Pittston Gazette

              ■utablMml 1850, I VOL. XLIX No. SN. | Oldest Newspaper in the Wvomine Vallev PITTSTON LUZERNE COUNTY, PA., FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 34, 1899. A Weekly Local and Family Journal. t »1.00 » Year ; in Adnm. COPymHT.WB, By fiTEHNXSCN AfEELV and the first step in the drama was taken within the fortnight of thU chauoe meeting at Oila Bend. diers among tuem, ianguiuiD euamug silver at tbe monte table presided over by Sancbo's own brother, bad calmly opened a faro layout and enticed every man from tbe legitimate game and every peso from tbeir pockets betore the two days' session wag finished? of 'em there yet; young feller changing j But to this observation Mr. Loring made no reply. Straight from Sancbo's side he walked down the corral, halted behind two rangy, hard looking steeds that showed still tbe effects of recent severe usage, and these he studied ooolly and - thoroughly a few minutes, while, peering from two narrow slits in the ranoh wall between the windows, two sun tanned frontiersmen as closely studied him. With these latter peeping from the shaded window was "tbe wife of my brother," exchanging with them comments in low, guarded tones. In the adjoining room, a bedroom, a girl of perhaps 16, slender, graceful and dark eyed, peeped in tbe opposite direction over toward the willows where Blake's men were now unsaddling, whence presently, with giant strides, came Blake himself, stalking over the sand. shorter, IH trouble to come into camp forthwith. No, don't draw that pistol unless you want a dozen bullets through you. Half a troop is right here at my back. Your soldier name was Higgins, and you're a deserter from Cram's battery, New Orleans." young omcer to mart, m wu iU. fernal towu was just after the war. It ain't on tbe map of these United States. I had tbe lock and tbe opportunities of tbe devil for nigh on to a yea*. I got more money and learned more ways of getting it than I knew bow to nse, and then I got married. bis dress. Tbeir dinner's ready, though. The colonel's writing." cept a little shaffling of feet. Then one veteran member cleared his throat with a "hem" of preparation to speak, yet hesitated. Sancho, studying the coming stags with Blake's binocular nntil it dived into the arroyo 500 yards to the west, handed that costly instrument to the silent, dumpy, dark skinned woman who stood patiently at his side and said briefly "Dos," at which she vanished, and after restoring the glass to its hiding place in her bedroom was heard uplifting a shrill, ranoons voice at the back of the house ordering dinner to be ready for two. When the vehicle came rattling up to the door, Sancbo stood at his threshold, the old lorgnette in band, bowing profoundly as two travelers, officers of tbe army apparently, emerged in tbeir dusters and stiffiy alighted. Presently Sancho, grave and deliberate, as became his race, emerged from the shadows of tbe bar and oame oloae before be spoke. Tbe junior officer of tbe oonrt, a lientenant of cavalry, slowly stretched forth bis band, picked up the solitaire and eyed it with an assumption of oritioal yet respectful interest The president, a grizaled, red faced veteran, presently Well did Sancho recall  and that of nis brother at this unlicensed interference with tbeir special business and tbe surprising liberality, too, with whiob the senor oapitan had silenced their remonstrance. Rascal though he was, Sancho had sense enough to know that such proceedings were not seemly in a man bearing tbe oommission of an officer, but Sancbo little knew bow many a congressman along at tbe close of tbe war, finding himself oompelled to provide some kind of living for political "heelers" or some impersonal reward for servioes rendered, had foisted his henchmen into the army, then being enlarged and reorganized, and Nevins was one of the results of the iniquitous system. "He goes to ride—that youth. Know you whither? And he has no horse." For a moment there was a silence broken only by the hard breathing of the two cornered men; then came a flash, a sharp report, a piercing scream as the lithe Mexican girl sprang forth from behind the blanket and burled herself on Blake, a pantherlike leap of tbe aocused man under cover of the flash and smoke, a thwack like the sound of the bat when it meets a new baseball full in tbe middle, and Loring'sflst had landed full on Higgins' jowl and sent him like a log to tbe floor. And, as though to oonfirm this statement, with his quick elastic step Loring came forth to the side gate, damped his valise into the stage, turned and looked keenly over tbe gronp, then as quickly approached them. He had discarded bis linen ooat and trousers in favor of a pair of brown cord breeches, with Hualpai leggings and light spurs. A broad belt, with knife and revolvers, was buckled to bis waist. A silk handkerchief was loosely knotted at his throat A light colored felt hat was pulled down to his eyebrows, and dast colored gauntlets were drawn upon his bauds. "Sancbo," said he, "have that roan of yours saddled in ten minutes. How much if I keep him a week?" "A homeless woman, a woman with brains and good looks and education, married me for the position I could give her, I suppose. They told me afterward ebe did it out of spite or desperation; that she was a northern girl who had been employed as governess in an old southern family that was ruined by the war; that she bad a younger sister in New York whom she was educating—a girl who had a magnificent voice and wanted to go on tbe stage—and all the money she could save went to her. She got employment when Ben Butler took command, for she knew all the southern families tbat bad money and plate anu jewels and those that had nothing but niggers. SMi adobe corral and barracks~6acred to bis name. The stageooacb was invisible in a cloud of its own dust as it lurched and rolled along tbe alkali flats down the ▼alley, and Sancho, the ranchkeeper, oould not make out whether any passengers were on top or not. He had brought a fine binocular to bear jnet as soon as tbe shrill voice of Pedro, a swarthy little scamp of a half breed, announced the dust olood sailing over the damp of willows below tbe bend. Pedro was not tbe original name, and, so far sfftconld be oetef* mined by ecclesiastical records, owing to tbe omission of tbe customary church oeremonies he bore none Uiat the chaplain at old Camp Cooke would admit to be Christian. Itinerant prospectors and occasional soldiers, however, had suggested a obaoge from the original—or aboriginal—title, which was heathenish in tbe last degree, to tbe muoh briefer one at Pedro as fitting accompaniment to that of tbe illustrious bead of tbe establishment, and Lieutenant Blake, an infantry sub with cavalry aspirations which bad led him to seek arduous duties in this arid land, had comprehensively damned tbe pretensions of the place to being a "dinner ranch" by declaring that a shop that held Sancho and Pedro and didn't have game was unworthy of patronage. CHAPTER I. Mr. Blake bad never been in such a God forsaken oountry or community before, but there was something in tbe utter isolation, the far stretching waste of shimmering sand, tbe desolate mountain ranges sharply outlined, hostile and forbidding, the springless, streamless, verdureless plains of this stricken land, that harmonized with the somewhat savage and cynical humor in which be had sought service in the most intolerable clime then open to the troops of Uficle Sam. Blake had been jilted and took it bitterly to heart. Wearing the willow himself, be cherished it as tbe only green and growing thing in the Gila valley, whereas had he sought sympathy be would have found other young gentlemen similarly decorated, and therefore as oontent as be to spend the months or possibly years of their imbittered life just as far from the madding crowd and, as Blake oynically put it, "as near bell." "Have any letters or dispatches been left here for me?" asked in quiet tone the elder of the two, limping slightly as he advanced, leaving to his comrade tbe responsibility of seeing that none of their luggage had been jolted out of the rickety vehicle. CHAPTER IV. Sanoho, despite bia anxious scrutiny of Loring's silent movements, saw the ooming offloer and prepared liis oountenance for smiles. Bat, with a faoe set and forbidding, Blake went sternly by, taking no notice of the proprietor, and made directly for the little group now mattering at the dining room door. The loungers, some of whom bad deserted the sapper table for a sight of the captives and the oavaloade, sidled right and left, as though to avoid his eyes, for into each face, most of them hangdog viaagea, he gazed sharply, as though in search of some one, yet never faltered in his stride. Back from her barred window ahrank the young girl as the tall soldier came within a dozen paces. To one side or another, smoke inhaling and striving to look unconcerned, edged the Bwartby constituents of the group, and with never a word to one of them, straight through their midat and the doorway beyond, went Blake, oatching the three peepers, "the wife of my brother" and the brace of palpable outthroats at their loopholes. So unexpected waa the move that it bad not even occurred to one of the creatures at the door to matter a word of warning. So engrossed were the three in their scrutiny that Blake's entrance was unheard. The court martial that met at Camp Cooke in compliance with orders from division headquarters at Frisco had three weeks later practioally finished the case of Brevet Captain Nevins, and that debonair person, who had appeared before it on tbe first day suave, laughing and almost insolently defiant, had wilted visibly as day after day the judge advocate unfolded the mass of evidence against him. Commis&'oued a first lieutenant of a regiment that had bad a proud record iu the regular division of tbe Array of tbe Potomac and had been hurried at the oloae of tbe war to the Pacific coast, Nevins had joined at Fort Yuma and served a few weeks' apprenticeship as a file closer, jnst long enough to demonstrate that he knew nothing whatever about soldiering and too much about poker. All his seniors in grade, except the West Printers graduated in 1865, had brevets tor war service, and Nevins' sponsor was appealed to to reotify tbe omission in tbe lieutenant's case. Nevins bad held a commission in a volunteer regiment in tbe defenses of Washington the last few months of the war, and that was foand amply sufficient, when a prominent member of tbe committee on military affairs demanded it, to warrant tbe bestowal of a brevet for "gallant and meritorious servioe;" hence came the title of captain. One or two bangers on came languidly yet inquisitively within earshot For answer the ranchkeeper, with another elaborate bow, produced a bulky ofifoial envelope. The officer glanced at tbe superscription, said, "This is for me," strode within the adobe walled corral, halted under a screen of brown canvas and there tore open the packet "She fell in love, they told me afterward, with a swell colonel who came there on staff duty, for be cut a dash and made desperate love to her, until biB wife got wind of it and came down there till of a sudden, just after the smash up of tbe Confederacy, and put a stop to his fun. That was in May, and I got there in July. We were married that winter, and I loaded her with the best I could buy and gave ber all she could spend on her sister until she found oufr- how my money was made there in cotton and cards. She thought —and I'd let her think so—that I had big property in the north. It was another woman gave her tbe tip, and then the trouble began. Sbe swore we must give up tbe house we lived in, the horses and carriage and go to a cheap boarding bouse. She got the jewelers to take baok tbe watoh and all the trinkets I'd given her at their own valuation— about a quarter of what they cost me. She argued and pleaded and prayed and swore she'd confess the whole thing to General Sheridan, who came there right after the riots of 1886 and took command—and that would have sent me to the penitentiary. "Gentlemen, Pve nothing to ask for myself"All that Nevins thought to be tried for was a charge of misappropriation of pablio funds and property, and it was his purpose to plead in bar of trial that be bad offered to make complete restitution, to replace every missing item and doubly replace if need be every dollar. This indeed he had lost no time in doing the moment he was banded over to the post commander two days after the exciting episode at Sancho's, bnt he coupled with the offer a condition that all proceedings against him should be dropped, and the veteran major commanding, while expressing entire willingness to receipt for any funds the accused might offer, would promise nothing whatever in return. stole a glance at Tnrnbull, who sat with stolid features immediately on his right. One by one tbe nine members (twq of tbe original 11 having been challenged an excused) began to look cautiously about them. s Several personal letters fell to the ground, but be paid at first little heed to them. Rapidly his eyes ran over a sheet of closely written matter; then he turned »to the silent and ceremonious ranchman. A captain of infantry waa obserred to be very red about the eyelida, bat that might bare been, and poaeibly was, the result of oocktails. Lor in g alone remained in the aame position. He bad balf turned bis back to Nevins when tbe latter began to apeak, rested his left elbow on tbe table and his head on hia hand, his eyes abaded under tbe oar ring palm against the glare of light that came from without. There waa no room or building big enoagh far the purpose at the post, and the oonrt had held its session under a brace of hospital tent flies stretohed on a framework adjoinlog the offloe of tbe major commanding, and damp Cooke, as a rule, looked on from afar. "When did this come?" be asked. "At 6unset yesterday, senor comandante."Blake was a man of distinction, as relatives went, and those were days when friends at court had more to do with a fellow's sphere of doty—very much more—than had tbe regimental commander or even the adjutant general. Blake took Arizona in preference to a tour in the signal offioe at Washington. He wanted to get as far away from tbe national capital and the favorite haaut of "the army and navy forever" as he possibly could. It was the most natural thing in the world to him that he should ask for duty in the land of deserts, centipeds, rattlesnakes and Apaobes. He put it on the ground of a serious bronchial trouble which could "Where's the oourier?" The loungers drew still nearer as the senior calmly turned to his oompanion, who, having assured himself that their impedimenta were all safe, oame with quick, springy step to join him. "He returned before dawn today." Then, aD company duty proved irksome and Novum* company and post commander both begun to stir bim up for bis manifold negligenoea and ignorances, the aid of his patron in congress was again invoked. A crippled veteran who conld do no field service was in charge of a supply camp for sooating parties, eaoarts, detachments, etc., and, to the wrath of the regimental officers, this veteran was relieved and Lien tenant and Brevet Oaptain Mevins, by department orders, was detailed in his place. This made him independent of almost everybody, besides placing in hit hands large quantities of oommisaary and quartermaster stores, which were worth far more to the miner, prospector and teamster than their invoice prioe. The stories that began to oome into Yuma and Drum barracks and other old time stationa of (he "high jinks" going on day and night at Mevins' camp, the orders for liquors, cigars and supplies received at San Franoisoo and filled by every stage or steamer, the lavish entertainment accorded to offloers of any grade and to wayfarers with any sign of money, the oomplainta of victims who had been fleeced, the gloomy silenoe of certain fledgeling subalterns after brief visits at "damp Ochre," as Blake bad dubbed it, all pointed significantly to but one conclusion—that, so far from living on hia pay, Kevins was gormandizing on that of everybody else and doubtless "raising the wind" in other ways at the expense of Unole Sam. That Nevins should be charged with desertion and breaoh of arrest the accused officer regarded as of small importance. He was merely going to Tucson as fast as he could to get from business associates, as he termed them, the money deposited with them and owed to him, and this must also excuse hi* having borrowed the major's beet horse. Sanoho bad additional reasons for disapproving of Blake. That fine binocular, to begin with, bore the brand of Onole Sam, for which reason it was never in evidence when an officer or soldier happened along. It had been abstracted from Blake's signal kit when he waa scouting the Dragoon mountains and swapped for tbe vilest liquor under tbe sun at Sancho's, of course, and the value of the glass, not of the whisky, was stopped against tbe long lieuten ant's pay, leaving him, as he ruefully put it, "abort enough at tbe end of tbe month." "Where do you suppose Blake and bis detachment to be at this moment, Loring?" True, he bad discarded boots and spurs, and his feet were incased in soft Apache moccasins. The floor, too, was earthen, bnt he made no effort at stealth, and in the gloom and shadow of the low roofed room it was for a moment difficult to distinguish the human figures against the opposite wall. It was his ear that first gave warning, for low, yet distinct, he heard the words: "Perhaps SO miles ahead, sir, over toward Marioopa. Do you need him, colonel?" "Sancho," "have that roan of yours saddled in ten minutes." "Everything in my boos* ia at the service of the senor capitan," began Saucbo grandiloquently, "bat as to that horse"— "There were regular officers in the deals besides me, and they got wind of it and tried to bribe her, and she'd cry all night and mope all day and swear ahe'd leave me unless I ont loose from the whole business and restored what I'd made. By God! I couldn't! I'd spent it! I was no worse than three or four others who had eyes open to their opportunities—two of 'em in the regular army now—bang np swells, aad at last I couldn't stand it and got to drinking, and then I lost my card nerve, and the money went with it, and it made me desperate—crazy, I reckon, fox one night when I came home drunk and she made a scene, I suppose I must have struck her, and then she took siok and got delirious, and I was horribly afraid, and so were my partners, that she'd give up the whole business; so they got me leave of absence. who "Yes, and at once. Our bird has flown. In other words, Kevins has skipped." The apectatonr ventured beneati the shade were officers of the little garrison, the sutler end half a doseo "casuals" of the civilian persuasion, among whom, If not among the mambera of the oonrt, Kevins' harangue had created an nndoabted sensation, for glances Indicative of surprise if not of incredulity passed among them. At last, as though he felt that something must be said rather than that he knew what was appropriate to say, the presiding offioer addressed the member who had cleared his throat His friends in congress would square all that for him, even if the court should prove obdurate. That grave charges should have followed him from a former sphere of operations; that bis record, while retained in the volunteer service until the spring of 1806 and assigned to some mysterious bureau functions in the south, should have been ventilated and made part and parcel of the charges; that it should be shown that be as a newly commissioned offioer of the army bad made the journey from New Orleans to the isthmus and thence to San Francisco with men whom be knew to be deserters from oommands stationed in the Cresoent City; that be should have gambled with them and associated with them and brought one of them all the way with him to Yuma and conoealed from the military authorities bis knowledge of their critne; that it should be proved that he was a professional "card sharp," expert manipulator and blackleg he never had contemplated as even possible, and yet, with calm and relentless deliberation, "that cold blooded, merciless martinet of a West Pointer," as be referred to tbe judge advocate at an early stage in the proceedings, bad laid proof after proof before tbe court and left tbe case of tbe defense at the last without a leg to stand on. "No other will do. How muoh a week? Though I may keep bim only a day." CHAPTER IL Just what an officer's actual rank might be in tbe days that followed oloee on tbe beelB of the war was a matter no man could tell from either bis dress or address. Few indeed were tbey who escaped the deluge of btevets that poured over the army and soaked some men six deep. * "Senor, be is tbe horse of my brother, and my brother ia not here. If barm should oome"— "If he'd taken any horse but that roan, or knew less about riding, we'd 'a' caught bim 20 miles out, and he'd never 'a' caught Nevins. Dash dash tbe whole dashed blue bellied outfit and be dash dash dashed to their quadruple dashed souls 1" and the concentrated spite and hatred of the speaker hissed in every syllable. Somebody told Blake be would find bit binocular at Sancho's, and Blake instituted inquiries after bis own peculiar fashion the very next time he happened along that way. "Full value will be paid. Here," and a glittering a double eagle, flashed in "Waste no talk now. Take tbnttjRi saddle bim." There were well authenticated cases of well preserved persons who bad never so much as seen a battle and were yet, on one pretext or another, brevetted away up among tbe stars for "faithful and meritorious service" reoruiting, mustering or disbursing. Slowly, gingerly, with thumb and finger tips tbe ranchman plucked tbe coin from tbe open and extended palm, then bowed with the same native graoe and gravity. "You were about to say something, major?" "Here, you Castilian castaway," ■aid be aa be alighted at Sancho's door, "I am told you have stolen property in tbe shape of my signal glass! Hand it over instanterl" " 'Tain't a question of what weoould not do. What can we do? He's got th$ money, and plenty of it, cached somewhere about the old camp, and 9600 of it'a mine. Tbat'a what I want. I don't care a d—n what tbey do with bim so long as tbey don't Bend bim to prison, where we can't nail bim. That's what that bloody uourt will do, though, and I know it." "I—ear—should like to ask the accused whether hit wife is informed of his—er—predicament." And Nevins, slowly turning, answered: "I wrote last week confessing everything. It will be • relief to her that I am no longer in the army. She said she oould never look an officer in the face." There was another pause, then Nevins spoke again: "I hope I have not imposed too much on the judge advocate. I have asked because he is the only gentleman ben who is not entirely a stranger to m; poor wife." "Come, Loring," growled tbe oolonel impatiently, "dinner," and Sanoho caught tbe name. And Sancbo, bowing with tbe grace of a grandee of Spain, having assured the aenor teniente that everything within his gates was at his service, withoat money and without prioe, had promptly fetched from an adjoining room a battend eld double barreled lorgnette that looked aa though it might have been dropped in tbe .desert by Kearny or Fauntleroy or some of tbe dragoons who made the burning march before tbe. Gadsden purchase of 1863 made us possessors of more desert sand and deeolute range than we have ever known what to do with. We had colonels by title whose functions were purely those of tbe file closer. We bad generals by brevet who bad never set squadron in the field and didn't know the difference between a pole yoke and a pedometer. "Tbe Senor Loreeng—will not ride him bard—or far? It ia to the camp of tbe major be goes?" "They saw me aboard the steamer for New York. My money was running abort and tbey gave me enough to place ber in a sanitarium on the Hudson and get her aistdr with her, and then I came back and bad luok followed. I was strapped, when the old man told me I'd have to go out and join my regiment, for he'd got me appointed in the regulars. Why, some of Sheridan's officers, when they saw my name in But, turning on bia heel, not another word would Loring Bay. Ten minutea later, bia hunger appeaaed with bacon, frijolea and chocolate, be mounted and rode quietly away eaatward until Sancbo'a ranch waa two mi lea behind, then gave tbe roan both rein and spur and sped like tbe wind up tbe Gila, two of Sancbo's oldest customers vainly lashing on his trail. "How d'you know," fiercely demanded the otber, " 'nless you've been in tbe army, wbich you swear yon haven't? Wbere'd you desert from? Come, own up now," and, turning for an instant from hia peephole, the speaker became suddenly aware of the silent form of Lieutenant Blake. Every captain, except one or two who had laughingly declined, wore the straps of a field officer, some few even of generals, and so when one heard a military looking man addressed aa oolonel tbe chanoes were ten to one that be was drawing only tbe stipend of a oompany officer, and in matters of actual rank in tbe army it waa money that talked. Even in Arisona in tbe daya of the empire it oouldn't last forever. Easy oome, easy go. Nevins had lavishly spent what was so lightly won. Tucson and Yuma City were within easy stage ride; even San Francisco had twice been found accessible. Dashing aaaociatea of both aexea were ever at hand. Tbe sudden turn of tbe tide came with the ordw that broke up tbe supply camp, required bim to turn over bia funda and stores to the quartermaster at Gamp Cooke and report for duty in person at that post. the papers, wrote to stop it, bat it was no use. The military committee in congress couldn't go baok on Mr. Cadger, and he daren't go back on my father. Bnt they got me sent oat here to be ma far away as possible, and, yea, there were three deserters from Cram's battery aboard the steamer, so I learned, and one of them, the man yoa call Higgins, who was betrayed to Lieutenant Blake by another deserter just as bad as him, was staking the other two, for he had money in plenty until after I had done with him. slowly dropped hia hand and looked with nndisguised astonishment at the accused. Blake, a speotator, suddenly drew hia long legs under bin and straightened np in his seat It was needleas for taring to speak. His eyas questioned."None of your dashed business!" began the other, when a harsh "Shntupl" brought him around in amaze, and he, too, coufronted the dark flgtkre standing like a signpost between them and the violet light beyond the open doorway. Instinctively the hands of both men sought pistol butts, but Blake made never a move. The woman, looking aronnd for the cause of the sndden silence, caught aight of the statuesque intruder and, with a low cry, threw her shawl over her bead and, bending almost double, with outstretched, groping hands, scurried to where the mission made blanket hung at the doorway of the bedroom and darted through the aperture like a rabbit to its form, the folds of the heavy wool falling behind her. "This thing came out of the ark," ■aid Blake, rightfully wrathful. "What I want la the signal glass that deeerter aold yon for whisky last Christmas." "Adioit, Sancho! llastn otra vista!" be cmed only in a dry climate, but the war office knew as well as the navy department tbat it waa an affair of the heart and not of tbe throat. Bat there could be no questioning tbe right of the senior of the two officers who had alighted at Sancho's to the title of oolonel. Soldier stood oat all over him, even though his garb waa concealed by a nondescript duster. Hia faoe, lined, tbin lipped and reaolute, waa tanned by desert anna and winds. Hia hair, once brown, waa almoat white. Hia beard, once flowing and silky, waa cropped to a gray stubble. Hia ateely bine eyea snapped under their heavy thatch. His head was carried high and well back, and his soft felt hat, wide brimmed, waa palled down over tbe bro wa. Hie deep cheat, square shoulders, erect carriage and straight, muscular legs all told of daya and yeara in tbe field, and every word be uttrfed bad aboat it the crisp, clear oat ring of command. CHAPTER IIL Three days later, just at sundown, the loungers at Sancbo's were treated to a sensation. Up from the south, the old Tuoson trail, came, dusty,* travel stained and weary, half a troop of cavalry, escorting apparently some personage of distinction, for he was an object of the utmost care and attention on the part of the lieutenant commanding and every man in the detachment As the cavalcade approached the dun colored walls of the corral and without a word or sign to the knot of curious spectators gathered at the barroom door filed away to the spot where wandering oommands of horse were aocustomed to bivonao for the night (tents would have been superfinous in that dry, dewless atmosphere) the women, whispering together behind their screened window place, stared the harder at sight of the leaders.- One was Lieutenant Blake—no mistaking him— the longest legged man in Arizona. Another was big Sergeant Feeney, a veteran who had seen better davs and duties, but terved bis flag in the deserts of the Gila as sturdily as ever he fought along the Shenandoah three years before. And then Nevins dropped the debonair and donned the abject, for the one friend or adviser left to him in the crowded camp, an officer who said be always took the side of the under dog in a fight, had told him that in its present temper that court, with old Tnrnbull as one of its leaders, wonld surely sentenoe him to a term of years at Alcatraz, as well as to dismissal from the military service of the (Jnited States. Dismissal he expected, but cared little for that. He had money and valuables more than enough to begin life on anywhere, and the pickings of his accustomed trade were all too scant in Arizona. He needed a broader field and a crowding population for the proper exercise of his talents, and the uniform of the offioer, after all, had not Whereat Sancho called on all the saints in tbe Spanish calendar to bear witness to bis innocence and bade the teniente search tbe premises. "1 do not mean that Mr. Loring knows my wife, bat she has heard of him from her slater. They hoped to find him in San Francisoo." Loring bad picked up a pencil aa ha turned. Its point was resting on the pine topped table. He never spoke. Hia eyes, still steadily fixed upon the twitching face of Not ins, questioned further, and every man present strained hia ears for the next word. He wasn't tbe first man by any manner of meana to fall in love with Madeleine Torrance, tbe prettieat girl and moat unprincipled flirt that ever wore tbe navy*button or tormented a Bailor father. Blake sought the roughest duty, tbat of escorting inspectors, staff officers or paymasters on their wearisome trips through tbe wilderness, and no one denied him. Tbe cavalry waa abort of officers, and be got aaaigned to Sanford'a troop, aud tbe biggest surprise that had come sinoe hia oommiBaion met him one day at Gila Bend when that same old red atage, a relic of California days, emerged from the dust cloud of its own manufacture and a quiet.youth in pepper aud aalt and aand colored costume looked up from behind a pair of green goggles and said, "Hollo, Blake!" "He's got it in tbat bedroom yonder," whispered old Sergeant Feeney, "and I know it, sir," and Blake, striding to the door in response to tbe half challenge, half invitation, of the gravely courteous cutthroat owner, stopped short at the threshold, stared, whipped off his scouting hat and, bowing low, said, "I beg your pardon, senora, senorita; I did not know," and retired in much disorder. Then came the expected disoovery of grievous shortages in both funds and property, the order for the arrest of the delinquent officer and his trial by oonrt martial. Oolonel Turn bull, inspector general of the department, was hurried out from the shores of the Paoific to sit as one of senior members of the court Lieutenant Loring, vainly striving along the Gila to find some resemblance between its tracing on a government map and its meanderings through the desert, was selected to perform the duties of judge advocate. f The court was authorized to sit without regard to bonrs and to sift the official career of the protege of the house committee of military affairs without regard to oonseqnenoes, When that volatile and aocused person took matters into bis own hands and between tbe setting and rising of the sun disappeared from the brush, canvas and adobe shelters of old Oainp Oooke and left for parts nnknown, taking with him tbe best horse in the commanding officer's Btable and, as genius has ever its followers, tbe admiration if not the regard of much of the garrison. "What my life's been oat here you know well enough—same as it was in New Orleans, all lack and plenty at first, then all a collapse. I'm rained now. When I had hundreds and thousands, I helped everybody who wanted it There are men in Yuma and Tucson now whom I set on their pins, and they give me the cold shoulder. All that offer to the major was a bluff. They've got all my money. I haven't a oent anywhere, and so far as I'm personally concerned I don't care. If there waa no one on earth dependent on me, I'd aa liaf you'd shoot me tomorrow. "I should explain—her sister is Misa Geraldine Allyn." And with a snap that waa heard all over the assemblage the lead of Lorlng'a pencil broke short off. Ha aat staring at Nevins, white and stunned. "Why didn't you tell me your family bad come, you disreputable old rip," demanded he two minutes later, "or is tbat, too—stolen property?" And still the tall lieutenant neither spoke nor moved. His revolver bung at bis right hip, his bunting knife slept in its sheath, but his hands sat jauntily on his tbigbs. Tbe stern, set look of bis clear out face bad given plaoe to something liko a grin of amusement. First at one, then at tbe other, of the two bewildered worthies he gazed, looking each deliberately from head to foot as they hovered there, both irresolute and disconcerted, one of them visibly trembling. proved to be so potent in lulling tbe caspicions of prospective viotims as he had expected it might be. "It is tbe wife of my brother and bis daughter," responded tbe ranchman, with unruffled suavity. It was safe to bet that no mere company waa the extent of thia soldier's authority, and Sancho, keen observer, bad put bim down for a lieutenant oolonel at least Full oolonels were mostly older men, and Arizona had but one in "tbe daya of tbe empire." CHAPTER V. But Alcatraz, a rook bound prison, a con viol's garb, bard labor on soft diet— that was indeed appalling. The antler's "shack" at Camp Cooke was crowded with officers that evening, and the episode of Nevins' address waa the talk of all tongues. 'Certain civilians were there, too, frequently of Sancbo'a place, but they were ailent, obaervant and unusually abstemious. To say that Nevins had astonished everybody by an exhibition of feeling and an excess of conscience would be putting It mildly. But the fact waa indisputable. He himself, after adjournment, exhibited to the interrogative major two long letters, recently received from San Francisoo, in graceful feminine hand and signfj, "Your sad bat devoted wife*, Naomi." One of theae referred to Lieutenant Loring, "whom Geraldine met at West Point and saw frequently the summer and fall that followed hia graduation." Nothing could equal Sancbo'a equanimity in tbe presence of those be deaired to plaaate, nothing exceed tbe frenzy of his wrath when angered by those whom be could barm without fear of repriaals. Blake waa backed by a troop of horse and the oonviction tbat Sancho was an unmitigated rascal; therefore were his palpable allusions to be accepted as mere pleasantries or deprecated aa unmerited injustice. It was tbe voioe, not the face, that tbe tall trooper recognized. "Well—of—all—tbe—why, what in the name of Pegasus brings you here, Loring? I thought yon had graduated into the engineers." "That man Loring has made yon out an innate blackguard, Nevins. You've got to plead for mercy," said his ebrewd adviser, and Nevins saw the point and pleaded. He laid before the court letters from officers of rank speaking gratefully of his aid during the prevalence of yellow fever in the gulf states. He begged the court to wait until be could show them the affidavit of many statesmen and soldiers, whom it would take months to hear from by mail, and there was then no telegraph in Arizona. He begged for time, for pity, and the court was moved and wrote to Drum barracks for instructions and adjourned until the answer came, which it did by swift stages and special courier within a week. " Advioes from Washington say that the congressional backers of tbe accused have declared themselves well rid of him and suggest the extreme penalty of tbe law." And this being the advice of Washington, it was simply human nature that tbe oourt should experience a revulsion of feeling and consider itself bound to see that the poor fellow was not made to suffer martyrdom. "Bat, gentlemen, there's the rub. I own it now. There's my poor wife and her sister. I've lied to them both. She got well at the sanitarium. She's believed my promises and she's oome all the way to San Francisoo and was expecting, me there when—when the bottom fell oat of the whole business. She's there now—she and her sister. They've got enough to pay their expenses perhaps a month or so, and that's all. I can make a living. I can get along and provide for her if you'll only give me a chance. I know I deserve dismissal. That's all right, bat for God's sake, gentlemen, don't pend me to Alcatraz, don't put me ia jail. Leave me free to work. There's men in this territory that owe me nearly $1,000 today. Let me gather that op and go to my wife— I— She's a good woman, gentlemen"— And here the tears came starting from the pleading culprit's eyes, and one or two sympathetic souls about the rude tables sniffed suspiciously. The ranchman had eagerly whispered queationa to the Ioungera as to tbe identity of tbe two arrivals, but without success. Both were strangers, although tbe junior bad been seen at the ranoh once before, tbe day Blake's troop was camped there on tbe way back from the Dragoons. There waa the packet left by tbe orderly to be called for by officers arriving on tbe Yuma stage, addressed in olerkly band, but Sancho, alas, could not read. Between these two, dapper, slender, natty, with his hat set jauntily on one side and his mustache and imperial twirled to the proportions of tootbpioks, rode a third cavalier whom every one recognized instantly as tbe fugitive of Camp Cooke, tbe urgently sought Captain Nevins, and, though Nevins' arms and legs were untrammeled by shaokles of any kind, it was plain to see that he was a helpless prisoner. He bad parted with his belt and revolver. His spurs were ravished from bis beels, and his bridle rein, cut in two, was shared between Blake and his faithful sergeant "Fact," said tbe newcomer sen tentlously.There was a doorway leading into tbe room in which was set the table for stage passengers of tbe better class, officers and tbe few ladies who had ventured to follow their lords into faraway Arizona, or tbe gente fine, which included amazons whose money oould pay their way pretty much anywhere and was made pretty much anyhow. But that room was empty, and tbe one beyond it tbe bar, bad only one or two ooeupants, too far away to see what was going on. "Well, what's an engineer doing in Arizona? I'd as soon look to see an archbishop."Blake bad blackened tbe character of the ranch cuisine, even if he had been unequal to the task of blackening tbat of the owner. Blake bad declared Sanobo's homestead to be a den of thieves and tbe repast tendered the stage passengers a Barmecide feaat, the purport at which #aa duly reported to Sancho, who "allowed" be would ultimately oarve hia opinion of Blake on thafoffioer's elongated carcass, and until be oould find opportunity so to do ft behooved bim to lull tbe suspicious of tbe prospective victim by elaborate courtesy of manner, and of this iVthe Spaniard or his Mexican half brother onus am-, mate master. / ' Blake left without' a glimpse of bis glass, but not without another of "tbe daughter of my brother," but receutly Arrived, and that peep n.ado bim desirlous of a third. Riding away, he waved ibis hand. "Soouting," aaid the dust colored man. "Where's dinner?" "In the aback yonder, if your stomach's oopper lined. Better oome over to my camp and take pot luok there." But other followers were needed at once. "That man must be caught at any cost, Loring." said tbe colonel. "No one begins to know the extent of bis rascalities, and you and Blake must catch bim." Which Loring gladly did and then went on hia duBty way, leaving Blake with aomething to think of besides his own woes. Within half a year of bis graduation from West Point the young engineer, one of the stars of bis class, bad been ordered to report to the general commanding the division of tbe Pacific and waa set to work on a military map in tbat general's office. Loring found all maps of Arizona to be vague and incomplete and waa ordered forthwith to go to the territory and gather in tbe needed data. Tbat he, too, should be laaalorn never for a moment occurred to bia comrade of tbe line. Had auob facts been confessed among tbe exiles of those days many a comradeship of the far frontier would have been strengthened. Hovering as near as tbe gravity and dignity of his station would permit, he bad beard tbe oolonel *s query about Blake. He prioked up hia ears at once. Teniente Blake—thirty miles east on tbe Maricopa road! Wby, how was this? Some one had told him Blake had been to tbe Colorado and was coming back by tbia very atage. How did Blake get to the east of Sancbo'a ranch, after having once gone west, without Sancbo'a knowing it? For answer tbe engineer took out his watob—it was just 12:45—stepped out into tbe glare of the sunshine and gazed to tbe far horizon. The plain to the east was flat as a board for many a mile and well nigh as barren. Then he turned abruptly to Sanoho. "Dinner ready?" he asked. There were members of the court who sought to hear what Loring had to say on the subject, but unapproachable. All men noted the amam— indeed, the shook—that resulted from Nevins' publio and somewhat abrupt mention of the sister's name. The judge advocate aat for a moment aa though stricken dumb, his eyes fixed and staring, his face pallid, the muscles of his oompressed lips twitching perceptibly, his hand olinohed and bearing hard upon the table. Behind these three rode another set Sandwiched between two troopers was a man whom Sanobo's people well remembered as Nevins' olerk and assistant, despite the fact that a busby beard now covered tbe face that was smooth shaved in the halcyon days of tbe supply camp. Then came some 30 horsemen in long, straggling column of twos, while straight from the flank to tbe gate of tbe corral, silent and even somber, rode tbe engineer, Lieutenant Loring. To bim Sanobo whipped off bis silver laoed sombrero and bowed, while two jaded looking vaqueros, after one long yet furtive stare, glanced quickly at each other and sidled away to tbe nearest aperture in tbe wall of tbe ranch, wbich happened to be tbe dining room door. There were a doorway and a swinging screen of dirty oanvas just beyond the loophole lately occupied by "the wife of my brother, "a doorway that gave on the corral, and to each of these each silent'' nough'' had gi ven a quick, furtive glance, but not a step was taken. How long tbe strain of the situation might bave lasted there is no saying. It was broken by tbe sudden lifting of that "It ain't for me to talk of snob things. Perhaps yon won't believe me, but"—and he fingered the leaves of the blae bound copy of the regulations that lay to the left of the judge advocate's elbow—"I—I love that woman and I want to care for her, and take good oare of her. Look here," he continued, as with sudden, impulsive movement be unbuttoned his trim fitl "In one, two minutes, tenor capitan," responded the ranchman gravly, conferring on the officer the brevet of courtesy. Suspiciously be watohed the two soldiers, Ibe grizzled colonel, the slim lieutenant. They were talking together in low tone; at least the colouel waa talking eagerly, energetically and with much gesticulation. The junior listened wordless to every word. What bad be meant by "the bird bad flown?" Why should Nevins "skip?" An unpleasant fear seized npon Sancbo. He knew Nevins, at least a Nevins, a oaptain whom everybody knew in fact and few men trusted. What bad Nevins been doing, or ratber what that be bad been doing waa be to be beld to aooount for? Why should the colonel ao eagerly ask wbere they could reach Blake? Moat of tbe members were men from the volunteers or from tbe ranks. West Pointers were the exception, not tbe rule, in tbe line of tbe army for years after tbe war. Most of tbe conrt bad been tbe recipients of Kevins' exuberant hospitality atone time or other. He bad objected to the few who had lost heavily to him at cards, and the objection bad been sustained, and when the last day of tbe long session arrived and tbe sad eyed, pale faced, scrupulously groomed and dressed accused arose before the dignified array and tbe little line of curious spectators to make his last plea a silence, not nnmixed with a certain sympathy, fell upon all bearers, as in low voice and faltering accents tbe friendless fellow began his story. Partly from manuscript, which he seemed to find hard reading, but mainly as an extemporaneous effort, bis remarks were substantially as follows: Out in front of tbe ranch tbe old red stage, long Bince faded to a dun oolor, stood baking in tbe burning rays. Tbe mules bad been taken into tbe corral for water, fodder and shade. Tbe driver was regaling himself within the bar. A few loungers, smoking, but silent, seemed dozing tbe noontide away. Loring stepped to tbe side of the vehicle and drew forth a leather valise, swung it to bis shoulder and strode back to where tbe colonel stood pondering under the canvas screen. Sill J /\ There were few army women at damp Oooke in those days—only two or three "Adioa, Sancbo! Haata otra vista!" be bad bailed, but bis gaze sought the little window in the adobe wall where « pair of dark, langnorous eyes peered out from between the parted curtains and a dusky face dodged out of view DtbCD instant it saw it wa* seen. What Sancbo said in answer is not recorded, but now he was watching the coming of the stage from Yuma. Some one bad warned him Lieutenant Blake would return that way, ordered back to the old poet, to the north, as witness before an important oourt martial. Thoae were later termed "the days of the empire" in Arizona. Perhaps 6,000 aouls were counted within its borders at the time our story opens, not oonnting the soulless Apaches. Arizona had the customary territorial equipment of a governor and oertain other officials. Nine moo out of the dozen Americans in the only approach to a town it then possessed—Tuoaoxi—would have said "Dam fin a" if asked who was the secretary, bat all men knew the sheriff. The grave, cigarro smoking, scrape shrouded cabalieros who rode at will tbroogb the plaza and ogled dork eyed maidena peeping from their barred windows could harbor no interest in tbe question of who wal president of tbe United States, bnt tbe name of tbe post commander at Grant, Lowell or Crittenden was a household word, and in Continued on p«ft four. That tbe girl who duped Gerald Blake should have been known to her ♦ing, single /#r «,n. fHHMI splayed a alL NArijSlIji oh sparkled W*r * ofttweiobafor * D■! frheumatism! $1,100 in B i»«W ItAIfllA and ifaallar Ooa*plataia, I 'A . „ A and prepared under the stringent M .need from ■L6ERHAI MEDICAL LA MX, A TLt' rStF" ANCHOR "V® fPAIN EXPELLER! rh I havrt in ■ renowned' Rem»rk»bty»ueee«fnI! ■ es 1 nave in Boolr mnlxe with Trade Mark " Anchor,"! •i the bauds If Ad. Better 'Co., 8l6Pearl8L, New Ymk. ■ Jeman who I 31 RI8HEST AWARDS. representing ■ 13 Braaoh Haaaaa. Own Glmswortm. M 'a long and M "•■'•a*. hCMCHCnwMMtr ■ iliplv tarn ***a«a * r«ca, a# Umm awm* uiciy torn M Mtrtk  est tbat be 4. a.aouri, ia»rtkuiDu. i poor wife rmaioa, r*. rancisco aa lead an hon- mew iwa 1 thefutora I STOMACHAL beat for | nothing to itt|{|HQQj[j2SIS9!i£B|{J2ll|la 9 breasted frock ooat and a and glistened a great diam snowy shirt bosom, on wfaii tbe style much affected by Loring mechanically touobed his bat brim in recognition of the ranohkeeper's obeisance, but there was no liking in bis eye. At tbe gate be slowly, somewhat stiffly, dismounted, for it waB evident be bad ridden long and far. Tbe roan with banging head tripped eagerly yet wearily to his aooustomed stall, and a swarthy Mexican unloosed at once tbe oinoha and removed tbe horsehair bridle. Thus Sanobo and tbe engineer were left by themselves, though inquisitive ranch folk sauntered to tbe gateway and peered after tbem into tbe corral. Over at tbe little clump of willows Blake's men were throwing their carbines across tbeir shoulders and dismounting as tbey reached the old familiar ppot, and Loring cast one look thither before he wpoke. ing gent" of the day. "See this diamond. It cost San Francisco six months ago, "Good hefting power iii that right arm of his," muttered one of tbe loungers to a mate sprawled mil length on the sand beneath tbe shelter of a tent lly and watobing tbe offioer from under bis half closed lids. A grunt of assent was tbe only reply. an inner pocket an nnqnest: tbis solitary," and be proa Time was when Sancbo flattered himself there was no deviltry going on in Arizona, except such as originated with tbe Indians, in which be had not at least tbe participation of full knowledge, yet bare came two officials, hastening by stage instead of marching with military deliberation and escort, and tbey were in quest of tbe Senor Capitan Nevins, of whom all men bad beard and at jgbose bands many bad suffered, for was not be a player whom the very cards seemed to obey? □able ring and, with trembl: laid them apon the table in judge advocate, "and here, whipped from the waistbau "There are all the valuabli trousers a massive and beaui "Know what regiment be belonge to?" queried Ma 1. the world. These I place ii of the worth; officer and gen "No, but it's cavalry," was tbe murmured answer; "saw bini straddling a broncho at Maricopa Wells last week. He knows how." "I've come to make a clean breast of it, gentlemen. I'm not fit to wear your uniform. I never was. I never wanted to. It was practically forced upon mo by men who ought to have known better, who did know but wbo did not care bo long as tbey got me out of the way. My father as much as owned more than one congressman in York state. Tbe Hon. Mr. Oadger of tbe military committee couldn't have been renominated if it hadn't been for him, and he didn't want me round home any more. He got me kept on bureau work long after all but a few volunteers were mustered out, and shoved me down to New Orleans, where I'd often been steam boating before the war. has only done his duly in Loriny't fl»t had landed full on Hlgginn' ' Jowl and gent him like a log to the floor. flirty oanvas screen, as sudden and perceptible a start on tbe part of each of the confronted men and the quick entrance of tbe engineer. For another second or two no word was spoken. Loring's eyes were evidently unable at the instant to penetrate tbe gloom. Then be reoognized Blake, then gradually tbe two men at tbe wall, and then at last Blake spoke. the government through tL over to hiin with the reqm paiufol trial. These 1 pal Somewhere within tbe ranch a triangle began to jangle. "Quima-a-dol" shrilled little Pedro, and three or four lazy, drowsing forms began slowly to get to tbeir feet and to shuffle away toward tbe doorless aperture in tbe adobe wall, tbe entrance to tbe dining room of tbe stage and ranch people. Two men lingered, tbe two who were speculating as to tbe military connections of tbe young offloer. One of tbem, after a quiet glance about tbe neighborhood, strolled out toward the stage, bands deep in tbe pookets of bis wide trousers. There he seemed casually to repeat bis leisurely survey of the surroundings. Then he lounged-back. J personally hand them to m; Was it not be who broke tbe bank at Bnstamente's during the fiesta at Tuoson but five months agone? Was it not Nevins who won all tbe money those two young tenientes possessed, two boys from the far east just joining their regiments and haplessly falling into the bands of this dashing, dapper, whole sou led, hospitable comrade, who made his temporary quarters their home until they could find opportunity to go forward to tbe distant posts wbere their respective companies were stationed? Was it not Nevins who, right there at Sancbo'a ranch, finding a party of aa Booii as he reaches San Fru "Wbo were the two men wbo followed me?" be calmly asked, and his eyes, though red rimmed rnd inflamed by the (lust of the desert, looked straight into ■ he dark faoe of tbe aggrieved Sancho. earnest «f my intention to est life and to care for ber i: And now, gentlemen, I've ask for myself—nothing but liberty to go and work for ber. I'm not fit to sit with such as yon." Several personal tetters fell to the ground. who had captivated Mr. Loring was suspected by neither officer at the time, and that despite tbe efforts and tbe resolution of both men both women were destined to reappear upon tbe stage and temporarily, at least, reassume their sway was aoiflethiug neither soldier ACTIVE SOLICITORS WANTED KYERYwhere for "The Story of the Philippines," br Marat Halstead. commissioned by the Government as Official Historian to the War Department The book was written in army camps at San Pranciaoo, on the Pacific with Gen. Merritt, in the hospitals at Honolola, in Hong Kong, in the American trennhes at Manila, in tne insurant camps with Aguinaldo, on tha deck of the Olympia with Dewey, and In the roar of battl D at the fall of Manila. Bonanza for agents. Brin inl of original picture? tea by governn sat photographers on the rot. Large book. IxDw prices. Big profits Fr Di*ht paid. Credit L-ivwn. Drop all trash ial war hooka. Outfit tne. Address. F X. barbsr, aac'y »8tar Inaoranoe Buikliag. Chiatgu. "Surely I know not, senor teniente." He had dropped tbe "capitan" as too transparent flattery. He finished and, quivering as with suppressed emotion, tnrned bis back upon the court, pressed bis handkerchief to bis streaming eyes and groped hid way to the little table set apart for him ft few yards to the left of the judge advocate. The silenoe among the members and along the benches whereon were seated the dozen spectators was tor •moment uabxokeQ fey » teuxul ex- "There are your followers, Loring." A moment's careful sorutiny; then a nod of assent was Loring's answer. the eyeaof tbe populace tbe second lieu- "Don't lie, Sancho. There'aten more rlollars," and Loring tossed an eagle into the ready palm. "That's $30, and I shall want that borse again in tbe morning." tenant commanding tbe paymaster's •acort was illimitably "a bigger man" •Matt tbe thrice distinguished soldier "Now, then, you two," said Blake— "I've suspected you before. Now I more than suspect you. You, the long villain. 1 warn never to come noaing abmt 9«r .mm aad you, the Would have admitted possible. Yet things had happctmd. "I had the fever there when I was only 20. Perhaps he thought I could get it again and that would be tbe end «f me. If there's a worse place far a "Tomorrow, semort Why. ha will . ... "Mo " mid be in law **». "WU»