Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-09-23

n'SiiH .-Au never TOOK me, ana got safe
ly away ct night and vamoosed the
country and read afterward how the
flames had devcured the ruffianly muir.
dcrer Roy and here he caught him
self. with sudden gulp. seeing Rorke's
suspicious eyes OH him
"Eh, Graice: Roy, &c were sayin."
Murderer. roisterer and rascal, Tom
Graice, he went ON. $50 I've nothing
to fear from fire.
Rorke eyed him long and distrustful-
| ly, grunting audible comment on the
story, to which some of the men had lis
tened in absorbed interest. while others
| were busily removing the picture and
setting ii in place upon the wall. Then,
| as it was fairly hung, Crow Knife step
| ped back across the room. his eyes rev.
erently fixed upon the fine, soldie1ly
face. Graice, meantime. after hurried
| glance about him, had drawn a flask
| from his vest pocket and had lifted it to
| his lips, when Rorke grabbed it.
| IL thought SO, ye mad Drained CAB
| bier. Yell. be drunk before the days
ture man. It's lookin at ye straight
and stern.''
! Who-who's looking at me? What
| ID rot are you talking:" shuddered
Graice.
1.-The colonel is, and as if he didn't
relish the sight. Small blame to him. 8"
''It's u saying Of my people. said
Crow in his slow, solemn tone, Whom
the eyes Of the dead call must rise and
| follow"
You croaking''- Kissed GIaice.
leaping to his feet and rushing at the
Indian, but Rorke threw himself be-
tween them.
play wild fire when We may, man,
but niver wild IL tame tiger. Hush, HOW.
Go out this door and cool that crazy
head Of yers. Here come the ladies'
| Instantly the excited group scattered,
the men resuming their work as though
at no time thought of crime or quarrel
had entered there, but ROrke's heart
was humping hard as he went to his sta
tion. First to enter were Captain Leale
and Mrs. Daunton, though the blithe
voices and CHEEKY laughter of the others
could lie heard without. Evidently there
was fun at kitty's expense, and Leale
had seized the opportunity to draw
Helen to one side. They We're talking
earnestly as they entered.
| 1T seems providential that Wills
first station should bring his mother
back to the Old home. Here and now at
least she should be safe from all shock,
especially with your care to guard her,
Mrs. Daunton. She said to me only
|
little over year ago. but think have
needed her for years. She is dear to me,
almost as my own daughter.
| God bless her for those words" said
Helen, deeply moved. Il came to her
as Il dependent, but she has taught me
a new definition Of motherhood
| Motherhood has its sorrowful mean
ing for Mrs. FGrrar,' said I.cala grave
ly, his handsome dark eyes fixed upon
her face. Has she never spoken to you
about Royle, her eldest son:''
''She has sometimes mentioned him."
said Helen, with great constraint "But
she can hardly bear to speak of him,
and l know the bitter sorrow he brought
to every one who loved him, but" she
added quickly, as though eager to
change the subject, 'how coy and
warm and Chris:masy it looks and
smells! shall have another new defini-
tion-what Christmas means We learn
many definitions, do we not, as life goes
on. and sometimes fate is good to us and
lets us learn the happiest last
land you have learned sad one of
Christmas
II: A very sad one. Ny own baby
died i'll my arms on Christmas eye.''
Lealc bent earnestly toward the sad,
sweet face, q deep emotion in his own,
but at the moment Ellis entered, follow
ed closely BY Ormsby. She bowed in
evident constraint at sight of the couple
already there and looked as though she
would gladly have turned about again.
After her came Will and Kitty and
other young people of the post, all eager
and intent on inspecting the prepara-
lions being made, all full Of compli-
ments to Rorke for the success attending
his labors, all full of admiration of the
portrait, which they grouped about and
admired, while Ellis hung her fathers
saber underneath. And then once again
the whole party, chatting merriIy, went
drifting out into the crisp air and gle
rious sunshine, leaving, glowering after
them from the doorway Of the little
loom that opened off the main hall, the
i'll favored. i'll liked soldier Graice.
Two minutes later, and 10 one could
explain how it started or what was.its
exciting cause, with hardly spoken
word or premonitory symptom. tw o men
were clinched in furious struggle-one,
heavy, burly, powerful and gifted with
almost demoniac strength, had hurled
the other down. That other, 1.-THE.
sinewy, pantherlike in every motion,
writhed from underneath his huge an
tagonist and had sprung TO his feet,
while the first, more slowly, heaved
himself upward, and then, like mad
dencd bull, dashed at his fee.
Sprinsing lightly 10 one side, Crow
Knife, for it was he, whipped from its
sheath glittering blade and poised it
high in air, and Graice, even in his
blind fury, saw and hesitated. There
was "a rush of the workmen TO the spot,
but Captain Leale was first OF all Clear
! and cold and stem his voice was heard