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Show Wqqipiefi- " grilling Army Iomarce of ffa Cesferi pronfief. Bu GflPT. CHARLES KINO, U. S. fl. iroop reaciy. ic-,i've Rot sir, haven't you? My(ji. n ' you wire to tho fort sa'w to lot ine go with yoa f 1 1 slave for a lifetime, j;' chance to do a bit of real ;ai yet, and no man could chance than t:.ia. Ei- i1 know yon want to get ri"bt ' 11 ing rig Mr. Mason sail t w would fit you exactly; but if take me along yor.'re bonnj ? 118 just intirua for the thick or 01 the gallant little fallow ness, into Koala r.aresao' 19 What wouldn't tho hro ofl )T City club have given to tutu i rt thing oyer to this ambition a dier and let him tub his V U "glory or the grave!" " "Very thoughtful of yoa 'I to think of Bonding horse tti , for me, but I really ought to the post. There era thlm I " tend to. You sea, I ktt" 1 could induce them to teller there was no time to make pre 0 "But you can't have hear 3 your troop will be here in tsj"' Capt. Lano by this time is rw mountain, and will strike thtj the morning. There won't bt: to go out to the poet: you've P at trot or gallop most of ti- is " "Capt. Noel, pardon tn,c posed the operator. "The gCi the office at Wilcox station ; to know if you have started t "Tell him the troop isn't ha I'm waiting for it." "Yonder conies the troo? & out Mr. Renshaw, who had' i; door. "Now 1st ao help your 'cits.' Bring that cava here, orderly," Threo minutes brought i from "the chief:" "Lose not a; on the way. Report hereby; arrival of your troo: and tie I you start. Bohind time now." Poor Noel! Thero was no se certify that his palhd cheeks an impaired heart action, no senate sin to bog for staff duty, no Jh to interpose. Ho had just tin! a dispatch to Mabel annoancin? took the field at the head of his once, another (collect) to Amosi Esq., of similar import, and ost general, saying that at 4:45 ft just on the point of starting, t! troop, fifty strong and in sp'.eai came trotting in, and Mr. Usm saluted his new captain and fell the command of the first platoon "Noel to the Front!" was Tit icle's head line on the followia; ing far away ia tho Queen City. CHAPTER XIV, SYNOPSIS OF THE "TWO SOLDIERS." Chapter 1. In a recruiting nfflra in the "Queen Ulty" Lieut. Fred Lime, U. S. A., re-wives re-wives two letwrn one Informing him of hid promotion to tin- rank of cnptiln, the other a brief note from Mnhel Vincent. Chapter li. Gordon Noel, a lieutenant In Lane's cavalry regiment, succeed, through wheedling the wife of his colonel, in brtnic appointed ap-pointed to the vacancy caused by Lane's pro-jnotlon. pro-jnotlon. He is disliked by his brother officers, as he has In the past, several times dodged active service In the Indian campaigns. Chapter 8. Cant. Lane Is desperately in love with Mabel Vincent. He prepares to turn the recruiting over to his successor. Chaptkh Lieut. Noel arrives to take Charge of the recruiting office. He Is handsome and agreeable and succeeds In creating the impression that he has been a very gallant ofllcer and done brave service on the plains. It is discovered that a cleric named Tatntor has ' embezzled some of tho funds of the recruiting office (fotging Lane's name) ami dacumpeil. Noel professes an enthusiastic friendship for Lano. Chapters. Lane writes to Mabel's father, asking iiennlssion to pay his addresses t- her. This Is granted. Vincent Is on the brink of financial disaster. Lane proffers his services. Chapter . The transfer of the recruiting office is made to Noel by Lane, who has orders t return to his regiment In the west. Lane makes good the deficit In the accounts out of his own pocket. . Chaptkr7. Lane furnishes to Mr. Vincent the money which saves the latter from ruin. Hefore Lane starts for the west Mabol promises to marry him. The engagement is to be kept secret at her parents' request. tiHAPTitR 8. Noel succeeds In making him-' him-' jielf a social favorite by telling false stories of his own bravery. He becomes acquainted with the Vincents and is Invited to their house be-causo be-causo of his professed friendship for Lane. Chapter I). Lane arrives at the frontier post whlthor he has been ordered and takes command of his company. Chapter 10. Mrs. Vlnoent is worried by Noel's constant attentions to Mabel. The Vincents go to the niauutalns, where Noel visits Mabel. Chaptkr 11. When Mabel writes Lane of Noel's visit he is somewhat annoyed. He advises ad-vises her not to encourage thase visits. The Vincents announce the engagement. Lane receives letter from Mr. Vincent, begging him to come east at once. Just before Lane starts ho learns that Mr. Vincent's partner has defaulted and that Mr. Vlnoent has died suddenly. sud-denly. He goes as rapidly as possible. Arriving Arriv-ing at tho Vincent mansion be enters unannounced unan-nounced and Minis his nuncee clasped In Uor-don Uor-don Noel's arms. CHAPTER XH. rear guard of t tie Indians was reacnea ny the eager cavalrymen: the bulk of the Apaches turned eastward and swept down like ravening wolves npon the defenseless de-fenseless settlers ia the San Simoa valley, val-ley, burning, murdering, pillaging as they went, full fifty miles a day, while their pursuers trailed helplessly behind. When they had succeeded in crossing the railway most of their number were mounted on fresh horses, uud the section hands, who saw them from afar off, telegraphed tele-graphed from the nearest station that they had with them six or eight women and children whoso husbands and fathers doubtless lay weltering in their blood along the route. Full seven days now had they been dodging through the ! mountains and Bwooping dowu upon the ranchmen, and so skillfully had they eluded their pursuers and defeated their combinations that now they bad a commanding com-manding lead and actually nothing between be-tween them and the Mexican frontier-nothing frontier-nothing in Arizona, that is to say. But look just ucross the border. There, spurring spur-ring steadily southwestward until halted for the night in San Simon Pass, comes a little troop of cavalry, not more than thirty-five in number. All day long since earliest dawn had they riddon across the burning sands of a desert region; re-gion; lips, nostrils, eyelids smarting with alkali dust, throats parched with thirst, temples throbbing with the intense heat; several men and horsss U3ed up and left beliind were now slowly plodding back toward the railway. Look at the letter one of those leaders wears upon his worn old scouting hat D. Yes, it is the "Devil's own D'a," and Lane is at their head. At the moment of the outbreak both companies from Graham, K and D, or j strong detachments from both, were scouting through the country one through the northern Peloucillo range, the other far up among the head waters j of the Gila. Not a word did they hear of the trouble until it was several days ' old; then D troop was amazed by the sudden appearance of their captain in their midst Lane, whom they supposed to be on sick leave far in the distant east. It was then for the first time they learned how their comrades of K troop had lost their popular old commander, and that the great outbreak had occurred at San Carlos. Stopping only long j enough to cram their pouches with am- j muuition and to draw more rations, the troop hastened away toward the railroad rail-road by way of Graham, and at the sta- j tion, just at dawn. Lane sent a brief dispatch dis-patch to the commanding general saying that he was pushing with all speed to head the Indians off via San Simon pass, j He had then forty-five men and horses, in fair condition. K troop would reach Graham that evening, and he urged that they be Bent at once to re-enforce him. This dispatch "the chief" received with an emphatic slap of his thigh and an expression ex-pression of delight: "Bless that fellow Lane! he is always in tho nick of time. 1 had not hoped for an instant that either D or K would be available, and now look," he said to his aid-de-camp, "he has started for San Simon pass, and will probably throw himself across their front Only 1 wish he had more men." ! "Shall I wire to Graham to have K I rush after him, sir?" j "Yes. Order them to start the instant they can refit, and not to take more than an hour in doing that They have been having easy work on their scout prob- ; ably taking it leisurely all the time; they ought to be in first rate trim. D, ! on the contrary, has been making long and rapid marches to got down from the Upper Gila. Where was K at last accounts?" ac-counts?" "Couriers had gone to the Upper Pel-oncillo Pel-oncillo for them several days ago, and. there was some mista'-za. He wears bis hair and beard different new; bat we know where ho ia, at least where ho was up to yesterday, lie left his lodgings at noon and took a bag with him, as though he meant to be away a few days. He does copying and typewriting, and manages man-ages to get along and support a good looking young woman who passes as bin wife. That's what we think brought him back here last winter." "Why didn't you take some of the recruiting re-cruiting party to see him? They could identify him." "All the old men that were with you are gono, sir. It's a new lot entirely. They said the sergeant couldn't get along with the captain at all, and they were all sent away." "Where's the woman who kept the lodging house for the party?' "She's gone, too, sir. They moved away last winter because Capt. Noel gave the contract to another party In a different differ-ent part of tho town. Wo let the thing slide for quite a while; but when the chief heard that you had arrived In town he thouaht he'd shadow tho fellow until you could see him, but he had skipped. Was there any way he could have heard you were comirg?" "No. I telegraphed from West Point to Mrs. Vincent. She was the only one who knew." "Beg pardon, sir, but isn't that Capt. Noel's mother-ia-law? Tho captain live there, I think." Lane turned sharply and studied the man's face. A question was at his very tongue's end "You do not suppose he could have given warning?' but he stifled it, his lips compressing tight. "If you think he has gone because of my coming I will leave on the late train, as I purposed, and you can wire to me when he returns. Then keep him shadowed shad-owed until I get here." And with this understanding they parted, Lane going at once to a cool resort re-sort on one of the great lakes. Four days later came the dispatch he looked for, and accompanied by two detectives Lane knocked at the indicated doorway one bright, sunshiny afternoon within forty-eight hours thereafter. A comely young woman opened the door just a few inches and inquired what was wanted. "Mr. Graves was not at home." He certainly would not have been in a minute more, for a man swung Out of the third story window and, going hand by hand down the convenient con-venient lightning rod, dropped into the arms of a waiting officer, and that night the forger and deserter spent behind the tars in the Central station. The identification identi-fication was complete. Lane was to appear and make formal charge against him the following morning. morn-ing. Going down to an early breakfast, he picked up one of the great dailies at the news stand, and, after taking his seat at table and ordering a light repast, he opened tho still moist sheet. The first glance at the head linos was enough to start him to his feet. "Indian Outbreak." Out-break." "The Apaches on the War Path." "Murder of Agent Curtis at San Carlos." "Massacre of a Stage Load of Passengers." "Captain Rawlins, Eleventh Elev-enth cavalry, a victim." "Horrible Atrocities." "Troops in Pursuit." It was the old, old story briefly told. Warnings disregarded; official reports of the neighboring troop commanders pooh-poohed and pigeon holed by f uno-tionariesof uno-tionariesof the Indian bureau; a sudden, sud-den, startling rush of one body upon the agent and his helpless family; a simultaneous simul-taneous dash from the other end of the reservation upon the scattered ranches in the valley; a stagecoach ambushed; a valued old soldier butchered in cold blood. There was no more thought of breakfast for Lane. Ho hurried to the telegraph office, thence to the police station, sta-tion, thence to an attorney whom he was advised to employ, and by noon he was I whirling westward. "No laggard he" when the war cry rang along the blazing border. 1 CHAPTER XIIL Mrs. Noel doesn't wish to go, as it takes her bo far from her husband; but, as he was ablo to get there quite frequently when they wore there before, I see no reason why ho should not be able to join them every week now." , "Was he there frequently when they were there before?" asked Lane, an old, dull pain gnawing at his heart. "Ho was there three or four times to my knowledge during our stay, but of course his visits were very brief; ho came generally Saturday and went away at midnight Sunday." ,"I will go and telegraph to Mrs. Vincent. Vin-cent. If need be I will go and see her; and I thank you very much, Miss Marshall." Mar-shall." That evening he received a dispatch from Mrs. Vincent in response to the one sent almost immediately after this conversation. "If possible, come here. I greatly desire to see you. Wire answer." an-swer." What could it mean? By the first train on the following morning he left for New York, and was far on his way to the Queen City when sunset Came. Arriving there, he went first to tho old hotel, and, after changing his dress and removing the stains of travel, for the first time since his memorable mem-orable visit of October he mounted the broad stone steps and asked to see Mrs. Vincent, She came down almost instantly, in-stantly, and Lane was shocked to see how she had failed since their last meeting. meet-ing. Years seemed to have been added to her age; her hair was gray; the lines in her gentle, patient face had deepened. She entered, holding forth both hands, but when she looked into his eyes her lips quivered and she burst into tears. Lane half led, half supported her to a chair, and, drawing one to her aide, spoke soothiizly to her. For a few moments she could not speak, and when she did he checked her. "Oh, you too have aged and suffered! and it is all our doing all our doing!" Bhe moaned, as her tears burst forth anew. ' "Never mind my crow's feet and gray hairs, dear lady," he said. "It is high time I began to show signs of advancing ago. Then, too, I am just up from a siege of mountain fever." "Was that the reason you did not answer?" she presently asked. "I never got your letter, Mrs. Vincent. When was it mailed?" "About the 10th of May. I remember it well, because it was just after Mabel and1 Capt. Noel got back from their tour. " "Pardon me, but did you post it yourself?" your-self?" "No. Tb.3 postman always takes my letters. I leave them on the little table in the vestibule." "Where any one can see them?" "Yes; but who would touch my letters?" let-ters?" Lane did not know, of course. He was only certain that nothing from Mrs. Vincent had reached him during the past six months. "Capt. Lane," she said, at last, "I want you to tell me the truth. Just after af-ter Mabel's marriage I heard that a story wag in circulation to the effect that it was your money that enabled Mr. Vincent Vin-cent to tide over the crisis in his affairs a year ago. It was even said that you bad sold property at a loss to supply him with means; and some people in society are so cruel as to say that Mabel's trousseau trous-seau was actually purchased with your money, because it had never been repaid. re-paid. I know that Mr. Vincent often spoke of his obligation And gratitude to you. Tell me truly and frankly, Capt. Lane, did you give my husband money? Is this story true?" "I never gave Mr. Vincent a cent." "Oh, I am so thankf till We have been the means of bringing such sorrow to you" "I beg you, make no reference to that, Mrs. Vincent. Neither your honored husband nor you have I ever thought in the least responsible. And as for this other matter, you have been misinformed." misin-formed." "What cruel, reckless stories people tell! It hurt me terribly; and then when no answer came to my letter I felt that probably there was something in it, and that you were hiding the truth from me. Mabel heard it, too, but she said that Capt. Noel investigated it at once and found that it was utterly false. I could not be satisfied until I had your own assurance." as-surance." , "And now you have it," he said, with a smile that shone on his worn face and beamed about his deep set eyes like sunshine sun-shine after April showers. "You are going go-ing to be advised now, are you not, and seek change and rest in the mountains?" "We meant to go this week, but Mrs. Paterson, of Philadelphia, is urging us to I spend the summer with her at the sea shore, where she has a roomy cottage, j She is a cousin of Captain Noel's, and I was an intimate friend of Mabel's at ! school. That was where my daughter first heard of him. Oh, I wish I wish" And here once more Mrs. Vincent's tears poured forth, and it was some time ! before she could control herself, j At last the captain felt that he must go. It was now his purpose to leave ; town as soon as he could attend to one or two matters of business. , "Shall I not see you again'?" she asked, as ho rose to take his leave. "I fear not," ho answered. "There is , nothing to require more than an hour or ! two of attention hore, and then I shnll ; seek a cooler spot for a few weeks' rest, 1 then back to the regiment." ! "But wo that is, I heard you had , three months' sick leave." "Very true; but I only need one, and i I am best with my troop." j "Tell me," she asked, "is it true that 1 there is trouble brewing again among j the Indians at San Carlos, isn't it?" j. "There seems to bo bad blood among I them, and no doubt disaffection; but if ' sufficient troops are sent to the agency 1 and to scout around the reservation they j can be held in chock." j "But I have been told that you have . too small a force to watch them. I wish ' : you were not going back; but it is like j you, Capt. Lane." j j And so they parted. He saw and heard and asked nothing of his whilom fiancee, i Ho did not wish to see her husband. He j meant to have left town that very even- ing, after brief consultation with a real j estate agent whom he ha.l had occasion to employ in his service; but even as he was stowing his traveling "kit" in a roomy leather bag there came a knock at his door and there entered a man in plain civilian dress, who motioned the bell boy to clear out, and then held forth a photograph: photo-graph: "Capt Lane, is that your man Tain-tor?' Tain-tor?' "That is certainly like tho man," was Laue's answer, after careful inspection. "Have you got him?' "No, sir. We had him, and took Capt Noel to see him, and the captain said ' f vent ad'ciratio-j with whic-i he heard that there was one soldier who lost no time in demanding relief from duty here, that he miorht speed to tho head of the gallant fellows already in the field, who had followed him in many a stirring charge and through all 'the current of maay a heady fight;' whoso hearts would leap for joy at sight of their beloved leader's face the man who never yet had failed them, the man who never yet had faltered m nis duty, tne man wiiosd sword was never drawn without reason, nevsr sheathed without honor our soldier sol-dier guest, Capt. Gordon Nnel?' j "Much affected, it was some minutes I before tho captain could 'responi. The j modesty of the true soldier restrained his I eloquence. 'He knew not how to thank i them for this most flattering testimony of their confidence and regard; he far ! from deserved the lavish praise of their ! honored chairman. If in the past he i had succeeded in winning their esteem all the more would he try to merit it ' now. No soldier could remain in secur- ity when such desperate deeds called his comrades to the fray; and as he had ever shared their dangers in the old days so must he share them now. His heart, ' his home, his bride, to part from whom was bitter trial, he left with them to : guard and cherish. Duty called him to j the front, and with to-morrow's sun he I would be on his way. But, if it pleased ! God to bear him safely through, he j would return to them, to greet and grasp 1 each friendly liand again, and meantime to prove himself worthy the high honor they had done him.' j "There was hardly a dry eye at the ' table when the gallant soldier finished his few remarks and then took his seat. ! "Besides winning the heart and hand of one of the loveliest of the Queen City's daughters, the captain has made hosts of ! friends in our midtt, and we predict that when the records of the campaign are written no name will shine with brighter luster than that of Gordon Noel." This doubtless was delightful reading to Noel and to Noel's relatives. Doubtless, Doubt-less, too, it wad some comfort to poor Mabel as she lay pala, anxious, sore at heart, on the following day, while her husband and lover as he undoubtedly was sped westward with the fast express. ex-press. But there was a great deal about the Chronicle's account that would have elicited something more than abroad grin from officers who knew Noel well. I An entire week had elapsed from the time that the first tidings were received to the moment when he finally and most , reluctantly left the Queen City. The I first intimation was enough to start Capt. Lane, despite the fact that his health was far from restored and that he ; was yet by no means strong. He felt confident that the Indians would be joined by some of the Chiricahuas, and that the campaign would be tierce and stubborn. Telegraphing to the regimental regi-mental adjutant and the general commanding com-manding the department that he intended intend-ed to start at once, and asking to be notified en route where he could most speedily join the troop, he was on his I way within six hours. I That very night, although no mention j was made of this in The Chronicle ac-i ac-i count, Capt. Noel received a dispatch ' from the adjutant general's office at , Washington briefly to this effect: "You , become captain of K company, viceRaw-; viceRaw-; lins, murdered by Apaches.. Hold your-' your-' self in readiness to turn over the rendezvous rendez-vous and join your regiment without delay." de-lay." No news could have been more unwelcome. Despite his many faults there was no question that Gordon Noel was very much in love with his wife; but he never had been in love with the r.:tive part of his profession. That night he telegraphed to relatives who , had stood by him in the past, and wrote , urgent and pleading letters informing i them that his wife's health was in so i delicate a state that if he were compelled at this moment to leave her and go upon perilous duty in the Apache country there was no telling what might be the effect upon her. If a possible thing, he urged that there should be a delay of a fortnight. He calculated that by that time the Indians would be either safe across the Mexican border or whipped back to the reservation; then he could go out and join with a flourish of trumpets trum-pets and no possible danger. But a now king reigned in the war department, who knew Joseph rather than knew him not. In some way the honorable secretary had become acquainted with tho previous previ-ous history of Capt. Noel's campaign services, and, though the influential gentleman gen-tleman referred to made prompt and eloquent elo-quent appeals, they were met by courteous but positive denial. "Every man who was worth his salt," said the secretary, "should be with his regiment now." An officer was designated to proceed at once to the Queen City and take over Noel's rendezvous and property, and peremptory peremp-tory orders were sent to him to start without delay and to notify tho department depart-ment by telegraph of the date of his departure de-parture a most unusual and stringent proceeding. This correspondence Noel never mentioned to anybody at the time, and it was known only to the official records for some timo afterward. As : soon as he found that go he must, he dictated dic-tated to his clerk a letter in which, gal-j gal-j lant soldier that he was, he informed tho j adjutant general that the news from Ari-j Ari-j zona had now convinced him that au ! outbreak of alarming dimensions had j taken place, and he begged that ho might j be relieved as at his own request and i permitted to join his comrades in tho field. To this no reply was sent, as the j order directing 1dm to proceed had already al-ready been issued. Perhaps a grim smile played about the mustached lips of that functionary when he read this spirited epistle. Noel left the Queen City a hero in the eyes of the populace. He was just six days behind Lane, of whose movements the Queen City had no information whatever. And now came an odd piece of luck a slip in the fortunes of war. Tho cavalry cav-alry stationed in Arizona were so far from the reservation at the time that they had long and difficult marches to make. Only two or three troops that happened to be along the line of the railway reached the mountains neighboring neigh-boring San Carlos in time to quickly take the trail of the hostiles. Except the one httle troop of cavalry on dutv at the reservation none of the horsemen m Arizona had as yet come in actual conflict with the renegades, and oddly enough it was the Eleventh -that first met and struck them. Old Riggs himself him-self had not taken the field, but the battalion bat-talion from headquarters . had been wbjrled westward aXuag the railway and acraauy reached the pass through tl Chincahua range before the Indians. Expecting just roch a possibility, these wary campaigners had fat in advance of the main body and prompt s f-rn so Xhjtf.aijly the i . ; 'V.: , she well knew, nothing would give him greater joy, but now solely on Mabel's account he hesitated. A friend at the war department had said that, if Col. Riggs would approve, a six months' leave to visit Europe, for the purpose of prosecuting his professional duties, might be obtained. Would she kindly, etc." There was no one to write or speak for Lane: only one side of tho story was being told, and, though the men had had little else than contempt for Noel, they were of small account in molding garrison opinions as compared with two or three determined women. But no one saw the sorrowful, almost heart broken, letter written by Mrs. Vincent Vin-cent to Lane. She had no words in which to speak of Mabel's conduct. Thoy had both been deceived; and yet she implored him for forgiveness for her child. The world was all changed now. Their home remained to them, and her own little fortune, togother with the wreck of Mr. Vincent's, but Rcgy hod to go out into the World and seek to earn what he could. He had no idea of business. busi-ness. There was no one to stop in and build up the old farm, and the executors had advised that everytliing be closed out. Mr. Clark's affairs had been left in lamentable confusion, but luckily he had nothing else to leave nothing, that is, but confusion and creditors. People were constantly importuning her for payment of his liabilities, claiming that they were contracted by the firm. Her lawyers absolutely forbade her listening to such demands. If she paid one-fourth of them she would have nothing left Lane thought of his sacrificed Cheyenne property and the little fortune he had so freely offered up to save to the girl he loved the home in which she had been reared. The very roof under which the irirl had plighted her troth to him and then dishonored it for Noel under which, day after day, she was now receiving, re-ceiving, welcoming, caressing him was practically rescued for her and her mother by the money of the man she had east aside. The wedding cards came in April. It was to be a quiet affair, because of the death of Mr. Vincent within the year. Lane read the announcement in The Army and Navy Journal, and sat for a while, the paper dropping to the floor and his head npon his hands. Elsewhere in its columns he found a full account, written evidently by some one thoroughly thor-oughly well acquainted with all the parties, par-ties, except perhaps the gallant groom. When Lane's sewant tiptoed in at reveille the next morning to prepare the bath and black the boots he was surprised sur-prised to find that officer sitting at his desk with his head pillowed in his arms. He had not been to bed, and did not know that reveille had sounded. Was he ill? Did he need the doctor? No. He had to sit np late over Bome letters and papers, and had finally fallen asleep there. All the same Dr. Gowen, happening hap-pening into the hospital while Lane was visiting one of his men after sick call, stopped and keenly examined his face. "I want you to go right to your quarters quar-ters and stay thore, Lane, for you've got a fever, and, I believe, mountain fever," were his immediate orders. "I'll be with you in a moment." It was only the beginning of what proved to be a trying illness of several weoks' duration. When Lane was able to sit up again it was the recommendation of the post surgeon and of his regimental commander com-mander that he be sent east on sick leave for at least three months. And the first week of June found him at West Point he had many old and warm friends there, and their companionship and cordiality cheered him greatly. One night, strolling stroll-ing back from parade to the bread piazza of the hotel, he saw the stage drive up from the landing and a number of visitors visi-tors scurry up the stops in haste to escape es-cape the prying eyes of the older arrivals, who invariably thronged the south piazza pi-azza at such times and curiously inspected inspect-ed the travel stained and cinder spotted faces of those whose ill luck it was to have to run that social gantlet. There was something familiar in th face of a young lady following a portly matron into the hall, and when a moment mo-ment later he came upon the massive frame of Mr. Amos Withers, registering himself, his wife, daughters and Miss Marshall, of the Queon City, Lane knew at once that it was his friend of the dismal dis-mal dinner of nearly a year ago. Later that evening he met her in the hall, and was surprised at the prompt and pleasant pleas-ant recognition which she gave him. It was not long before they were on the north piazza, watching that peerless View up the Hudson, and, finding that she had never been there before, and was enthusiastio in hor admiration of the scenery, Lane took pleasure in pointing out to hor the various objects of interest that could be seen through the brilliant sheen of moonlight And so, having made himself at ouce useful and entertaining, enter-taining, he finally went to his bed with a sensation of having passed rather a brighter evening than he had known in a long, long time. On the following day Miss Marshall was in the hall reading when he came out from breakfast. She was waiting, she said, for Mrs. Withers to come down. The nurse was dressing the children. "I want to ask you something, Capt Lane. I saw Mrs. Vincent j ust before I loft home, and had a little talk with hor. She has always been very kind to me. Did you ever receive a letter she wroto to you three or four weeks ago?" "I never did," said Lane. "Do you think that she did write to me?' "I know she did. She told me so, and expressed great surprise that you had accorded her no answer. She felt very sure of your friendship, and she was at a loss to understand your Bilence. Although Al-though I had only met you once or twice before I felt that I knew you so well that yon could not refuse to answer a loiter from so lovable a woman as she, and I deemed it my duty to let you know what she had told me. I am very glad now that I Hid so." "Is she at home? asked Lane, eagerly. "She was when I left, but they were expecting to go to the mountains. Mrs. Noel seems to be drooping a little. The weather is very warm there already, as you know, and the doctor has advised that both, ladies ko un to Deer Park. i "Tell me truly and frankly, Capt. Lane." A dreary winter was that of 188 at old Fort Graham. Capt. Breese became major of the th, and his troop was ordered to exchange with K, which had been so long at headquarters, and this brought old Jim Rawlins np to take command com-mand of the little cavalry battalion at "the oasis." There were many of the officers Rawlins among them who thought that ofter his success with "the Devil's Own," as D troop had been called, Lane was entitled to enjoy the position of battalion commander; but Mrs. Riggs had promptly asserted her belief that he was not in position to enjoy anything. He had come back to the post late in the fall, looking some years older and graver; he had been very ill at Jefferson barracks, bar-racks, said a letter from that point, while waiting to take out a party of recruits re-cruits to the regiment; he had rammed duty without a word to anybody of the matters that hud so suddenly called him east, but there was no need of telling: they knew all about it; at least they said and thought thoy did. Mrs. Riggs had had such complete accounts ac-counts from Noel, and hod received such a sweet letter from Miss Vincent- in reply re-ply to the one she hod written congratulating congratu-lating her upon her engagement to her (Mrs. Riggs') "favorite among all the officers and the colonel's too." "She was so sorry so painfully distressed about Capt. Lane," said Mrs, Riggs. , "She never really cared for him. It was gratitude and propinquity and pleasure in his attentions that she mistook for love; but she never knew what love was until Bhe met Gordon. They were to be married early in the spring and would take only a brief tour, for he had to be at his station. She dreaded coming to the regiment, though she would follow Gordon to the end of the world if he said so, for she know there were people who would blame her for breaking with Capt Lone as she hod to; but Bhe knew long before she did so that they could never be happy together. She hod written to him, telling him all, long before be-fore he came east, and they had that dreadful scene in which Mr. Npol had behaved with such perfect self command and such excessive consideration for Capt. Lane's feelings. Of course, as Gordon said, all possibility of reconciliation reconcilia-tion or future friendship between them was at an end unless Capt Lane humbly apologized. She had been mercifully spared hearing i; for the fearful expression ex-pression of his face when they discovered him listening at the portiere had caused her to faint away, and, she only come to, Gordon said, in time to prevent his pitching him out of the window, so utterly ut-terly was he tried. She was so thankful to have in Mrs. Riggs a friend who would not see Gordon wronged, and who could be counted on to deny any stories that poor Capt Lane, in his disappointment, dis-appointment, might put in circulation." But Lone never mentioned the subject. sub-ject. As for the letters to which she referred, re-ferred, they all followed him east in one bundle and were sent to her unopened; un-opened; and she knew when she wrote to Mrs. Riggs that, though she might have "told him all," as she said, he never nev-er knew a word of it urtil his eyes and ears revealed the truth that wretched night in the library where his brief, sweet love dream began and ended. There ware other matters wherein Mr. Noel himself was consulting Mrs. Riggs. He was now senior first lieuten-aiA. lieuten-aiA. Any accident of service might i make him a captain, and then, if precedent prece-dent were followed, "he might be or- j dered to. Join at onca. Ordinarily,.. m i as Lane says, they are expected at Graham Gra-ham this evening. Lane himself rode after his own men two hours after he got to the post from the east, and Noel, who is K's new captain, is due at Graham Gra-ham station to-night." "Then send him orders to lead his troop instantly, follow and support Lane. Tell him not to lose a moment on the way. Everything may depend upon his promptness and zeal." And so it happened that when Capt. Noel stepped from the train that afternoon after-noon at the old station the telegraph messenger came forward to meet him, touching his cap and saying, "This dispatch dis-patch has been awaiting you, sir, since H o'clock this morning. I have just had a dispatch from the post, and K Troop got in two hours ago and is already starting. start-ing. Lieut. Mason says an orderly is coming ahead with a horse and the captain's cap-tain's field kit Shall I wire for anything else?" i Noel opened the dispatch that had been handed him, and read it with an expression expres-sion that plainly indicated perturbation, if not dismay. He had not been in saddle sad-dle for an entire year. , "Why, I must go out to the post!" he aid to the operator. "I am not at all ; ready to take the field. Let them know that I have arrived, and will come out there without delay. Better have the troop unsaddled and wait for my coining." coin-ing." i "Will the captain pardon me?' said the operator: "the orders from the department de-partment commander that went through this morning were that the troop should . not take more than an hour in refitting at the post and Bhould start at once. I thought 1 could see them coming over the divide just as the whistle blew." The captaiu gave no sign of enthusiasm enthu-siasm as he received this news. He was still pondering over the contents of his dispatch from the commanding general its tone was so like that of his order from the war department eo utterly nnliko what his admiring circle of relatives rela-tives and friends would have expected. Stepping into the telegraph office he took some blanks and strove to comnose a dispatch that would convince the general gen-eral that ho was wild with eagerness to ; ride hU night to tho support of Lane, ! and yet that would explain how abso-. abso-. lutely necessary it ws that he should first go out to the post. But the fates were against him. Even as he was pawmg the pencil and cudgeling his : brains the operator called out: "Here come some of 'em now, sir " I And looking nervously from' the' window, win-dow, Noel saw three horsemen galloping in to the station. Foremost came a lieutenant lieu-tenant of infantry, who sprang to the pound, and tossed the reins to his orderly order-ly the instant he neared the platform. One of the men had a led horse, completely com-pletely equipped for the field, with blankets, blan-kets, saddle bags, carbine, canteen and haversack; and Noel's quick intuition left him no room to believe that the steed was intended for any one but him. ..wu-ifantr'mn came bounding in: ! ft Capt. Noel? I am Mr. Renshaw post adjutant, sir, and I had hoped to get here in time to meet you on vonr arrival, ar-rival, but we were all busy getting the Lane finds himself confrrmttdtai by a savage warrior. Not an instant too soon, i22w has ridden hard since earliest da . Lane reached the rooky pia and south the Peloncillos are skin sk-in the gloom of coming night, : over the arid plain to the easrnri nos3 has ssttled down, b pr scouts he has learned the coanfe: and he knows just whers D n "tanks" of cool water for horsa and men the cavalry orte i 1 dence when creature comforiJ doled out. Ha knows jastwhere: csal his little force in the recessi rocks and let them build tiny to make their coffee and thea gets as is possible before the coming there is no rest for him. veteran soldiera with him.snd ' the troop to the command of M i a ant, an enthusiastic young a year out of the cadet gray, s rides westward through tbi tft lie must determine at once wf Indians are coming toward taeP which the San Simon nwlw f through the range, or wkethsM made wide detour around the WW at Bowie among the CliiricabM ; tains, they are now heading again and taking the snortestf border beforo seeking to reg more their old trail along the'. nardino. How often have tt& parties gone to and fro along W banks, unmolested, unPursne7 And now, secure in the they have thrown all the ca. the rear in tho "stem chase Apache dreads, well toowmg he can distance his harroersdJ; th renegades, joined "S. utterly "unreconstructed" C'P are taking thing3 easily an raids on the helpless ranches E the right or left of their kW Fortunately for the record few in number; had there more they would only have & swell the list of butchered m dered ranches, of burning & corrals, of women and ck to be the sport of thair leB when once secure in the fc8? Sierra Madras far south of Death could not come too soon w " lief of these poor creatures, and all his men had been spoir utmost effort by the story oti-e hands that they had plainly women and children bound to " animals the renegades drove afc the iron track. - Among the passengers in stage coach were the wife an " " of an Indian agent, who hadV ly come to this arid territory little of the ways of itsindig pie. Nothing had since been-heard been-heard of them. Capt Rawbu8; soldiers, going up as witnesses court martial at Grant. hacked almost beyond wcogj: the driver, too, who em crawled out among the roce Verily the Apaches had good revel in their success! Tne-V,t. winked the bureau, dodged U plundered right end left until t-rich t-rich withspoil, aaJ now,' Noel opened the dispatch that had been handed him. The Morning Chronicle, a most valuable valua-ble sheet in its way, in its Sunday edition edi-tion contained the following interesting item: "No event in social circles has eclipsed of late tho banquet given at the club last night in honor of Capt. Gordon Noel, of the Eleventh cavalry, on the eve of his departure to take command of his troop, now hastening to the scene of Indian hostilities hos-tilities in Arizona. As is well known to our citizens, the news of the murderous outbreak at the reservation was no sooner received than this gallant officer applied instantly to be relieved from his present duties in our midst and ordered to join his comrades in the field, that he might share with them the perils of this savage warfare. "Covers were laid for forty. The table was decorated with flowers and glistened with plate and crystal. The most conspicuous con-spicuous device was the crossed sabers of the cavalry, with the number 11 and I the letter K, that being the designation of the captain's company. Eis honor Mayor Jenness presided, and the Hon. Amos Withers faced him at the other end of the banquet board. The speech of the evening was made by Mayor Jen-ness Jen-ness in toasting 'our gallant guest,' which was drunk standing and with all honors. We have room only for a brief summary of his remarks. Alluding to the previous distinguished services of the captain, ho said that 'In every territory of our broad west liia saber has flashed in the defense j of the weak against the strong, the poor settler against the powerful and numerous numer-ous savage tribes too often backed by official influence at Washington. And now, while cheeks were blanching and hearts were still stricken by the dread news of the butcheries and rspine which marked the Indians flight, when others shrank from such perilous work, where was the man who could suppress the fer- tenant's side, asmri.i:; him of the sense of strenjjta it gave him tuluvc with htm a man of such cxporii'uee. "For your sake, Mason. 1 wish I had been twelve hours Inter, so ttut you could huve had the glory of this thing to yourself; bat you know I couldn't staud'it. 1 had to pull wires like sia to get relieved, as it was. Old Hudson, the head of the recruiting re-cruiting service, just swore he wouldn't let me go, because I had hud good luck in the class and number of the recruit I sent him. Personally, too. I'm in no shnpe to ride. See how fat I've crown?" ; Mason saw, but said a fifty mile rida ought not to stagger any cavalryman, hard or soft, and made no reply whatever what-ever to the captain's account of how ha succeeded in getting relieved, lie didn't believe a word of it. Night came on and found them still , marchiug at a steady walk. Halts for ; rest, too, had been frequently ordered. "rerall" was sounded, the horses wra run rapidly forward to the skirmish line, : t!ie men swung into saddle, the nvr platoon clostl on the one in front, and cautiously, with Mason ltsuiinir aJid Nmd hanng back a littla as though to dirwt the march of Km column, the troop passed throa;h the river and came out on the other side. The, m.:u-:it they tva.-hsxl the bank Mam struck a trot without any orders aud the men followed fol-lowed bim. Xoel hastened forward, shouting out, ! "Walk, walk." Cut. fhidin-r. that they either t'.ia not or would not hear him, he galloped in front of the troop and sternly stern-ly ordered the leaden to divrea. their gait and not again to take the trot unless he gave the command, i Just at this minute, f.-om, the heights I to the ri;;ht and left, half a dozen shots were lired in quick siuvoision: a trooper ' riding beside the first terrain t threw ut ' gone en in pnrfnit of the Ajwiche tV. captain was a nt ly the battalion con-t.;i.nd. con-t.;i.nd. r to eerort the captives back to . the railway. "This uiapatrh, though of a privata character. Is fully substantiated by tiie official report of the general roiaman'-i:vj roiaman'-i:vj fan department to the adjutant pen-; pen-; end of the arxy. It r.-ads as follows: j " 'Capt. Noel, of the duventh cavalry, icujiist reached the railway, bringing j with hliu all but ouo of the wotuea and i children whom the Apaches had carried on into captivity. Tho other was aliot I by a bullet in the desperate fight whh-h i occurred in 5a:i fimon 1'awi between the ! commands of Cipts. Lane and Noel and i the Aiuehos. whoso retreat they were endeavoring to head off. Oreene's battalion bat-talion of the Eleventh arrired iu time to j take part: but on their appearance the I Apaches tied through tho mountains in ! the wildest confusion, leaving much of nearest men can , !, X "" : tlle Down the motuitain side to the west and up the range to the north set S- but gUard pnse, but what man of their number dreams for an instant that on the Sn between them and the Meacan line thereis nowclosiin to the attack a little troop of veteran campaigners, led dread before now? Invisible from the their smoldenng fires can be plainly seen from where Lane and his men are KSSf Butnotel i""" tottll western side of the valley the faint red glow tells where lie the rums of the ranch their young warriors war-riors had destroyed, and any moment now their exultant yells may be heard as they come scampering back to camp after a night of deviltry, and then every-body every-body will be up and moving off and well on the way southward before the sun gets over thn rrnct T 1 i a of "the railway, with a choice of Xet t or west side ' tne range, ' . jjmin body and prisoners are halted aLgt the animals, while miles to the Jtbeir faithful vedettes keep watch fLt pursuers, and miles out to the L the most active young warriors are !Lrhavoo at the ranch of Tree Her-CJ, Her-CJ, It is the red glare of the flame the sunset horizon that tells the Apaches cannot be far away, hi instant he and his comrades issue the gorge and peer cautiously to e right and left not only do they see ilaze across the wide valley, but Lflnfard, not more than half a mile rav there rises upon the night wind a j mji that they cannot mistake the chant-of the Chiricahuas. .Thank Ckid," cries Lane, "wo are ire ahead of themr galf an hour's reconnoissance reveals him their position. Far up among the (fflders of the range, where pursuing usemen cannot rush upon them in the m, theyhave made their bivouac, and paving a revel and feast while await- the return of the raiders or news m the rear that they must be moving. m range is rugged and precipitous irth of the gorge; cavalry cannot pene-rte pene-rte it; but Lane's plan is quickly laid, e will let his men sleep until 2 Jock, keeping only three sentries on e lookout, one of them mounted and t of the gorge to give warning should and at last Mason could strnid it so longer. lon-ger. After repeated looks at his watch : he had burst out with an eariicwt appeal: i "Capt. Noel, we'll never get tlre in j time at this rate. Surely, sir, the orders j you got from the sreneral must be differ j ent from those that came to the post. I They said make all speed, lone not a mo- J meut. Did not yours say so, too?" j "The general knew very wetl that 1 had marched cavalry too often not to understand just how to get there iu j time," was Noel's stately reply; and, though chafing inwardly, Mufon was I compelled to silence. Ten o'clock came, j : his anus, with the sudden cry: "My God! Tve got it!" and fell back from the sad-! sad-! die. Noel at the same instant fi'lt a i twinge along his left arm, and, wheeling i his horse about, shouted: "To the rear! j to the rear! We're ambushed!" And, despite the rallying cry of SLjaon and i the entreaties of the guide, the men, ! taking the cue from their leader, reined I to the right and left about and went ; cluttering out of the pass, j More shots came from the Apaches, some aimed at the fleeing troop and j others at the little group of men that maiued behind: for the Door fellow who their plunder behind thetn. ; " "It is impossible as yet to give accurate accu-rate account of the killed sad wounded, i but our losses are reported to have been heavy.' "liow thoroughly have the predictions of The Chronicle with regard to this gallant gal-lant officer been fulfilled! To his relatives rela-tives and hi many friends in our midst The Chronicle extendd its most hearty congratulations. We predict that the welcome which Capt. Noel will receive will be all that hi fondest dreams could possibly have cherished." and move up so as to be close to Ii;!ev t case they attack from the fhnk. lw we all here? Are any wounded or hurtr He asks the question with a little stream of blood trickling down from his left temple, but of which he seems perfectlv unaware; either an arrow or n bullet ball torn the skin and made quite a furrow through the hair. "Murphy, sir," says one of the men, is shot through the arm. and Lathrop has got a bullet in the leg; but they're only flesh wounds; they're lving here just back of us." Lane turns about and finds two of his men looking a little pale, but perfectly plucky and self possessed. "Well get you along all right, men," he savs; "don't worry. Now, lads, turn about every ten or fifteen steps, and see that they don't get close upon yoa Look well to the left." Then slowly they fall back towards the pass. Every now and then a shot comes whizzing by, aa the Apaches regain re-gain courage and creep up to their abandoned aban-doned camp. But not until they are : well back over the ridge, and Riley and his little party, fairly carrying their res-j res-j cued captives, are nearly out of harm's way, do the scattered warriors be-in to I realize how few in number thoir assail- ants innst be. Rallying shouts can be heard among the rocke. and then there come the thunder of hoofs out on the plain below and the auswering yells of the returning raiders. "Run to Corp. Riley and tell him to make all the haste he can," Lane orders j his trumpeter. "Tell him to go back to the horses, and then, as soon as ho has left his women in a safe place there, to throw up stone sholters wherever it is possible. Royce, you look ont for this front. I will go to the left. If any of your men are hit, have them picked tip and moved rapidl t to the rear; of course, we can't leave any wonnded to f;iU into their hands; but, where possible, keep your men under cover; and keep under yourself, sir; don't let me see you exposing expos-ing yourself unnecessarily, as I did a while ago." And once again the retreat is resumed. Lana looks anxiously among the rocks down the hill to his loft, every instant expescting to see the young braves hurrying hur-rying to the assault. But now, ss tliough in obedienco to tho signals of some leader, the Apaches ce&ie their pursuit. Lime well knows that the matter mat-ter is not yet concluded, but is thankful for the respite. Still warily his little force continues the withdrawal, aud, without further molostatioa, reaches the gorge of the San Simon, and soon comes in sight of the dip among the rocks where the horses are still hidden. Here, too, Corp. Riley and his men are busily at work heaping up little breastworks of rock, and Lane directs that while the wonnded there are three now are carried car-ried down to where the resciwd women and children are lying, the other men fall to and help. In five minutes there are over a score of them at work, and not one inctant too soon. Corp. Donnelly, Donnel-ly, who has been posted, mounted, at the western entrance to the defile, come3 clattering in to say that at least a hundred hun-dred Indians are swarming down the ridge. . And now the fight that opens is one in which tho odds are greatly agaiui;t the defenders. Lane has just time to climb to tho flight on the eari and take one long look with liis '.'hisses over the flats beyond tha pa", praying for a sight of a dust cloud towards tho Pyramid Spur, when with simultaneous crash of musketry and chorus of yells the Apaches come sweeping down to the attack. must make his daah before they can return. re-turn. There would be little hope of rescue for the poor souls lying there bound and helpless, with all those fierce young fighters close at hand. ! The word is passed among the men: I 'Follow closely, but look well to your i i footing. Dislodge no stones." Then, 1 slowly and stealthily as before, on they i go-this time down the hill towards the i faint lights of the Indian bivouac. A I hundred yards more and Lane holds up i his hand, a signal to halt; and here he ' cives Mr. Royce a few Instructions in a I low tone. Tho youngster nods his head and mutters to several of the men as he passes: "Follow me." They disappear among the rocks and trees to the right, and it is evident that they mean to work around to the east of the bivouac, so as to partially incircle them. Little by little lit-tle the wan light grows brighter, and close at hand objects far more distinct. An Indian is just passing in front of the nearest blaze and is lost in the gloom among the stunted trees. One or two forms are moving about, but they can only dimly be distinguished. Lane argues, however, that they are getting ready to move and no time is to be lost. I "Spread out now," is the order, "well I to the right and left, and move forward, j Be very careful." And once more they resume their catlike advance. Nearer and nearer they creep upon the unsuspecting unsus-pecting foe, and soon many a form of sleeping Apache can be made out, lying i around in the grassy basin in which they are hiding for the night Lane motions to Corp. Riley to come olose to his side. "I can see nothing that looks like prisoners; pris-oners; they must be among the trees there, where that farthest fire is burning. Keep close to me with your men. Pass the word to the right, there. All ready." And now they are so near the Indians that the voices of one or two squaws can be heard chatting in low tones; then the feeble wail of an infant is for a moment brought to their straining ears; then far out over the level valley to the west there is a sound that causes Lane's blood to tingle faint, distant, but unmistakable unmistaka-ble a chorus of Apache yells. The raid-j ers are coming back; it is time to strike the blow. Now or never seems to be the , word as the men glance at their leader . and then into each other's faces. olndiansmove during the night. Then, jving the horses concealed among the cte south of the stream, with two men piard them, he will lead his company i the heights and as olosa as possible to e Apache camp, lie in hiding until it is ht enough to distinguish objects, then shdowninto their midst.reaoue thepris-eis thepris-eis in the panio and confusion that he wswilla-esultfrom the sudden attack, iid them back as rapidly as possible, uded by three or four men, to where s horses are corraled, while he and b little band interpose between them d any rally the Apaches may make. Knowing well that they are armed th magazine rifles and supplied by a i lernal bureau with abundant ainmu-aon, ainmu-aon, knowing that they outnumber in three to-one, knowing that by sun- the whole tribe will havereassem-ed havereassem-ed sod must infallibly detect thepiti-1 thepiti-1 weakness of his own force, it is a sperate chance to take; but it is the jy one absolutely the only one to yd those tortured, agonized women, cae terror stricken, little ones, from a more awful than words can portray. By 8 or 9 in- the morning, he argues, K sop must certainly reach him; he lowS'them to be fresh and strong; he owt that they have had only short and ;y marches and therefore can easily me ahead all nightlong and be round-g round-g the Pyramid spur by daybreak. He iows Mason well and can count on atyoimgofflcer doing bis "level best" support him, Alas I he does not know at Mason is compelled .by this time to U back to second place and that the it man on whom lie can possibly count n spinalis now in command of the jkedfor troop. The night wears on without alarm, ell sigh exhausted, Lone has thrown oself at the foot of a tree to catch ut deep he may, and he feels as oaghhehad not closed bis eyes when irp. Shea bends over him to say it is 3 :lock. Noiselessly the men are arous-; arous-; silently they reU out of their blan-ts, blan-ts, andiobedient to ths.loW toned "fall ' f the first sergeant, seize their arms itsiatheir place inline. There Lane iefly explains the situation; tells them the -position of the Apache bivouac; tails Corp. Riley and four men to . ffoa for, secure and hie away with ouu still it was no better. Then both the lieutenant and the guide, after a moment's mo-ment's consultation during a rest, approached ap-proached the captain and begged him to increase the gait; and when they mounted, mount-ed, the command did, for a while, move on at a jog, which Mason would fain have increased to the lope, but Noel interposed. in-terposed. Midnight, and more rnota, found them fully ten miles behind the point where tho guide and linuteuant had planned to be. Even the men had begun to murmur among themselves, and to contrast the captain's spiritless advance with Mr. Mason's lively unth-ods. unth-ods. Two o'clock, aud the Pyramid range was still far away. Daybreak came, and Mason was nearly mail with misery, tho guide sullen and disgusted. Broad daylight 6 o'clock and here at last were the Pyramid buties at their right front, and, coming toward them on the trail, a single horse ruau. "It is Sergt. Luce," said some of the foremost troopers. And Luce had a note, which he banded to Lieut Mason; but that gentleman shook bis head and indicated Noel. The captain took it in silence, opened it, glanced over the contents, changed color, as all could see, and then Inquired: "How far is it, sergeant?" "It must be fifteen miles from here, dr. I came slowly, because my horse was worn out, and because Capt. Lane thought tlutt I would meet the troop very much nearer the pass. It's more than fifteen miles, I reckon." "Had the attack begun before you left?" "Yes, sir; and I could hoar the shots as I came out of the pass hear them distinctly." dis-tinctly." "May I inquire what the news is, captain?" cap-tain?" said Mr. Mason, riding up to his side. "Well," was the reply, "Lane writes that he has headed tho Apaches, and that he is just moving in to the attack." "Will you permit mo to see the note, sir?" said Maeon, trembling with exasperation exas-peration at the indifferent manner in which it was received. Noel hesitated: "Presently presently, Mr. Mason. We'll move forward at a 1 CHAPTER XV., had been shot through the breiut lay in-sensible in-sensible by the aide of the stream, and would have been abandoned to his fate but for the courajo and devotion of Muiwn and two of the leading men. 1'roiuptly Jumping from their horses, they raised him between thera, and, laying lay-ing him across the pommel of one of the saddles, supported by the troopers, the wounded amn was carried beck to the ford, and from there out of liana's way. By this time Noel, at full gallop, had gone four cr live hundred yards to the rear, and there the first sergeant not he rallied the troop, reformed it, counted 1 four, and faced it to the front I Wlion Mason returned to them, lead-i lead-i Ing the two troopers ami the dyinjf man, ' his face was as black aa a thunder cloud. lie rode up to his captain, who was etanching wih a handkerchief a little stream of blood that seemed to lie coining coin-ing down his loft arm, and addressed to him these words: "Capt. Noel, there were not more than six or eight Apaches guarding thoe heights. There was no excuse in Hod's world, sir, for a retreat I can take my platoon und go through there now with' out difficulty, and onro again, sir, I implore im-plore you to let me do it." Noel's reply wa, "I have already heard too much from you today, Mr. Mason. If I hiiar one more word you go to the roar in arrest. I am wounded, sir, but I will not turn over this command com-mand to you." "Wounded be hanged! ('apt Noel, you've got a scratch of which a child ought to be ashamed," was tho furious reply, upon which Noel, considering that ho must at all hazards preserve the dignity of his position, ordered Lieut. Mason to commler himself in arrest. And, dismounting, aud callwg to one or two of the men to assist him, the cuptain got out of bis bloiiM) and bad the sleeve of his uudcrbhirt cut oft, and then, in full hearing of the combat np the pans, proceeded to have a scratch, as Mason had truly dosiguated it, stanched aud dressed. Meantime, tho troop, shamefaced and disgusted, dismounted and awaited further fur-ther developments. For fifteen tuimikis they remained there, listening to the battle bat-tle a mile away, and then there came a sound that thrilled every man with excitementwith ex-citementwith mad longing to dash to tho front; there came crashes of musketry mus-ketry that told of the urrival of strong re-cnforcemenU for one party or anot her which party was soon developed by the glorious, ringing cheers thnt they well recognised to be those of their cotn-radie cotn-radie of Greeno's battalion. "By heavens!" said Maon, with a groan, "after all, we have lost our chance! It's Greene, not old K troop, that got there in time to save them." The looks thut were caet towards their new captain by the men, standing in snl-len snl-len silence at thoir horses heads, were not those that any soldier would have envied. Directing the first sergeant to talk half a dozn troopers and feel their way cautiously cau-tiously to the front aud ascertain what that new sound meant, the rest of the men meanwhile to remain at case, Noel still sat there on the ground, as though faint from loss of blood. Tle bleeding, however, bad Iwn too trifling to admit of any such supposition on tho jart of those who had been looking on. The cheering up the pum increased. The firing rapidly died away. Soon it was seen that the first sergennt was signaling, signal-ing, and prsmtly a man came riding back. The nrgnarit and the others disappeared, dis-appeared, going fearlinsly into tho pais, and evidently indicating by their movements move-ments that they anticipated no further remittance. Tho arriving horseman dismounted, dis-mounted, saluted the enptain, and reported re-ported ifiiVmtaritiuliy that tho past v;k now in puMc.ion of Maj. Om-ne's im-n, and that tho Apaches were in fU flight towards the south, some of the troops pnr.uing. Then at lat it was that th "mount" waa iwrtinioil by the trumiietcr, and half an hour afterwards full thre hours after they tvionH have br-!i them Capt. Noel, with K troop, arrived at the scene. Lane, faint from lose of blood, was lyiu;r under a trw, four of his men were'lcilied; one of tho helplr-sfl recaptured recap-tured women had been shot by an Indian bullet; five more of the "Devil s own D'i" ware lying wounded around among the rocks. Ifp-rate ljid bn the An-fenw; An-fenw; rxire had been their ned; safe, thoroughly safe, they would have lxen Lad Noel got th"re in time, but it was (irme "s bsttalion that finally rent-bed them only at thfl last moment. And yet this was the thrilling announcement that appeared in The Queen City Chronicle Chron-icle in is morning edition two days afterwards: af-terwards: "Osllsnt Noel! IW-ue of th InJian Captives! Stirring Pursuit and Fierce Eattle with the Apaches! "A dispatch received last night by the Kon. Awm Withers anaounce the return from the front of Capt. Noel, who so recently Wt our midst, with a portion of his troop, bringing with him the we-man we-man and children who had bu run oZ by ths Apachee on thMr raid among the ranches south of thrtr reservation. The captain reports a severe fight, in which many cf the refimect were killed and wounded, he himself, thengh making light ef the matter, receiving a bullet through the left arm. "While the rest ol the command had trot, now." Sergt. Luce reined about, and, riding beside the first sergeant of K troop, told him in low tones of the adventures of the previous day and night, and tho fact that the Apaches were thore just north of the pass and in complete force. The result seemed to be, as the word was passed among the men, to increase the gait to such an extent that they crowded upon the leaders, and Noel, time and a gain, threw up his hand and warned ' the men not to ride over the heels of his horse. Seven o'clock came, and still they had not got beyond the Pyramids. Eight o'clock, and they were not in sight of the pass. Nine o'clock, and still the gorge was not in view. It wan not until nearly ton that the massive gateway seemed to open before them, and then, far to the front, their eager ears ceuld catch the sound of very sharp and rapid firing. "My God!" said Mason, with irrepree-siblo irrepree-siblo excitement, "there's no question . about it, captain, Land's surrounded 1 there! For heaven's sake, air, let's get ! ahead to his support." "Ride forward, sergeant," said Noel to Luce, "and show us tho shortest way you know to where Capt. Lane has corraled cor-raled his horses I don't like the idea of entering that pass in column, Mr. Mason. The only safe way to do it will bo to dismount dis-mount and throw a line of skinnishers j ahead. If Lane is surrounded the I Apaches undoubtedly will open fire on ' us as we pass through." j "Suppose they do, sir; we've got men j enough to drive them back. Whnt w ; ' want is to get through there as quickly I as possible." ; ! Dut Noel shook his head, and, formi lift line to the front at a trot, moved for- ' ward a few hnmlred yarLi, and theu, to i the intenae diagunt of Mr. M ason, ord'-n d the first platoon (Unmounted and pushed ; ' ahead an skirmishers. Compelled to ; : leave their horses with number four of ' each set, the other troopim, sullenly, but ; in disciplined silence, advanced afoot up j the gentle tlope which led to the height j on the right of the gorge. ; Not a shot impeded their advance; not ! a sound told them that they were even j watched. But fir up throngh the pat itself the sound of sharp firing continued, ' and every cow and then a shrill yell in- , dicated that the Apiichee were evidently ; having the best of it. i Again Mason rode to bis captain. "I ; beg you, sir," bo said, "to let me take my platoon, or the other one, and charge through there. It isn't possible that they can knock more than one or two ', of us out of the saddle; and if you fol- j low with tlie rest of the men they can j easily be taken care of." Bat Noel this . time rebuked him. "Mr. Mason, I have had too much of t your interference," he said, "and I will t tolerate no more. I am in command of this troop, sir, and I am responsible for its proper conduct." And Mason, rebuffed, fell bark without with-out further word. The pass was reached, and still not a shot had been fired. Over the low ridge the dismounted troopers went, end not a Apache was in sight. Then at last it became evident that to cross the stream the? would have to ford: and then the "Forward! no shot, no sound, till they see us; then cheer like mad as you charge! Come on, men!" Quickly now following hia lead, they go leaping down the hillside. Thirty fifty yarda without mishap or discovery. Sixty, and still no sound from the defense; de-fense; then a sudden stumble, the rattle of a carbine eliding down the rocks, a muttered execration: then a shrill, piercing pierc-ing Bcream from the midst of the bivouac then "Charger In they go! the "Devil's own D's." The still air rings with their wild hurrahs hur-rahs and the crash of their carbines. The flame jets light np the savage scene and ihow squaws and screaming children rushing for shelter among the rocks; Apache warriors springing from the ground, some manfully facing the rush of the foe, others fleeing like women down the hillside. Never halting an instant, the soldiers dash through the camp, driving the dusky occupants helter skelter. Lane finds himself confronted one instant by a savage warrior whose eyes gleam like tiger's under the thatch of coarse black hair, and whose teeth gnash in fury as he tries to force a fresh cartridge into his breech loader. No time for Lane to reload. He clubs his carbine, and the hammer comes crashing down on the Indian's In-dian's skull just as Corp. Biley drives a bullet through his heart. "Look to the aiptives, man!" shouts Lane. "Don't follow me! Drive them! drive them, Royce!" are his ringing orders, or-ders, as he himself dashes on past the fires and into the feeble morning light beyond. . . Bang! bang! the carbines are ringing through the rocks and trees; cheer upon cheer goes up from the little command, mingled with Indian yells and the screams of the terrifled children. "Riley's got 'em, sir," he hears his boy : trumpeter call. "Some of 'em, anyhow, j There's two white women." i "Never mind, lad," he answers. "Don't ound the recall till I tell you." : And again his ringing voice is heard among the tumult: "Forward! forward! drive them! keep them on the run, men! . And so for five minutes longer, firing whenever a savage head appears, inflict- ; ing and receiving many a savage blow, but still victoriously forcing their way toward, the little band follow their leader down the rocks until apparently not an Apache is left in the immediate neighborhood of the old camp. Then at ; last the trumpet peals out its signal re- , call. ' And 'slowly and steadily, watchfully ; guarding against the possibility of leav- j ins some wounded comrade among the j rocks, the little command finally gathers once more around the fires in the camp. R3ey and his men have disappeared A shout from up the rocks m the well kuown Irish voice gives the glad intelligence intelli-gence that he has brought with him all the prisoners he could find in camp. "There are three women, sir. and two little children-two girls; they "re so frightened that I can hardly find out much from them, but they say there was no more left" "Verv welL then. Now, men, open out right and left, an fall back very sloW:.Sergent, take .SJjjLttWL xacn e prisoners, &n orders all the rest to Mliketiie-aetnl to. drive the Apaches Iter sMterinto-th rocks. "Letaot one woid-be8id nor a trig-rpoDed trig-rpoDed tmQt we are right among hi. Wait for my command, unless re lotsotedand fired on. If we are, aewayt onoe; but never stop your shi ttst tight in among them. Let ly and hisanett make instant search, they leave neither woman nor abeiitjeandjstart them back here. wet of us wHl fall back slowly, sitogbstweatftthfirn and the Apaches ltwae, Ktewfef let them get near prisoners. aTMrWa'the main object oar attack. One back here with the wes,W9 can pick out places in the :o from which we can stand the .ofif until K troop comes. Rest "raiMent. Maeon and hia men will Hang by 8 or 9; and it cannot be a &s cavalry now pursuing the MjErom. iha north will be more & few hours behind. Now, do yon for there will be no chance ffirfws ud there. Leave your can-. m, leave anything that will hinder or Those-of yon who have onspurs, Mthaaeff, Those of you who have Ilo or Apache moccasins, take off w topbootoand put them on; they ' Ml the better for- goingup these hill-ow hill-ow get your coffee, men; make tee, light no. additional fires, and "dy to movein twenty minutes." Uf ne pencils this brief note: Vary1.3"5 "fflcer Troop K' neyentil. ehave headed the Apaches and " attack their camp the instant it is at enough to see, rescue their cap-. cap-. then fall back here to the gorge of m Simon. They far outnumber a von cannot reach us too soon. I t upon your being hare by 8 in the and hope with your aid to hold ettyunta' Greene's command ar-nilv ar-nilv . oa1 to capture the tan! Do not fail me. ( "Frederick Lane, . 'Captain Eleventh Cavalry." om he gave to Sergt. Luce, with or- troop and deliver it to Lieut. hJu 01 ,Wnever is in command, and an hour Luce is away. r.aow. mt as the dawn is break-1 ST' PHil light is stealing "s ft tr' top8 ftr the rocky 6 C0Ble "keeping slowly, idowt'f along 018 P8 60016 ot bcirm8' inching from bowlder w lifer, from trae to Not a Jjea, save now and then a iTf? Ration. Foremoet, carbine aient t e.caPtaia. new halting a to givo eome signal to those a tw ' now Paring ahead over the '-besaiL toe Wfty- At 1434 h9 k ur,A ere, looking down the s Se8ei tmside before him, he jetiang which causes him to rm-?ee rm-?ee in which his field glasses . K"e thither long and men 80 6768 uPn their leader, the jr listen; some cautiously snii6110' their carbines and Pfftridgaa in the loops of Lj5 j? !ts. A signal from Lane itfi! Royce, the young second E his8i4e- K w tna box'8 1 swraeaca pf. the . kiadand bja i i "For heaven's saltc, ulr, let's get ahead to j his support." Meantime, whore are the looked for supports? Lane, with wearied horses, had made the march from the railway station to the pass in a little over fourteen four-teen hours. It was r:U0 when he started , and 8:15 when he unsaddled among tho . rocks. He had come through the blazing sunshine of the long Juno clay: sometimes some-times at the trot, sometimes ot the lojie. ofttimes dismounting and leading whrn 1 crossing ridges or ravines. He was still pale and weak from his long illness, and ' suffering from a sorrow that had robbed ' him of all the buoyancy he hud ever possessed. But the sense of duty was as ' strong as ever, and the soldier spirit triumphed over the ills of the flesh. Noel, starting at 4:45 p. m. , with horses and men fresh and eager, with a guide who knew every inch of tho way, and the bright starlight to cheer his com-: com-: nvdes, could reasonably be expected to i cover the same ground in the same timo; every old cavalryman knows that horses travel better by night than by day. By ; good rights he and his men should be at ; the pass at least an hour before the time set by Lane. It was only a week before ; i that the captain had declared at the Qneen City that he had never felt so : ''fit" in his life, and a campaign would ' just suit him. Things seemed to havo a ! different color, however, as he watched the going down of the sun belund th distant Pelonciilos. The words of the young infantry adjutant kept recurring : to him, and he know of old that when ; Lane started after Indians he was "dead sure to get 'em," as Mr. Mason was good ; enough to remind him. Twice before sunset the guide had ventured to suggest a quicker gait, but Noel refused, saying that be did not mean to get his horses to the scene worn out and unfit for pursuit. Mr. Mason, ; who heard thia, begged to remind the : captain that pursuit was not the object; '. they were expected to get there in time to help Lane head off the attempt at fur- j ther flight, and to hold the Apaches, j wherever met, until the pursuing force j could reach them from the north and hemthnntn. Noel ranked Mason only a few files, and knew well that all the regiment would aide with Wa subaltern; so he was forced to a show of cordiality and consideration I.rpdeibj the lieu- |