goings and comings hereabouts before he joined us? I think Murphy's right, and if I was stationed at Lowell and belonged to his troop you bet I'd watch him close." "I'm wishing myself in Tophet, sergeant; it may lie hotter, but it isn't as lonely as this infernal hole." "Well, it may have been imagination. My nerves are all nnused to this sort of thing. IIow do you work this affair win 11 you want to reload, sergeant? I'm blessed if I undt rstand it. I never carried a revolver .before in mv life." "Where are we, Ned?" hailed a blithe young voice. Sweet and silvery "No, itspopuloutfenough probably,'' was the response; "and," added he, with a whimsical smile, "no doubt you've lots of friends there, Pike." it sonnaeu to the trooper's unaccustomed ears. "Surely not at Moreno's yet?" father \v " MaylDe I have, and maybe I haven't. At all events, I've none here. Why in thunder couldn't you let mo look into that business over at Ceralvo's instead of Jackson? He gets everything worth having. I'm shelved for his sake day after day." "Well, the man met me at the depot, and we walked through a keen frosty air to his house in Muggins' addition. I was tired and wanted to lie down and be at rest, for I had sat up all day in a hot coach, and every nerve in me tingled, but people began to drop in to greet me and dine at the house, so I could not do so. My room was very neat, bnt the shams hurt my ears, so that I could not get to sleep till it was time to go down to dinner. "Not yet. paqnita mia. Is Ruth awake? -Tell h. r to poke that curl) pate of hers out of tho door. ' I want you to know Mr. Wing. Sergeant Wing, who hiia charge of the signal station Feeny took the glistening, nickel plated Smith & Wesson, clicked the hammer to the safe ty notch, tested the cylinder springs, and touching the lever showed his superior by the feel rather than Bight how the perfect mechanism was made to turn 011 its hinge and thrust tho emptied shells from their chamber. at the ranch [TO UK CONTlNUKO.j "Hold him a minute. Burke," said the corporal, handing up the reins. "There's something out.lure this brute shied at and I can't got him near it again." With that he pushed out to the front while the others listened expectant. A moment later a match was struck, and presently lmrned brightly in tho black and breathless night. Then came the startled cry: JUST LIKE MOODY'S FATHER, here." Tlio Mystery of a Likeness That Many Pop- cense. Speaking of Barbara's flag and the order from Stonewall Jackson to haul it down, the poet says the old lady stuck her head out at the window and said: EXAMINING THE TIKE. "Couldn't send you, Pike, on any such quest as that. Those greasers have sharp eyes, and one look at your face would convince them that we'd lost our grip or were in for a funeral. Jackson, now, rides in as blithe as a May morning—a May morning out of Arizona, I mean. They never get tho best of him. The only troublo is he stays too long; ho ought to bo back here Almost instantly a slender hand, holding a little br.iss hurricane lantern, appeared at tho opening, followed by a sweet, smiling face, while just liehind it peered another, only a trifle older and more serious, yet every whit as pretty. Wing raised his old felt hat and mentally cursed the luck that had sent him do,wn thero in his ragged shirt sleeves. Pike, tho cynic, busied himself in getting the buckets from underneath the stout spring wagon, and bumped his head savagely against the trunk laden boot as he emerged. In vain did Feeny point out to him that if Apaches were really in the neighborhood Wing would not be content with starting the fire, but would surely signal whither to go in search of them, and that no vestige of signal torch had appeared. Old Plummer vowed he could never again know a moment of peace if he neglected to do anything or everything in his power to save the girls. Most reluctantly he agreed that Feeny should remain in charge of tho safe and the two drugged and helpless men. Murphy and all the others were ordered out forthwith to march rapidly northeastward until they struck the trail of the pursuit and then to follow that. In 15 minutes, with four pack mules ambling behind, away they went into the darkness, and all that was left to man tho ranch and defend tho government treasury against all comers was the phlegmatic but determined paymaster, his physically wrecked but devoted clerk. Sergeant Feeny, raging at heart, but full of fight, and a half breed packer named Pedro. Tilt; two senseless and drunken troopers wero of course of 110 use to anybody.sons Easily Kecognize, This town has but one Mecca these (lays. It is tho drug store run by Apothecary Moody, who has found stored away on bis shelf one of the Krislie-st mysteries that ever popped up in the state of Maine. It. H. Moody's father died about 10 years ago. He was an old fashioned Maine farmer, with a high forehead, marked features and a full heard, which hung out slightly over his Ptand up collar. There was no mistaking Moody's fatbe r or a photograph of him after you had once seen it. Three weeks ago the druggist took down from a Bhelf a box containing some sort of chemicals he wished to use. He set the box up on end and turned away for a moment. When he turned back, he thought he saw something startling on the bottom of the box, so startling that he shook himself to see whether he was really in his store in Belfast or not. He inspected the box closer. Yes, there was no doubt about it. Thereon the bottom of the box tvhere it had resteil on the shelf was a perfect picture of old Dr. Moody, the druggift's father, dead and in his grave these 10 years. "The Lord grant wo may have no call to shoot tonight, sir, but I misdoubt the whole situation. That fire's beginning to wear Itself out already, and any minute I look to hear the hoof beats of the Morale s gang, surrounding us here on every tide. If they'll only hold off till toward morning and I can brace up these two poor devils they've poisoned, wo can stand 'em off awhile until our fellows begin to come back or Lieutenant Drummond hears of the gathering," "Pust if you must this olt, olt het, But spare your country's flag," she said. A look of shameness came the face o'er "The first course was to be stewed oysters, so I was told by one of the children when I first came. It turned out to be true. The host dished them out with a teacup into deep quart bowls, and trying to keep up a run of persiflage while serving the thing he ran out of stew before he had gone half way round. So he attacked his wife for more stew, but there was no more. Now, in all the command it would have been a hard matter to find a soldier in whose favor appearances wero so unanimously allied. Tall, erect, sinewy and active, he rode or walked with an easy grace that none could fail to mark. His features were fine and clear cut; his eyes a dark hazel, with heavy curling lashes and bush}', lowarched brows; his complexioh, naturally dark, was bronzed by sun and sandstorm to a hue almost Mexican. He shaved clean all but the heavy mustache that drooped over his firm lips, and the sprinkling of gray alxrat the brows, temples and mustache was most liecoming to his jx'euliar style. One prominent mark had he which the descriptive book of his company referred to simply as "sal»er scar on right jaw," but it deserved mention more extended, for the whitish streak ran like a groove from just below the ear tip to the angle of the square, resolute chin. It looked as though in some desiMTate fray a mad sweep had been nuule with vengeful blade straight for the jugular, and, just missing that, had laid open tho jaw for full four inches. Fon dot Stonewall Shack. "My God, lieutenant, it's Corporal Donovan and liis horse—both dead." "Who touches von hair fon dot ole pall het Dies like a dog. Gone ahet," he said. And even there Mr. Drummond noted that Bland was about the first of the column to come hurrying forward to Barbara Frietchie was the direct descendant of a Hessian soldier, but very loyal to the Union, as were a number of Maryland Hessian families who live in the rich county about Frederick—in fact, the second richest agricultural county in the United States. "HumphI he'll be apt to come back in a hurry with Pat Donovan and those C troop fellows spending their money like water at Ceralvo's." now." Ten minutes' investigation threw but little light upon the tragedy. Some stumps of candles wero found in the saddlebags and packs, and with these the men scoured the plain for signs. Spreading well out from the center, they closely examined the sandy level. From the north came the trail of two C«tvalry horses, shod alike, both at the Iojk'. both draggy aixl weary. From tho point where lay Donovan and his steed there w;is but one horse track. Whirling sharply around, the rider h;ul sent his mount at a thundering gallop back across the valley; then 100 yards away, in long curve, he had reined him to the southeast. The troojH'rs who followed tho hoof marks out aliout an eighth of a mile declared that, unwonnded, Itotli horse and rider were making the? befit of their way toward Moreno's ranch. Farther search, not •V) yards to the front, revealed tho fact that at the edge of a little depression and behind some cactus bushes three human forms had been l}ing prone, ind from this ]Doiiit probably had sped the deadly bullet. "1 never dreamed of seeing ladies tonight," laugheel tho sergeant. "It's the rarest sight in all the world here, but I remember you we'll when you came to Yuma last year. That was when you wero going to school at San Francisco, I believe." " 'All right,' he said, 'just give me back your bowls, and we'll have a new deal.' Those were his very words. We gave him back our cooling stew, and he poured the whole thing back again. Then we had a new deal. "You still insist they're over there, do you, Pike? I think they're not. I flagged old Feeny half an hour ago that they hadn't come through here." But a Mrs. Queintrell was the heroine of the flag episode, as was proved recently on investigating the loyalty of her son, who held a government position in Washington. Old Mrs. Queintrell had a flag displayed, and when the Confederates under General Jack'son ordered her to turn it down she refused and told them they ought to be ashamed of themselves. Thus another historic yarn is injured by the cold, clammy facts. "Anel do you still believe there are no Apaches in this business?" asked the major. '' Who was that fellow who rode back here with the note?" asked Pike. "Not out north or west, sir; they're thie-k enough ahead in the Santa Maria, but not to the north, not to the west—1 can't belicVo that. Those Morales fellows know everything that is going on. They knew that just about this time Ne*Cl Ilarvev was e xpee'teel along escorting his sisters home. They knew you had never seen hint and could easily he made to believe th«? story. Everything lias been 1 done to hold us back, hrst at Ceralvo's and afterward here, until they could gather all their gang in force sufficient to attack, then— "I never saw such a cheerful ass as that man in my life. His carving was just as bright and unconventional. 'Oh, "I don't know his name, they call him in C troop, his second enlistment." 'Dutchy' He's on "That was when I was in short dresses and a long face, sergeant," merrily answered the yemnger girl. "I hateel the idea of going there to school. Fan, here, was willing enough, but I had never kueDw anything but Arizema anel Mexiero. All I could think eDf was that I was leaving heime." It was a perfect likeness. There were the retreating forehead, the strong features, the full whiskers, even the collar itself. The portrait has been ground into the bottom of the box by the action of the elirt on, the shelf anel was outlined by distinct and necessary lines of drawing, as if the hand of a master sketcher hael drawn it. "More fool he 1 Tho man who re-enlista in this territory must bo either drunk or Dutch." And Pike relapsed into gloomy silence again, his eyes fixed upon the faint flicker of the bar lights at Ceralvo's miles away, but Wing only laughed again, and still puffing away at his pipe went on down tho winding trail to where in the deep shelter of tho rocky walls a pool of water lay gleaming. Here he threw himself flat, and lying aside his precious pipe drank long and eagerly; then with a sudden plunge he dousttl his hot face in tho cooling flood and came np From William Tell down to Barbara Frietchie one hero after another is allowed to perish historically in this age ol iconoclasm and things like that. A hero has to have the documents these days, or he must make an assignment. i "Sho was soon reconciled, Mr. Wing," said Miss Harvey; "thero were senile very pleasant peoplo 011 tho steam- Even as the detachmemt moiuiteel, Latham with it. old Moreno apjieared at the doorway shrouded in his sera{De. Approaching Murphy by tho side farthest front Pluinmer and the sergeant, he slipis-d a fat canteen from under his cloak and thrust it into the corjioral's ready hand. "Ilusli-h- 110 words," ho whispered. "All is welt:—'I keej my promise." And so sa/ing he had slunk away, but Feeny eDn the off siele quick as a sheit, quiy^j_than the corporal could stow w; Sulky vessel in his saddle bags. Wresting it from tho nerveless hand of his junior, Feeny hurled it with all his force after the MC xican's retreating form. It struck Moreno square in the back of the neck and sent him pitching heavily forward. Moody has the box on exhibition now anel turns it up for the inspection of chance visitors, at the same time exhibiting a pheD tograph of his father. Nobody has questioned the similarity yet, anel the box ha? been exhibited to hundreeta already. Mr. Mexxly says: er." Quite a fine collection of historic things is in the window of a merchant here. Among other things of interest is a pike used by John Drown to arm the negroes of Harper's Ferry. Knowing that the average slave had no knowledge of the use of firearms, John had several hundred of these pikes made, with steel heads shaped thus: "Oh, very pleasant for you. Fan, but what did they care for a chit e»f 14? You hael lovely times, of course." Hist! listen! There's hoofs neiw. No. not eDut there, the either way, liom the Tucson road, e-ast. (toel grant it's some eif emr follows coming back! Keep watch here, major; I'll run out and challenge." "But," Bald Feeny, "what could he have been doing, und in what position could he have lieeu, Hitting or standing, to get a saber stroke like that ? Where watt his guard ? A ltowie knife, now''— "So did you, Ruth, from tho very day Mr. Drummonel helpexl you to catch your dolphin." "My father was a practicing physician, and in connection with his practice in 1852 purchased the drug store, which he, and subsequently myself, carried on ever since. The box had been iu my store about a year and a half. It was an original package containing acetanilid. The top of the box was like the bottom. It opened by cutting a round hole in the top. dripping. "Ah! wo were more than half way to San Frane-iseo then," proteste-el Miss Kuth promptly, "anil nobody hael taken any notice of mo whatever up teD that minute." Hastily pie-king up a carbine as lie passed the door, Feeny ran nimbly out across the sandy barren, disappearing in the darkness to the southeast. Old Plummet's heart lDeat like a hammer as he listened fur the hail. A moment more he could hear hoof boats and the voices of men in low tones; then, low toned, too, but sharp and stern, Feeny's challenge rose upon the night: and there the suggestion ended, "Apaches, hy God!" muttered one uf the men. '' Thank tho Lord I have no desert march to make today—all on a wild gooso chase," was his pious ejwulation. "What on earth could have induced tho paymaster to send n detachment over to tho Gila?" He took from his pocket a penciled note and slowly twisted it in his fingers. It was too dark to road, but in its soldierly brevity he almost knew it by heart. But it was the scarred side of Bland's soldierly face that young Lientenant Drummond was so closely studying as they rode out into the starlit Arizona night. He, too, had heard tho camp chat alxrat this apparently frank, oi»enhearted trooper, and had found himself more than once speculating as to his real past, not the past of his imagination or of his easy offhand description. By this time, in jKrrfect silenco save for the occasional clink of canteen, the gurgle of imprisoned water, or, once in a while, the click of ironshod hoof, tho troop was marching in shadowy column of twos well out beyond the falda and over the almost dead level of the plain. Far ahead the beacon still blazed brightly and lxjckoned them on. It was time for precaution. "Apaches, your grandmother!" was the sergeant's fierce reply. "Will you never learn sense, Moore? When did Apaches take to wearing .store clothes and heeled boots? There's 110 Apache in this, lieutenant. Look here, sir, and here. Move out farther, some of you fellows, and see where they hid their horses. Corporal Donovan wjis with C troop down the Gila last week, sir. They were to meet and escort the paymaster most like. It's my belief he wis one of the guard and that tho ;im- "Well, Mr. Drnmmond niiiele up for lost time from that on," laugheel the older sister. "I never told of her, Ned The handle was of wood and abont 6 feet long. After the execution of Brown these pikes fell into the hands of truck farmers, who used them to "prize" out their garlic in the gardens about Harper's Ferry. This was the Scripture almost literally fulfilled, for they turned their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. "I have a dispensing bottle which I fill from the original package, after filling which I was accustomed to paste a piece of paper over the hole to keep it airtight. Three weeks ago I noticed my dispensing bottle empty. I went to my workroom and took from the shelf the original box. On opening it I found my dispensing bottle would hold it all, so tore off the top of the box, and, turning it upside down, was tapping ou the sides and bottom to completely empty it and was about to throw it awaj when I noticed the face on the bottom and instantly recognized the resemblance to my father. I have shown it to many friends and acquaintances, without relating the circumstances or Intimating what it was, to see if they would recognize the resemblance, Invariably they would say 'It is Dr. Moody,' or 'It resembles your father.'" —Belfast (Me.) Letter m Boston Record. —wasn't I good ?—but Kuth lost her yfrang heart to a cavalry cadet not a year out of the Point." Only by catching at a horse post did he save himself from a fall, but, as lit straightened up. his face was one not to be looked at without a shudder; grinding teeth, snapping, flashing eyes, ve ngeful contortions of brow and jaw, hate, fury and revenge, all were quivering with the muscles unde r that swartln "Who comes there?" " The major sent Donovan with half tho escort back to the Gila on an Apache scare this morning. They will probably return your way. empty handed. Signal if they have passed. Latham knows your code and wo have a good glass. Send man to Ceralvo's with orders for them to join at onco if they haven't come, and flag or torch when they pass you. It's my belief they've gone there." "Is it our Lieutenant Drummond who was with yon?" queried Wing. Instantly tho invisible party halted, irarprised, but with the promptness born of frontier experience back came the iuiswer: we take it farmer fashion here,' 6ays he, and with that he cut out a hinge of beefsteak for me, squirted the gravy into the preacher's ear and just missed stabbing the carving knife into the hired girl as she passed by. Her corset saved her life. HE CARVED THE STEAK. "Oh, yes; why, to lDe sure, he is of your regiment. lie was going back to testify before some court at tho presidio, and-—wasn't madamo mean?— she wouldn't allow him to call on Ruth at the school, even when I promised to play chaperon and insure strict preD- priety and no flirting." In this collection, too, is the Siamese twin hickory, two trees united at a height of 14 feet by a common branch 10 foet long. It is a mystery to the scientist, as the two trees are of different species, and men have come many hundreds of miles to see the curious thing. A citizen told mo that "it was once the owner's intention to denote it to the Smithsonian institution, but he given it up." "Who are yon and where from?' "Friends." ight. These are ro;ul agents, not ulanco has been jumped this very "George Harvey and party from Tucson, looking for Moreno's. Who are you?" "Oh, he was the very worst I ever saw. What ever put it into his head to entertain people I don't know. He kept the tenderloin himself and kicked at one of the children under the table with such vigor that he missed the child and injured both his own leg and that of tho table. skin, and the gleaming knifo was clasjxd in his upraised hand as, driving into the ranch and out of sight ol the hated "gringos," ho burst into the room where sat his wife and daughter, and raging aloud, through that he leaited like a panther to anothei door, fastened on the farther side, where one instant ho stood before ad mission could lie gained, and through n panel in which there warily peered n bearded face, swarthy as-Iris own. And then Senora Moreno hurriedly banged the shutter and took up her guitar. Something had to bo done to hush the uproar of blasphemy and imprecation mingling with the shout of exultation that instantly followed her lord's admission to tho den. A'.wvihes, and God knows what's hap- Ik u.n1 if they've got away with Patsy. Sure I10 was one of tho nerviest men in tho whole troop, sir." Ruth Harvey hail, with quick movement, uplifted a little hand to silence her sister, but tho hand dropiDed, startled, and tho color rushed to her face at Wing's next words: "United States cavalry on escort duty. How many in your party?" "Sergeant," said Drummond, "send a corporal and four men forward. Lot them spread out across the front and keep 300 or 400 yards ahead of us. Better take those with the freshest horses, as I want them to scout thoroughly and to be on the alert for the faintest sound. Any of our men who know this valley well?" This was signed by Feeny and over and again had Wing been speculating as to what it all meant. When the escort with tho ambulance and paymaster went through before tho dawn, Feeny had roused him to ask if anything had been heard of Indians on the warpath between them and tho Sonora line, and tho answer was lxith prompt and positive, "No." As for their being north or north of west of his station, and up toward tho Gila, Wing scouted the suggestion. He wished, however, that Jackson were back with such tidings as he had picked up at Ceralvo's. It was always best to be prepared, even though this was some distance away from the customary raiding ground of the trilx). " Only two here. We were delayed by Apacho signs in the Santa Maria. Tho rest are eonio miles behind with relay mules. Are we near the ranch? What's that light out to the west?" Drummond listened, every nerve a-tingle, even while with hurried hands he cut open the shirt at the brawny throat and felt for fluttering heart beat or faintest sign of life. Useless. The shot hole under tlio left eyo told plainly that tho leaden missile had torn its way through the braiu and that death must havo been instantam-ous. Tho soldier's arms and accoutennents, tho horse's equipments, were gone. The bodies lay unmutilated. Tho story was plain. Separated in some way from the detachment, Donovan and his companion had probably sighted the signal blazing at the pass and come riding hard to reach the spot, when the unseen f(X) crouching across Accepted the Compromise, Donate was the word, I presume, he wiis after. I soon found that this man was more of a curiosity than anything iif the collection. The way he abused and ill treated the English language while I was there was a shame. He showed me an old pair of dueling pistols, which he said were the first genuine concussion cap pistols ever made. He called a corncrib a miffin house and spoke of the horses around there dying off with a disease that seemed to be academic among them. "He waa the man who found out that a watermelon could be flavored with most anything while growing by introducing the fluid flavor through the growing stem, and then got out a patent for inoculating the melon with juinaica ginger to ward off tho colic. lie certainly "Then you're almost suro to meet the lieutenant tonight or tomorrow. He's been soon ting tho Santa Maria and the Christobal and is dno along here at this very moment." ''Never mind that now. Dismount ;uid come up alone, Mr. Harvey. 1 must recognize you first." The Rev. Dr. E. P. Parker of Hartford relates a hitherto unpublished incident of the organization of the Hartford Young Men's Christian association a few years ago. The conservatives wanted to keep out Universalists and Unitarians. This course was distasteful to Dr. Parker and a few other liberals, who proposed as a compromise that the Apostles' creed be taken as the platform of the organization. "That proposal," says Dr. Parker, "was made and accepted in a room iu the City hotel, and the few persons there and then present are not likely 10 forget the scene or its inci dents. Mr. Moody and Mr. George Pentv cost represented one party. Feeny wanted to gain time. His brain was whirling. IiC re was partial confirmation of the story told by the alleged Ned Harvey in the morning. Here was the father coming with guard and relay muh s to meet his children just as tinir morning visitor declared ho was expected to do. Was it possible after all that the tale was true— that the children were there at the Oila, making a wide detour around Ceralvo's iml taking tho northward route around "None better than Bland here, sir," was the half hesitant reply. And now Miss Harvey hjwl tho field to herself, for tho younger sister drew back into the dark depths of tho covered wagon and spoke no more. In 10 minute's the team was rattliug down the eastward slope, and Sergeant Wing turneel with a sigh as at hist even the sotinelof hexif anel wheel haelelied away. Slowly ho climbeel tho steep and crookeel trail to their aerio at tho peak. No sign of Jackson yet, no message rrom tho ranch, no signal fires at, Mofeno's or beyond. showed greater possibilities as a claybank ass than most any man I ever saw. "W-e-1-1, I need Bland just now. Put some of the old hands and older "I never made his house my home after that, although he wanted me to do so and rather insisted on it, offering to let me select from the little boys whichever one I would rather sleep with." heads on, and don't let anything escape their notice." Nine o'clexrk came. Murphy anel his party were gone. Tho beae-on still blazed at the westwarel pass. The twang of the guitar had ceased. Silence reigned about the ranch. Old Plummer with anxious face ploelded slowly up and down the eipen space in front of the? de'serteel bar. Feeny, with three loaeled carbines closo at lianel and his belt bristling with revolvers, was dividing his attentiem between the safe and tho still sle e ping troeipers. Every once in a while ho wetuld station the major at the safe, which hael been hauled into tho easte'rnme)st of the return that openeel to tho front instead of 011 tho cerrral, and, revolver in hand, wemlel patrol tho premises, never failing to stop at a certain winelow behind which he ItelieveelMeircnoto be lurking to warn that impulsive greaser not to sheiw his he-ad eDutsielo his room if he dieln't want it blown off his slioulelers; newer failing on his return to stir up both recumltent forms with angry foot, anel then to shower in exjtial portions cold water and hot imprecations upon them. "Begpardon, lieutenant, but what's to be tho line of direction ? When wo started it was understood that wo wero to take the shortest cut for Ceralvo's, and now we're heading for tho Picacho."Yesterday in the midst of a largo mail I received the following letter. I print it only as a sample of scores like it received every week ami to show what a dangerous tiling it is to be a well informed man: Just then there camo a hail from aloft. Pikey was shouting. "When they were told that for the sake of peace the insertion of the Apostles' creed as a condition eDf active membership would bo conceeled, Mr. Moody, with refreshing frankness, confessed jjs entire ignorance of that symbol. 'Petitecust,' saiel he, 'what is the Apostles' creed anyway? I don't know!' Mr. Pentecost was not iu a condition eDf in canelescence regarding the subject, where fore some information was imparted, and then the creed aforesaid was produceel and reael. Mr. Moexly listeneel intently and then saiel, 'That's geioel,' aud asked teD have il read again. On the seconel reading he seemed to like it very much ineleed, as one might expect from such a catholic and apejsteilic man. He thought it would do. and Pentecost agreeing it was accepted." —New York Tribune. Possibly Lam wrong in attributing the above experience to Mr. Harte. Maybe it was Emerson who told me .about it. "All right," answered Wing cheerily; "be there in a minute," and then he went springing up the trail as though the climb of 400 feet wero a mere bagatelle."No, we make for tho pass first; that's tho quickest way to reach tho signal station, then wo learn where t/D strike for tho Indians. Did you ever hear of their l»eing as far west as tho Maricopa range before?" Yet was he right in telling Harvey with such precious freight to push on acreiRS that eDpen plain when there) was even rumors eDf Apae hes in tho air ? The loveliness of thoso two elark, radiant faces, tho pretty white teeth flashing in tho lantern light, tho seDft, silvery, girlish voices, tho kinelly, cordial handclasp vouchsafed him by the elder as they rolled away—these were things to stir tho heart of any man leing exiled in this elesert land. It hael tDeeu his custom to siDenel an hour in chat with his comrades be'fore turning in for tho night, but with Jacksein still away anel Pike still plungeel in gloom—with, moreover, new anel stirring e:motieDns to investigate and analyze—Wing strolleel off by himself, passe-el arounel tho rex'ky buttress at tho point anel came to the' broad leelge overlexiking tho eastward way to the elistant range-. Dear Sir—As I 1:now you to be a man well lDostuCl in matters in tho literary line, I take this liberty to write you, asking you to kindly offer me a tew pointers to be used in the discussion of a paiDer before our county association. Tho paiDer is written upon "Hamlet" and follows this line: "What's up? Jackson here?" he asked, short of breath, as ho reached the little- noov in which their brush covered tents wero pitched. There was no reply."Never, sir, in thewholo time we've been here, and since tho lieutenant joined they've never been heard of crossing the Santa Maria valley!" The writer treats of it first in connection with "The Prilogy" of Euripides. Dante's "Divine Comedy" and Goethe's "Faust." Next will be noted the three forces that underlie the poem—viz. individual, epoch and race. He will also endeavor to prove that Hamlet's death was the result of fate and oversensitiveness; Ophelia's, the result of blind fate; tho Queen's, of weakness; the King's, of guilt. Ills Daily liread When the boarder came down to break • fast, he was as ngly as if he had been having a beautiful time all night, and he found fault with everything, but particularly the bread. He scolded about that to such an extent that at last the laudlady resented it. "Pike! OPike! Whore are you?" ho called. '"What on earth could tempt thorn out bo far? There's nothing to be gained £1 every chance of lDeing cut off by troops from Grant and Bowie, even if they do succeed in slipping by ns." ' / And presently, faint and far, somewhere down in the dark canyon to the south, a voice replied: A vuitrh win Ktrvrh nntl burned brightly In the black ntul breathless night. '' Down hyar. Something's coming up the road." Any suggestions whatever that you may be kind enough to offer will bo very gratefully reoeivml. "I don't care to hear anything moro about that bread," she said, "and I want you to drop it." their path had suddenly fired the fatal shots. Now, whero was the paymaster? Where the escort? Where the men who fed the signal fire—the fire that long before midnight had died utterly away? Whither should the weary detachment direct its march ? Ceralvo's lay a dozen miles off to the northwest, Moreno's perhaps eight or nine to the southest. Why had the escaped trooper headed his fleeing steed in that direction? Had there been pursuit? Why n© Soaked II1111, Surely enough. Probably a quarter mile away a dim light as of a swinging lantern could be seen following the winding of the rough and rock ribbed road. Then came the click of ironshod hoofs, tho crack of the long mule whip, and a resonant imprecation in Spanish leveled at tho invisible draft animals. Bounding liirhtlv down the southward path, Sergeant Wing soon reached tho roadside, and there found Pike in converse with a braco of horsemen."Well, jedge," said the man with thr bristly mustache who was up for sentence, "it wuz dis here way. I played de jay fer a sucker, an I ketched him. See? 1 jist t'rowed him a few lines 'bont green goods, an he answered de letter like it brung him news uv a forchun. I goddim t' cum here an jollied him along, an we wuz 'bout t' do bizuess. We went out t' de meetin place set fer us, an I showed him how d' ol' t'ing worked. He wuz to gimme his dough, an I wuz t' ship him d' greeu stuff by express. See? I flashed d' roll ou 'im, an it made his eyes stick out like dey wuz hen eggs. Den dey wuz more talk, an I tol' Mm I o'u'd giv' 'im a t'ousan uv de green stuff for two fifty uv d' dough dat wuz straight goods, an he bit. 1 counted out d' stuff, an jist as I had d' deal all made in me min do jay sez t' me"  Homing t Wit I have not asked too much of your valuafflo time, I am yours very respect- "That's more than I can tell, sir. The men say the paymaster's coming along this week; they heard it from the quartermaster's train wo passed at the Cienega three days ago." Up thrfmijh the glonm strode a tall figure, fully. HIIIAM Guuljsy. He glowered at her. fearless and confident. that ill favored ranch ? If bo, what awful tidings had ho to break! Stout soldier that ho was, Foeny felt that ho was trembling from head to foot. Up through tho gloom strode a tall figure, fearless and confident. In answer to this I must say that I have at home a huge library of costly books—historical books, reference books, spelling books, banklDooks, etc.—but I do not travel with them. Had I dreatntwl that sni'li n lptt«r would en route, i woum most assuredly nave brought the library with me, but here I am, able to remember only vaguely how Euripides expressed himself, and the hard times have driven out of my head the exact wording of Dante. Sometimes I am tempted to exclaim: "Go away with your questions to a busy man. Get out!'' "It will knock a holo in the floor if I do," he retorted, and she left the table. —Detroit Free Press. Trooper Bland was riding in silence on tho left of tho detachment commander as ho had lDeen directed. The sergeant had como up on the other Iflank. To Pedro he had intrusted tho duty of caring for the horses of his prostrate comrades. Every faculty ho possessed was oil the alert, watching for the faintest sign of treachery or hostility from within, listening with dread but stern determination for the first sound of hoof lieata from without. It must have been alDout 111 o'clock when, leaving Mr. Dawes, the clerk, seated in the dark interior beside the safe, Feeuy One Alternative. Hero a mass of tinder, dry baked by weeks' exposure to tho burning sunshine, stood in a pyramid of firewood ready to burst in fhimo at first touch of tho torch. Close at hand were the stacks of reserve fuel. "Never light this until you know the Indians are raiding west of the Christobal," were his orders. But well ho knew that once ignited it could be seen for many a league. Here again he filled his faithful pipe, and moving a safe distance away lighted its charge and tossed tho match stump among tho jagged rocks Ih'Iow. Ho saw the spark go sailing downward, nnwafted from its course by faintest breath of air. Then lie heard Pike's growl or something like it and called to him to ask it' lie heard Jackson. No answer. Sure that he had he'ird the gruff though inarticulate voice of his comrade, he hailed again more loudly than before, and still there came 110 reply. Surprised, ho stepped quickly back around the rocky jioirit to where the tents lay under the sheltering cliff and came faee to face with three dark, shadowy forms, whose moccasined footsteps gave no sound, whose masked and blackened faces defied recognition, whose cocked revolvers were thrust into his very face before a lariat settled over his shoulders, snapped into place; and yelling for help when help was miles beyond range of his ringing voicQ Scr- When a boy is interested in what ho is saying, it is hard for him to think how he says it. *'There's no Irishman in all tho Morales giing," laughed the coming man, "and I know a cavalryman's challenge when I hear it, and so honor it at once. Where are you, sentry?'' "Now, Tommy," said the schoolmistress, "you shouldn't say, 'Willy done it.' That isn't right." "What men hoard this?" asked Drummond, quickly. Aye, 10 minutes' search over the still and desolate plain revealed tho fact that two horsemen lurking in a sand pit or dry arroyo had pushed forth at top speed and ridden away full tilt across tho desert, straight as tho crow flies, toward Moreno's well. Even while Drummond. holding brief consultation with his sergeant, was deli Iterating whether to turn thither or to push for the signal lDeak and learn what he could from tho little squad of blue jackets there on duty, the matter was decided for him. Sudden and shrill there came tap cry rrom tne outskirts of the now dismounted troop clustered about the body of their comrade. "Why, Patterson told me, sir, and Lucas and Quinn, and I think Bland here was talking with tho train escort and must have heard it." *'It's old Harvey's outfit, from Yuma, making for Moreno's," vouchsafed the soldier. "Well, then, Willy lied about it," saivJ Tommy.—Chicago News. "Here; this way," answered Feeny, standing erect and jDeering sharply through tho gloom. "I've never met you, Mr. Harvey, but we all know you by reputation. Just toll me your business and how you happen to be riding tho desert this timo of night, and then I'll tell you why I ask." "Oh, is that you, Sergeant Wing? I ought to have known you were here. I'm Ned Harvey." And tho taller horseman held out a hand, which Wing grasiwd and shook with cordial fervor. But my better nature asserts itself again, and I bear with this as a good man should. Together. Askem—I thought that Simpsou't . had gone off. Torker—So it did, but Simpson w off with it.—Vogue. "Did you, Bland?" asked tho lieutenant, as he whirled suddenly in his saddle and faced tho trooper. stepped forth to make another round, stopped to look at Mullan and his partner, now lieginning to twitch uneasily and moan and tCDss in their drunken sleep, and then turned to seek the pay- Here the man with the bristly mustache began to laugh. Yes, Hiram, you aro right in your estimate of the three forces underlying thf poem—via, individual, epoch and race. Still, some parts of "Hamlet" are e]xDch ier than others. Do you not think so, Hiram? I have always thought that Hamlet's death was due to injuries received during the last act of the play and Ophelia's to the fact that she went out oi nights in a cheesecloth dress and fooled around the river too much when there was a good deal of malaria going on in the neighborhood. "Yes, sir," was tho prompt reply; "several of the men BixDke of it. It's about tho most welcC _»o piece of news they could give to feliows who had four months' pay due." "Well," said the judge, to you?" "what did he say "Which way, Mr are with you?" Harvey, and who "He sez t' me," continued the man with the bristly mustache, "Iw'u'd"—but he began to laugh again. Family Squabbles. "Home to Tucson. My sisters are in Concord ltehind us, g-Ding to visit the old folks for a few weeks before their trip to Cuba." Whatever lights Moreno had been accustomed tCD burn by way of lure or encouragement to belated travelers, all was gloom tonight. The bar was silence and darkness. Tho bare east room adjoining the corral was tenanted now only by the clerk and the precious iron box of "greenbacks.1' No glimmer of lamp showed there. Tho westward apartments, opening only one into another and thence into the corral, were still as the night and even when a shutter was slowly pushed from within, as though the occupants craved more air, no gleam of light came through. UlJlster. "I am expecting my son and daughters coming up from Yuma. We were to meet at Moreno's this evening, but a scouting party in the mountains warned us to hide until night, so we'ro late. Have they reached Moreno's? We must be close there.'' In the isolation of this mountain ecouting business, when, as often happens, one officer is out alone for weeks with no comrades fir associates but his detachment, it naturally results that a greater freedom of intercourse and speech is developed between the commander and some, at least, of his party than would ever be the case in years of garrison life; and so it happened that for the moment Drummond forgot the commander in the man. "Stop that laughing and go on with your story," said the judge sternly. The man with the bristly mustache threw back his shoulders and took a long breath. "You don't tell me!" exclaimed Wing. "They're the first ladies to pass through here since I came on duty at the station two months ago. You stay at Moreno's, I suppose?" "Another fire, lieutenant! Look! out here toward tho Santa Maria." "He sez t' me," he began again, " 'w'u'd 1 take Confedrit money?' an 1 soaked 'im."— "You're close enough to Moreno's. It's not 100 yards back there, but that light across the valley is tho warning beacon at Picacho. T#C y would hardly venture across, knowing what that Buffalo Express. Tho sergeant sprang to his feet, Bhouldering his burly way through tho excited throng. One moment more and his voico was heard in louder, fiercer Two Version**. There is much in a name, especially as it is pronounced by Frenchmen or Englishmen. On the evening of M. Zola's recent arrival in England he was lingering over his coffee when a servant entered the room bearC'ig a large basketful of Cowers, which he presented to the noted novelist, saying: Still, blind fate may have had something to do with it. You must remember, Hiram, that I'm giving all these opinions without my library. "Yes; tho governor meets us there with relays and four or five men. We knew then* would be no danger west of the Santa Maria." The Elephant—See here, you! If you ever lay a hand on my child again, I'll yank that state's prison suit of yours plumb off of you! tones; "No signal this time, sir. By God, they've fired Moreno's ranch!" "Why, my God, man!" exclaimed Harvey, "that saystke Apaches are out west of tho Santa Maria or tho C "hristobal. Have you seen—have you heard anything of them?" means." I have always differed from Mr. James Owen O'Connor and the Count Johannes regarding the cause of thi terrible mortality in the bust act of "Hamlet," and I do not want at this date to get into a long wordy war with Euripides or his folks, who might be sensitive  "It is most extraordinary," ho said, "that just when a paymaster is anxious to keep Becret the date and route of his coming tho whole thing is heralded ftiiead. We have no telegraph and yet " W-e-1-1, did you stop at Ceralvo's or see any of their people?" CHAPTER III The Tiger—Go on! Get out of this, you lumbering india rubber mountain! If you give me any more of your jaw, I'll tie those two tails of yours together and use you for a polo ball!—Truth. Shortly after sunset on this same hot evening tho sergeant in charge of tho little signal party at thp Piyacho camy "No, I never put in there, very suspicious of that gang, Father's Why do "Don't show your ugly mug out here, Moreno," cautioned Feeny for tho fourth or fifth time, "and warn any 'd d cutthroat with you to keep is you ask, though?" "For the love of God, sir, don't ask mo now. Tome to the ranch. Maior "Mr. Oscar Wilde sends these flowers, sir, and asks if you will receive him for Wing hesitated. "There wns some a few minutes,