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

! face. 90 -icng sinasiovod by sorrow.
| beamed with the reflected light OF the
| gladness that shone on many another
Longing to be alone with her misery,
| Helen turned 10 seek the seclusiou CT the
dressing room and had almost reached
| its threshold. when, over or through the
strains of the lancers and the howl Of the
| wind without. there came some strange
sound that gave her pause.
Somewhere out upon the parade she
heard the distant. muffled crack OF the
cavalry carbine. Another. another far
Their away. and then, mingling with
them, hoarse. low murmur rs of many
voices and of commands indistinguish-
able through the gale. Louder grew the
clamor. nearer came the sounds; then the
added rush of many feet in the adjoin-
ing barracks of X troop. the quick. stir
| ring peal of trumpet. sounding some
| unfamiliar call. Overstrained and ex-
| cited as Were her nerves. fearing for
| him against whom the wrath Of the gar
rison was reused. she could only con
meet the sounds of alarm and confusion
with him aud his hapless fate. She
started forward Ia call the colonel's at
tention. for among the dancers the
| sound was still unieard
Again the shots and shouts. the rush
| Of hurryine feet Oh the broad yeranda
| without. Again and nearer. quick and
Imperative. the thrilling trumpet call.
Then, close nj hand the loud bang Of
the seItry's carbine and the steniorian
shout of Fret And then, just as the
| music abruptly ceased in response TO
the colonel's signal. bursting in at the
door. followed by couple of troopers.
came Rorke. rushing for a ladder that
had been in use during the day.
Its that mailman. Graice. sorrr'
he cried in answer to the look in his
commanders face. Hes fired the tow.
or, and he's burnin TO death
Springing to the window, Helen
Daunton dashed aside the curtain, and.
all one glare Of fame. the guardhouse
burst upon the view. A black ladder.
silhouetted against the blaze. was being
raised ut the instant the curtain fell
from her nerveless hand. Will seized his
cap, made one leap to the door. despite
kitty's frantic cffcrt TO seize him then,
missing his saber. whirled about and
rushed from point to point in search Of
il. DiviniDG his object, the girl threw
herself in front Of the settee. behind
which she had concealed il, and. when
he sought 10 reach around her, desper-
ately, determinedly fought him off.
Selling a cap. the colonel vanished into
the night. Throwing over his shoulders
| the first mantle he could Law his hands
ON. which happened to he Lucretia's.
Wayne followed his leader. Will, de-
layed and maddencd, only succeeded in
capturing his saber by forcibly lifting
Kitty out of the way; then he sprang 20
the doorway TO Join the men hurrying
from distant points to the scene. Orms.
by, too. had rushed after the colonel.
and only women We're left upon the
floor. These, horror stricken, yet fas-
cinated, had gathered about the east.
ward window. where Helen Daunton
crouched, unable to look again upon the
frightful spectacle. 1t was Ellis who
hurled aside the curtain. Just as old
Rorke. re-entering. sprang 70 the middle
of the hall
| Come away. ma ami For the love OF
God. miss. stand clear Of that window
The poor OWLS climbed to the top, and
the cannon powdher's in the tower"
With moan of despair. Helen burst
through the group and toward the open
doorway. as though She herself would
HE TO the rescue. Rorke, with one leap.
regained the threshold and thrust her
back.
my God. can no one save him:" she
cried.
Save him, ma'am. It's sure death
TO the man that darcs to try it. ANY
moment it may blow up. They're rush.
IN clear of il now. The coloncl's order.
cd them all back. No, God Of hiyin,
some ones climbin the ladder now,
It's Captain Leale! On, don't let him.
men! Dhrive him backi Oh. what use
IS IT? Did man ever live that could turn
Malcolm Leale from the duiy he deem
cd his own" And away rushed poor
Terry. Ellis sprabg 10 her mothers side
Just as, to the accompaniment of q
shrek from kitty's lips. there came
dull roar, followed by n sudden thud
and crash Of falling thinkers and the
hoarse shouts Of excited men. An in.
/ -.
leaped in at the door.
They'll have to bring him in here.
Leale would have saved him If be had
not jumped. Ellis. your mother must
not see his face. Take her into the dress
ing ROOM
And whyg" cried Ellis. "The lives
Of our best and bravest have been risk.
ed to save that worthless life. This Is
no place for him. He shall not be
brought here"
! Hush" said Ormsby in o low, in
tense tone. I'm Gods name. Ellis,
hushi The man ON that litter is your
mothers son. your own brother. Royle
Farrar. That is the secret I was guard.
ing for Helen Daunton. your brother
wife"
A moment later as the women gather
/ ID l.<...