Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-07-28
the blood fly all over rne xar,
tRicAS PRESS ASsoe,Ar,on


beside Uncle Ben. That figure had
pushed Its way into the circle unbeard
ana unseen. Everybody stared in as-
constituent, and for half a minute not n
Word was said. 1t was Marian Percy.
She was known by sight to at least half
OF the gang. and the others at once iden-
tined her as 1.-The gal" they had expect
ed to find in the house. Let us 20 back
a little. When Uncle Ben left TIE camp
among tine rocks, she had intended to
follow him within an honr. 1t had
been settled that Kenton must remain
where he was until force of Federals
was brought to the rescue or until if
was known that he was in no peril from
the Confederates. While it was hoped
that Uncle Ben's mission would be sue
cessful all realized the chances of its
failure. Both armies We're scouting and
raiding up and down and across. A
hamiet or crossroads or bridge held by
the Federals one day would be in posses
sion OF the Confederates on the next.
and vice versa. Uncle Ben might en-
counter a troop of Federal cavalry and
bring them to the rescne. or he might
he picked mp by Confederate troop or
a gang or guerrlllas and sent OF some
where to work on fortifications.
"Mebbe the Yanks will come fust,
and mebbe the Confederates, replied
Steve Brayton when appealed to for his
opinion. ITS goin to be nip ard tuck,
L reckon, but with the chances leetle
In favor of the Confederates. Kin /
mase bold TO offer some advice:''
Why. certainly." answered Marian
| and kenton in the same breath.
Then let Miss Percy head fur home
| to once. We can't tell what NAV be
happenin thar or what 5 goin to happen
yere. She's Percy AMI good Conted-
crate, and nobody'll dare disturb the
| house. = Them blamed guerrillas which
follered us yesterday may open fire yere
any mint. and once they DO she can I
! git away
The advice was full of wisdom, and
Marian prepared TO start at once.
Got any we pins in the house!" asked
Steve rs she was ready.
mo
kin yo' shoot pistol?"
| "Of course. have been sorry that
1 left mine behind us in Winchester -
Then take this revolver. It's a big
I'M, but ] guess yo' kin handle it. Bein
| yo' ar southern gal, no southern man
orter trouble yo', Int yo' can't allus tell
what may happen. If wuss comes to
wuss, bullets will count fur mo- than
| words"
Kenton advised her to take it, and
Brayton assisted her down to the high
way and said as he let her:
| "Yo' may hear some shootin up this
way doorin the day, but don't be narv-
us about it and don't run any risks to
| cum and see what the trubble is
On approaching the house Marian
caught sight Of the horses and men and
realized what had happened and was
happening before she had made out the
figure of the loyal old slave chained to
the post. She had felt terribly anxious
| ahout her mother as she came along the
road. and she had grown faint ut thought
of the troubles and perils surrounding
her, but everything was forgotten the
instant she saw that circle of men. II
was no wonder every man in the gang
looked at her rs if spellbound when she
Suddenly appeared in their midst and
cried out TO stop Ike Baxter's uplifted
| arm. As women despise cowardice IN
man, so do men admire anything ap.
| preaching heroism in a woman. Mar
| ian rested one hand on the naked shout
| der of the old slave who had trotted heI
| on his knee as child thousand times,
and holding the revolver ready for in.
slant use in the other, her slight form
drawn up. her brown eyes flashing. hel
| handsome face handsomer than ever be-
fore. she demanded:
"Who are you, and what is the mean
ing Of this:'
Every man instinctively fell back o
step or two. Ike Baxter let his arm fall
and no one dared look the girl full il
the face. For a long half minute nc
one spoke. Then Ike, shifting from one
foot to the other and looking past hel
instead of at her, muttered:
1--WE uns cum yere to captur' tina
cusscd Yankee and pay this Niger of
fur smashin my head last night!'
.Yes, that s what we uns cum fur
added two or three others.
Marian deposited her weapon on TIT
ground and proceeded to cast off thu
chain by which Uncle Ben was secured
to the post. Some of the men crowded
little nearer. and some muttered ant
cursed, but no one interfered. Whel
the slave was free, she signed to him t.
put en- his garments, picked up TIT
weapon, and sweeping her eyes aroun'
the circle she said:
i "You speak of capturing Yankee
Who is he--where is he:'
"Yo' know who we mean, replied
IKE Baxter. who was recovering his as
surance sooner than the others. I'VE
uns want Kenton, that cussed YANKEE
spy
Aye, he un's the man. growle'
three or four others.
J And you call him q Yapkee-you
Ike Baxter!" she replied as she steppe'
forward to face him. He enliste'
when you did. He fought when yo'
ran away. He has encountered a scor
| of DANGERS IN your one. He has don