Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-09-29

10 q man, were EofceG, within the oar
racks and forbidden 10 attempt to set
foot outside. Close at hand in the adj :
joining quarters the men of two troops
were held in readiness, under orders not
to take Off their belts, against any sud-
den outbreak, but the few who first had
talked of lynching or other summary
vengeance had soon been hushed to
silence. What was feared among the
officers was that Graice had been told
by some Of the guard that the Indians
were determined to have his scalp. and
tina: the soldiory so despised him that
he could net rely upon them to defend
him. Sergeant Grafton was confident
that Graice hoped i'll some way, by con-
nivance perhaps Of members of the
guard, to slip out of the building and
take refuge among the outlaws at the
| groggery across the stream. Having
killed an Indian he had at least some
little claim, according to their theory,
| to q frontiersman s respect.
Returning to the guardhOuse, as he
had promised Will, Malcolm Leale W as
in nOwise surprised at GIaftOn's anxiety
and even less to learn that Graice had
begged to be allowed to have speech
with his captain.
1t was ghastly face that peered out
| from the dim interior of the little pris-
Oh in answer to the officers summons
At sound CT footsteps on the creaking
stairway Graice had apparently hidden
i'll the depths Ct the room and only slow.
! ~ came forward at the sound Of the
commanding voice he knew. Hangdog
and drink sodden az was his look, there
was some lingering, some revival per.
| haps of the cid defiant, disdainful man
ncr he had shown to almost every man
at Frayne. Respect his captain as even
such us he was forced TO do, look up to
Kim now as possibly his only hope and
salvation, there was yet to his clouded
| intellect some warrant for q vague SEN
timent of superiority.
Outcast, migrate, drunkard, murderer
though he was, he, Private Tom Graice,
born Royle Farrar, was legal owner of
all that his captain held fairest, dear
est, most precious il all the world.
Leale's love for Helen Daunton was
something the whole garrison had seen
and seen with hearty sympathy. Ii
would be something to teach this proud
and honored officer that he, the despised
and criminal tough, was, after all, u
man to be envied as the husband of the
woman his captain could now onlv
valnly and hopeiesSly .ove. 1t was his
plan TO bargain with him, TO invoke his
aid. 10 tempt the honor of a soldier and
q gentleman, but for q moment, at sight
of that stern, sad face, he stood abashed
You wished to see me-" said LeaIe,
land l will hear you DOW
i've got that TO say want no other
man TO know" was the reply after an
interval OF few seconds, land want
your word of honor that you will hold
it sacred !"
| Il decline any promise whatever
What do you wish to say"
We'll, what have to tel! you inter
ests you more than any mar on earth
Captain Leale. I'm in hell here; I'm
at your mercy perhaps. NJ life is
| threatened by these hounds, because bv
accident that knife went into that blind
fools vitals 1t was only self defense ]
didn't mean to hurt him ~
mo. was the object. clearly un.
derstand, SAID Lcale. Go on"
| We'll, it's as man to man want to
speak. You know never meant to harm
him. You can give me chance for Jus
tice, for life, and IL can make it
worth your while"
THAT will do" was the stern re-.
sponse NO more on that head What
else have you to ask or say
Listen one minute" pleaded the
prisoner They d kill me here if they
could get me. quick onough-Indians or
troopers either. l must be helped away
l know your secret. You love my wife.
Help me out of this-here-this night
and neither she nor you will ever''-
Silence, you hound! Stink back to
your blanket where you belong. thank
God my friend, your father, never
lived to know the depths of your dis
grace! Not wori!' he forbade, with
uplifted hand, as the miserable fellow
strove once more to make himself heard
For the sake Of the name to which
.Vou have brought only shame you shall
be protected against Indian vengeance.
but who shall defend you against your
self: Will hear 10 more from Won
tomorrow you may STE your colonel, if
that will do you any good, but if YOU
have one atom Of decency left, tell nc
man living that you are Royle Farrar, /"
and with that. raging at heart, vet cold
and stern. the officer, needless Of further
frantic pleas. turned and left the spot.
But at the porch the captain turned
again. Wind and snow were driving
across his path. Tho sentries at the
front and flank of the guardhouse, muf.
fed to their very eyes, staggered against
the force of the gale. 1t seemed cruelty
to keep honest men on cost "a night so
wild as that for no other reason than 10
protect the life of man so criminal.
The members of the guard, who had re-
sumed their lounge around the redhot
stove the moment the captain disappear
ed. once more sprang to attention as he
re-entcred and called the sergeant to
him.
II am tempted to ask the officer of
the day TO relieve those sentries and let
No. l come up into the hallway, - said
t,n fsa1a