Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-06-16
CHAPTER v,

CHAPTER ".
The shouting and firing along the
mountain side continued for some min
utes, during which time Captain Bran
don and his friends listened i'm breath
less silence. When the sounds died out,
Alice Blanchard, who was standing be-
side the captain, said TO him:
'.Do you think harm can have come
TO our friend?"
He told me that il he were attacked
and passed through the line of the out
laws successfully, he would signal me
from tho high mountain ten miles to
the SOUTH
signal you ten miles away through
tho blackness that hangs over valley and
hill?"
Yes. Wait and you can see it If he
has succeeded" said the captain, real
izing that more than common interest
agitated the girl by his side.
The long minutes dragged by, pain
fully measured by tho audible beating
OF Alice's heart. Nearly an hour had
passed since the firing-to her it SEEM
ed an age. Her hands were becoming
cold. and she compressed her lips to keep
them from trembling.
'was that light?''
1t was Alice who cried out. She
Thought she saw hash-it might have
been n meteor-far away to the south.
But it passed so quickly that she could
scarce say such a thing had been.
''Sce! There it is, captain. There it
tsP' exclaimed Howard Blanchard, and,
unmindful Of the danger, all rose to
their feet. The light ON the distant
mountain side rose and fell, ut times
threatening to go out, but rising to q
greater height and burning with greater
clcarncss after each threatened relapse,
until at length it sent q stdSdy, inspir.
ing glare across the darkness.
He has gone through safely" said
tho captain.
"Thank Godv cried Alice.
And the others, according to tempera-
ment, expressed their delight ut Louis
kyle's success
Alice Blanchard forgot the surround
ing danger III the joyous relief from the
anxiety that had been weighing her
heart, and u reaction set In that made
her fearless for the time.
Halt! Who goes there?" demanded
Captain Brandon in n ringing voice rs
no saw dusky form moving swiftly be-
tween the corral and the neighboring
clif. Tho figure disappeared, and no re-
ply came back.
"Watch" said the captain. "Stand
every man carefully Mt his post. think
j hear them coming this way"
Tho neighing Of horse and tho i'm
patient stamping cf hoofs 100 yards on
attracted the captains attention.
why not challenge them:" asked
Howard, who, though MS brave as steel,
was naturally very nervous in this novel
situation.
I'VE know they arc there. They have
20 doubt a. to our whereabouts Let rs
leave the initiative to them" replied
Captain Brandon.
Tho wisdom of this suggestion was
soon manifest. From the cliff above the
spring n voice-it was Bouton's-called
out:
Hello, down thereg'
well, what 90 you want?" asked
the captain.
81 want to know whose camp that
is"
II an known ~ Captain Brandon,
and yea arr known rs the murderer and
desperate Bouton, replied the captain.
IF I come as n foe. you will soon
know it, There are men enough with
mo to sweep over your work as buffa-
10 herd would over bank Of reeda But
we want no fight"
''Ah, now you are getting nearer to
tho truth than IL your habit You like
best to rob and plundcr where the gain
Is great and the danger small"
There is not enough plumber In youz
outfit to tempt US"
Then why do you Gomez
Eve como this time - the friends Of
law and Justice"
'.Indccdr'
Eve do. sir. You have with youz
party man named Dr. Blanchard Z"
''what Of that.''
HE and his family are fugitives from
Justice. and we come 10 demand than.
We are working for the reward Now.
give these people mp and We win %
sway end leave yoo in psaDA"
"The man that says I q ~ a ny
family sxe criminals q fagit1Sn non
5QseisA" bsoh h n. 1la1ahasa wAe