The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1899-06-23

"oAA GAUOA way. NAV No"A, ClS
I'm glad to see you. You should see
Kathleen. She's a fine girl now"
Fergus would not sit down. He was
evidently at a loss what to say. He
shifted his hat unesily.
"Nelly Carney thot was. Oh moost
hurry my wurrd, as Olive Tim Blake in
me place down in the yard. Olive some
wurred of John Conover from a dirthv
Chinese thot Give befrinded wunst or
twice. He told me, Nelly Carney. thot
John has med his foind at last, an thot
three ov the worst min in San Francis
co are to be afther not cny phat he's
taken DOT alriddy, but it will be his life
for his claim out there b~eyant."
Nelly Conover had risen. All the fine
lady dropped from her. She ran to Fer
gus and caught his hand.
Fergus, Fergus, ye're a friend, in
deed! Come away with me to John.
Get Tim, Denny and Jerry and one Of
the other boys we can depend on.
There's plenty of money. We will 90
faster than any one. Oh. Fergus, help
me, for old times sake!'
We've no tonne, thin, to lose
quoth Fergus, ''for thot gang is away
three hours moo. Be ready whin I come
with the .b'ys."
An hour or two later Nelly was
ready. She had been to the convent to
kiss Kathleen; she had dressed herself
in her coarse mountain clothing again.
The next train north bore the Irishmen
and Nelly to the little station where
she had decided to get off.
1t was by a short cut. rough and dan
gerous, that Nelly made up her mind to
lead her followers. 1t was one by which
John ConOvar used to secretly transport
his gold. Several times she had tramped
with him up and down the pass. She
calculated that she could arrive an hour
or two after the attacking party if they
pushed forward all night. A terrible
energy possessed Nelly. Her eyes shone
with terror and anxiety. Could they
reach John in time? As she plunged
onward in the dark she registered a vow
never to leave John Conover again if
his life were spared.
Toward dawn the party were in sight
of Toby's creek. Nelly pointed with
shaking finger at the hut neal the noun
tain side. There was a light in the
The party crept up stealthily.
Nelly crawled on her hands and knees
to the back Of the window. The sight
froze her blood. John Conover
was tied and bound before the fire until
he was perfectly helpless. Three men
were torturing him, Indian fashion, by
applying burning sticks to his feet. He
would not sign away his claim.
Nelly drew back one second, and
took her place. A settled gray
look anne into the face of the big
.switchman. He motioned the mex man,
and all drew their pistols. Fergus crepl
10 the door, m%otioning Nelly to shelter
1erself. There were a sudden crash in OF
he door, three shots and a dash at the
window. Nelly fired the pistol that she
leld straight into the face of the man
who came first.
John COnover was to remain a badly
man. He had expected no sue
,Or, but he knew Nelly well enough to
think she would never relinquish the
,laim only over his own signature, hard
y then. He had resigned himself to die
hat she might have a:.fortune. 1t was a
match from the grave fer him.
Every one knows the Conovers on the
wO continents. The claim was one of
he best three in California. Kathleen
vas such a fabulous heiress she could
ave married a dozen titles, but she
hose a plain American. She had a
'oung half brother, who, strange as it
nay seem, was called Fergus from the
tart. He was a famous athlete in an
astern college in the seventies and mar
led an English girl of family. Nelly
a lovely white haired old lady,
nay often be seen in the picture gal
cries and pleasure gardens of continent
al cities, walking beside the wheel !
hair of a genial old gentleman. She
:ept her vow. No time since that awful
our on the mountain side has she been
bsent from John Conway's side. Chi I
ago News. (