The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-02-07

back through the transmitter:
Eyes, Pm here; what is ite''
Don't you forget to send that thou.
sand up on the stage tonight to Log
town. Tom says there's at least $40.
900 in sight. Motley is a school
and don't know it. Don't forget now.
Good-by."
Franks pretty eyes and mouth spread
wider and wider as these words came
out of the wonderful little instrument.
For goodness sake! who is he talk.
ing to? Oh-h-h y-e-es! why it must b.
10 Frank Downey, the express agent al
Bokey. They've been talking together,
and Downey has stopped and switched
my end on. Motley is schoel-marm.
is he? There's $4,000 in sight and
Charley don't know it, and the money
is going up there on the stage from
Bokey tonight. Oh dear, what shall ]
do? I'll go up there. | will. It's only
eight miles, and it's twenty from Bo.
key. It's five o'clock and the stage
gets there at nine"
Frank was California girl, and there
were no perlls to her on the eight mile
trail to Logtown, and if there had been
the slur cast upon Charley's keenness
and the eager desire to save that $40.
600 in sight for him would have been
sufficient incentives to induce her tC
dare them, though she knew they awaited
her. Running over to the post-oiliee
she hurriedly engaged the young CLERK
TO take care of the instrument for her,
and, dashing back to her room, she soon
appeared ready for her eight-mile walk
to Logtown. A little silk cap surmount-
| ed her head and over it was stretched q
black veil to protect her face from the
sun and from the evening breeze aftel
dark Spreading her jaunty parasol
| she threaded her way along the narrow
trail which led through the chaparraI
into the dark woods,
The sun was yet very hot, although
almost down behind the hills, and the
trail was steep and rocky; but Frank
pushed on, muttering to herself, when
she felt so tired she was tempted to SIT
down and rest ''Charley's school
marin, is he? Ten thousand dollars il
sight and he don't know it, Ell? Well
he shall know it, and have all the credit
/ vi liiC hiSGohtlNs wv NliNAN INV
up, down, down, around and arounC
wound the mountain trail, and Franz
wound with it, until tired, dusty. breath
less, hoarse and almost crying, she saw
the county highway in the sombe
moonlight, just below her.
just as she reached the roadside ant
was about to push through the chapar
raj which here reached to her shoulder
she heard the rumbling old stage coacl
coming round . bend close to her
With despairing resolve to 90 in a
least with the stage if she could not be
fore it, she pushed her closed paraso
through the bushes and waved ii to tn
driver, shouting Mt the same time
hoarse from her excitement: "Stop
Stop
But TO her establishment and dismay
instead of stopping the driver reache
down into the boot, and, with ''cus
yer, take itn' threw heavy box int
the road, and, flashing his four-in-han,
into run, disappeared down the can
yon.
Poor Frank crouched down into til
chaparral in despair.
"Oh, dear! | haven't walked Their
and I've lost the stage and poor Charlie
oh, dear met
The spirit OF genuine California gil
is not easily overcome with despair. an
} Frank was genuine California gin
and she was not to be beaten until sh
was
She got up. pulled her black We
tighter over her moist face and bravel
started on again to Logtown. Ii wa
not far, and not half hour elapsed BIZ
fore she saw the lights of the little cam
scattered around in the canyon belo
t her.
+ Brcathless and painting she hurried
A the tavern. A great crowd of men wel
; eXcitedly swearing and threatening o
4 the porch Some were in the stree
. clinching saddles ON to their horses. an
| in their midst stood Black Pete, the stag
driver.
4 Don't | know" he was angTll
9 shouting. Il tell Yer twar only mi
e back, an ther cuss showed his shootil
d iron right under my nose! Why didn' t
run fer it? Thar war two nv 'em thar ;
II sure as tightin'."
e Pretty soon, with a yell and Il WHO'D
X twenty men galloped up the road with
o suggestive-lOoking rope dangling fro,
e one of the saddles.
II Poor Frank FASTENED to lind Charlie
II She found him sitting disconsolately {
d the back porch.
WIZ, Frank, what in the world a
YOU doing here?''
r 'Oh, Charley, have You sold that mil
). vet? Am too Late
o Too late for what? Sold it? No, al
II don't believe | can That man Boz
e sent the money up hyeXpress and arc;
4, aren't got away with the stage to-nigf
ne and the money went with it | dor
at believe ne Il risk another thousand on
p playedsout mine
g :: Oh. eoodier' cried Frank. I've Q
a here in time. Road agent? Oh, that
he too rich. Oh, dear oh dear shall di'
3 nj an nc ~n!ei in. ai4
III $ IN ~; Ii h rt
at IN. !}@r~' viii i, the matte
ne Hht % you know about the TO:
Vi a1.u,5"
e sr4aE w. h"ii ng to her sides
n de-; ar 81 tarp n@ her iTepressit
nc laugh
ne Read %eeute There wasn't al
III read 80 nj If al; stopped the stage
ne Get on, and the driver threw box
u in-c-g,
as What does this mean. Frank. Il
10 me- " hat were You doing on the TO
ee n Tins time OF II chi all alone?'
- 1t TOOK he. q long time to get
PP s story oat, but She did, while Charl
ne st Oh with his mouth open wide enou
to represent his plaged-out claim W
VI $50. 030 in 5 CHIT
III No sooner had I,rsnE told her ste
IN than he caught her in his arms with
nc wild shout; You little darling, Y
u shall have every cent OF it.
ne About tao hours afterward q file
he disconsolate, disguised horsemen WEI
3D.. ed their way mp to the tavern, with
~ suggestive sose dangling from one
3D. the saddles and box containi
~ s.. 900
p IT is sufficient 10 relate that Char
II al u an l.,