The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-05-24


out" Thus exclaiming, the wounded
man sprang to his feet and c,utched
| Tom iereely by the throat.
Hold on, hold on. stranger. You
| never was put up RICH. to pull me to
pieces. even 10 your best days, so how
can you expect to stand much show
| when you haven't more'n an ounce OF
| strength. Take it easy. take it easy,
| and tell me what it is about this Mar
garet. I'm your friend, and will do all
l can to help You and her TOO.
| The stranger sank back upon the bed,
but sat with glaring eyes riveted upon
Tom. At length as reason began to re-
| turn he Inurnured:
I! ''Oh. yes, remember all, now. The
stage was stopped, d short tight ensueo,
| l was struck down. and ] saw my wife
| borne away in the grasp OF one OF the
burly rufians"
What do you say?" exclaimed Tom
"'Stage held up" It's funny | dldn I
! hear anything about il. But then, how
! could /? | haven't been down to the
hotel for 4 week. But how did you
happen to tumble in here? The stage
don't come within mile Of this place;
| it drives down through the canyon
/ Il tried to follow in pursuit OF the
| robbers who were bearing away my
/ bride. Although it was dark noticed
| that they assembled the mountain.
crawled on after them. climbing higher
/ and higher until | fell exhausted across
your threshold"
! ~ b04x- I hprlDanRH
90 miss ye-"
| MISS me?' feebly asked the wounded
man. What do you mean?
| Mean? | mean that / climbed the
/ trail after dark last night and didn't
see anybody, but picked upsa mighty
handsome picture. Maybe it belongs
/ to some OF the folks in the stage. Did
you ever see it before?" and Tom Hen
/ derson drew the locket, which had in
| terested him so much, from his pocket
and handed it toward his companion.
''Why, it belongs to me, and that is
the likeness of my Wife
Say, young man." returned Tom,
bending a look upon the stranger that
was almost fierce in its intensity. rs
that the picture of your wife,"
Eyes, yes. it is"
''Then tell me, what was her name
before the parson made you two one?"
Margaret Henderson"
'And how old might she be, stranger?"
The voice OF the miner trembled as he
asked the question.
Scarcely nineteen"
And was the young girls father and
mother alive when you married."
NO, she was an orphan. Her parents
/ were drowned during flood along the
banks of the Missouri when my
Margaret was but child. She was
rescued Was found, SO it was stated,
floating on piece of timber
My God. Is it possible!" exclaimed
Henderson excitedly. stranger, you
stay here. Don't leave the cabin until
return"
Where are you going?"
"To wrest from the clutches of that
villain, Darnley, your Margaret. my
Margaret, your wife, my daughter,
and the Infatuated miner rushed forth
from the cabin leaving his guest SPELL
bound with establishment.
About the hotel of Eagles Pass were
lettering the usual number of miners,
gambl ers and chronic loafers.
They were absorbed in the interest
ing account of the robbery of the stage
coach the night before, which was be-
ing retailed to them by a heavy-whis-
kered, betting browed individual. who
claimed to be one of the victimized pas
seugers.
whoever did the job, did it in good
shape" remarked the narrator. There
were only three of them, but they
called han ds up before any man of us
could pull gun. So you see, although
hate to cave and shell out my dust
without making fight, l had to
weaken, or else go under"
''But who was it held We up?' asked
one Of the byStanders.
That's what Id like to know" was
the reply.
Then if you'd like to know who
stopped that stage last night, III tell
you" 1t was Tom Henderson that
spoke.
"Yes boys, I'll tell you who it was.
1t was jim Darnley, and there he
stands, Up hands, jim. I've got you
covered.'
If the desperate had made an attempt
to draw weapon he would have
been dead man in a moment, for the
miner had thrust the muzzle of re-
volver to within foot of his temple.
Yes. jim Darnley! You and your
gang held up that coach, and what's
more, not being satisfied with just rob
bing the passengers you carried of q
young woman to your den in the noun
tains Now. mates. that woman is my
daughter, and I'm here to compel this
wretch to release her, and then see
that he is made to pay the penalty of
his many crimes
"Daruley!'' continued Hende rson,
again addressing the robber, your
hours Of life are few and the moments
are speeding rapidly by. Unbuckle
that belt Of weapons about your waist,
and let them drop. Then right about
face and lead US 70 where you have
confined your captive
With an oath the bandit obeved, for
he saw no particle Of sympathy in the
stern faces Of the men by whom ne was
surrounded.
as I said a minute ago" remarked
Darnlev-''that when man has got q
gun pointed at you, you'd better come
pretty ne2r doing what he tells yoa 10.
50. you old 'cradie-roc.1sr,' / obey or
ders. Come Oh, I'll turn the young
woman over 70 YOU II short order. bat
III tell you on the straight that !
wouldn't have bothered with her at al
Il ! hadn't thonght bF her looks she