The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1885-10-31

his teeth Al first bis skili ard str myth
stood him In good stead. The prospeet OF
the reward nerved his arm and gave him
added poWer-on the one side love, lite, hap
piness; on the other, ah he didn't like to
think of tbati Flora encouraged him with
sweet and tender words while MacAllister
raved like maniac, ami hal it not bean
fer Deemp,ter wouiI most certainly have
shot the young man. who pres ,n:cl a tempt
ing mark as he stood at the sterh. scullin,
away. Dan'l, however, merely said:
sits just sintul waste Of powder and shot,
to say nothing OF misprision of manslau ghter.
Bile wee! He'll be glad to let her drift in
by and byI' So saying. he unyoked a pair
of horses, and desiring the postiilions to tol
low with the coach, he and Allis er
rode lesurely along the side of the firth,
keeping pace with the boat. Despite ali
Curly'j efforts, although she drifte dowD
toward tie ssl, it was all he could do t,
keep her from running ashore into the very
arms Of the enemy. Fora was for going
out uron tle cameo If either landing at
Dundee or Of bci1, pickle l up 10y some ship
in the of1il, All the strength was leaving
his body. bu all the courage remained
strong III her hear.
Lot IL, go QUO t. sea, darling" she said.
1--WE cgn olly die; AMI better death than
life wit houH you
at length they were opposite small fish
ing village. The fishermen, who were mend
ing their nes in front of their cot. ages.
ssraag to tier fti, and stool no ror-
stricken at the sigh Of the fr1i SIX, fl and
the two helpless creatures drifting out to
destruction
A low, morning sounl came over the
water; tbs boa trembl,d beneath them.
Curly knew what that 81 ,uilie!; so di the
llsherni ~ so did Deamp:lsr
What does ii maa-" MacAllister i'll
qu!rei.
Il mcan;" replial D,emp,ter, chat if
tho ara not ash re IN ton minutes no
rcwer on earti IA say, them. She's game
to go down. can SOC il in her eyes; but
that white-liver,l hound hnsn't the pluck
to go through wiz, it. they'll b, ashor. IN
five minuteS!
Tha fsno~ was right. Poor Curly .'had
not the pluck 10 see tn, woman he lowell
daarer lrln hi own lif4 90 down to death
beior, his eve while he had the power to
save her. He therefore gradually suffered
tn, boat to drift shore.
The moment eioIo hey landed she sait,
"Remrnher, Pm your wife, dar!ng-your
wife. Tell them that, ana they dare not
rort u'"
Now, of course Curly knew well enough
that the staten mt he had mads to thu inn
keeper, combined with certain corr3lorat NO
circumstance, would constitute them, ac-
cordng to Scottish law, really man ana
wife But he loved her too well to suffer
the shallow Of shame to fall upon her
As tire boat ,olchel the beach colln, of
fishermen held it fast, while couple more
carried out the poor ferry man, who was
st II sense!ess, and took him to the nearest
cotnge. Then Curly eprang forth, and,
taking Flora in his arms, lifted her ashore.
Taking eff his hat, an bowling formally to
A hn Mt
vice, sir" Meanwhile Deempster had ar
ranged with Sandy MacDiarmid tha head
man Of the village) for the use of his cot.
tage during the forthcoming interview.
MacAlistor, keeping his hand upon his
pistol, indicated by an expressive gesture
that he wished the lovers to precede HIM
Curly gave his arm 10 Flora, and the two
followed the Laird of Strathmines, being in
their turn followed by MacAllister
Standing on the threshold of tho Gotta "a
was tall wcirl-iooking wclnan, with hair
white as snow, and large, DARK eyes. with
an ecrie. faraway look in them. Eispeth
MacDiarmid for it was Smly's wifr)
STOPPED little, but when she encounter u
De,mpster she siraigh eund herself and
stood erect looking HIM full in the face, as
she mutterel. THE evil cenl The evil ,enl'
When she caught sight OF Curly AMI Flora
she exclaimed ''Puir ludde! puir lassioW
an1 then, with smile of rare sweetness
she said to Flora:
Come ben, my bonnie dcarie" Flora
tool; tn, old woman's hand. and went into
the cottage without word. Curly was
about to follow, when he was intercepted
by Decmpster pistol in hand. Then
MacAlli ,ter said, "Dan'l, wish to speak TO
NV daughter alone. Mini this man doasn't
cross the Threshold AMI don't los sigh
of him until l am ready FOR hint"
Trust me for that" said D,empster, hi
han upon his trigger. The night was now
falling into darkness, AMI the villagers had
dispersed. leaving the rivals alone together
AS Curly made another step towards the
door Deemp'ser presented his pistol, re-
markin, with a grim sort of pleasantly,
"Mr. Player man, this pistol il loaded with
slugs, and if you have any regard for your
health you will keep clear Of the muzzielr
Curly clenchol his fist and CRASHED his
teeth at his own impotence. ''lf ! only ha
a weaponl If | only hal weapon!" lie NUT
tered, whilo he paced to and fro, and
Dsempster mounted guard at the gates of
his paradise.
TO be continued.)