Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-03-17

quietly, eagerly. raised her head 10 lis
ten. For moment 10 reply was made.
Then came the impatient query: " Har-
vey. 10 You hear: You have no time
to lose. Iou have Int minute IL
which TO answer -
Major" he burst forth 1t last in an
agony Of doubt, Won hear what they
say, you see how l am fixed. If | were
here alone. you would never need to ask
my services Id fight with You 10 the
bitter end-but think of my father. my
mother. If anything befall my sisters.
Can nothing he done:"
From the lips of the stricken paymas-
ter there came only groan IN reply.
." fear Ee cannot hold out long. Mr..
Harvey, nuttered tine clerk. II doubt
if he heard or understood yOu.
Wen, why not let them have the
safe If they'll guarantee that that Is all
they want: How much have you there /:
l feel sure my father would make il
good. -
There's over SEQ, 000, Mr.. Harvey
Well, if II was only % cents. Mr..
Ned Harvey, all We got 10 say j. devil
wan of them would they get 50 long
as / co1ld load a shot or pull trigger.
Go you. if you VIII. Take tine leddias
by all means II you think it safer. but
before Ia trust the wan sister | ever
had God rest her s0El-to the prom
Use Of any such blackguarl party rs
this. Ia bury my knife III her throat. -
An awful stiffness followed Feeuy's
words. For an instant There WAS no
sound hut quick beating hearts, the
lnutterirgs and compla;nings of poor
Lullau. staggering about III search OF
his carbiue. the quicl,ened breath and
low moaning of poor old Plummer.
Then again came the load hail from
without:
Once more. Ned Harvey, VIII you
come cut and be saved or stay there
and roast? Surrender now ana You re
all right; hut. Ly the COD of heaven.
II you refuse il : the last chance for Won
or those Won were fool enough 10 bring
herc Think for vour sisters. man.
There's no hope for one OF you ii You
delay another minute
And chen 1t was wo'aan's voice,
trlnulous l1!t clear.
80 Ned. WASH 7 II II save us that Major
pluEnnar sent ms men? Wash Z it for
our sake ha gave up aH his escurt:''
1T was, Fan, Ees--a, least he thought
SO.
And now you would desert him
would yau: Leave him - le murdered
by these robbers. the worst gang We
ever had or heard Of: / say Won shall
not. Tor one viii not 20 into their
hands. Ruth cannot 20 without me-
STAY and fight il out. Ned. OF you re
NOT your father son"
Pam! Fan! you re trump! God
bless your brave heart" cried Harvey.
1T seemed cowardlv TO 20. yet the re-
spou=ilility WIS more than could
bear. -
May the saints IL heaven smile on
your purity face for all eternity NUT
tered FceIy ia a rapture OF delight
The Young Teddy is right. Mr.. Har-
vey, though ! wa-n t FOR me 10 say IT,
ShUrr yuu can't trust those scoundrels
/ They stab ye in the back. SIR. and rob
vou Of vo1r pretty sisters and drag them
away before your dying eyes. That
man Pasqual j. a devil, sir. nothing
less. Shure ven fight till rescue comes.
tor come it VIII tell you the bows
are squirting toward us. h-ll to split.
f-mn every side now. and Wen whale
these sco1uirels vet. - e
Then from without came the final
/ hail:
What answer Harvey: Vow or
never"
go 10 hi. you son Of an ape and
worse than Il greaser," yelled Feeny.
IF ygu had "A dhrop of Irish blood in
yer veins. ye'd never ask the ques-
ton. Now. if yuu thinl, You can take
| this money. here's your chance. No
| Harvey ever went back on his friends -
Even Brain muddled Mullan felt a
/ naUdliu impulse to cheer at Fe-ny' 5
| enthusiast, answer. Even poor old
Plummer gave a half stihed cry. Pos
| sibly he canned that rescue was at
hand. but Mere was little time for re-
joicing. Springing back whence ha
came. the unseen emissary was hesri
! shouting some order to his fellows. The
next instant Ghe rifles began their crack
I ing ON both sides. and the bullets. with
/ furious spat, drove deep into the adobe
or N-hizzed through the gunnysacks
| into the barley. The unseen foe was
once more investing them on every side
and not Il shot coul,. be wasted III re-
/ turn.
Once more the furious crackle ard
roar of the flames were heard close at
( hand, and thenthe smoke grew thicker,
! The heat increased. and poor Ned Har-
/ vev. his eyes snarting. lnelt. steadfast
at his post and prayed prayed for the
/ coming OF reseue, for the return of the
/ loved father all the gallant troop at his
/ back and then. even us though In an
! swer to his prayer, there came = Sudden
! luli in the fight.
/ Something 4 coming." shouted Fee
/ ny excitediy. They see or hear some
/ body sure. Look, Ar Harvey, ain :
/ that twoof their fellows scudding away
Westward oat there ?"
Surely enough. In the glare of the
burning sheds The besieged caught a
/ glimpse Of two Of the gang bending low
/ in their saddles 100 yards away and