Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1899-06-21
warm hearted way 'Sit down, Fergus;

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 dirthy
Chinese thot Olive 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 ony phat he's
taken DOT alriddy, but it will be his life
for his claim out there beyant.'
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.
deedl Come away with me to John.
Get Tim, Denny and Jerry and n Of
the other boys we can depend on.
There's plenty of money. We will go
faster than any one. Oh, Fergus, help
me, for old times sakel'
"We've no tonne, thin. to lose,'
quoth Fergus, "for thot gang is away
three hours moo. Be ready whin 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 Conover 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 near the noun
tain side. There was a light in the
cabin The party crept up e%tealthily.
Nelly crawled on her hands and knees
to the back of the window. The sight
within 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
Fergus took her place. A settled gray
look came into the face of the big
switchman. He motioned the next man,
and all drew their pistols. Fergus crep'
to the door. motioning Nelly to shelter
herself. There were a sudden crash in Of
the door. three shots and a dash at the
window. Nelly fred the pistol that SHE
held straight into the face Of the mar
who came first.
John Conover was to remain a badly
crippled man. He had expected no sue
cor, but he knew Nelly well enough tt
think she would never r%elinquish thu
claim only over his W signature, hard
ly then. He had resigned himself to di'
that she might have fortune. 1t was
snatch from the grave fer him.
Every one knows the Conovers on tn
two continents. The claim was one O.
the best three in California. Kathleen
was such a fabulous heiress she coul'
have married a dozen titles, but sh
chose a plain American. She had
young half brother, who, strange as j
may seem, was called Fergus from tn
start. He was a famous athlete in al
eastern college in the seventies and mar
ried an English girl of family. Nell,
Conover, a lovely white haired old lady
may often be seen in the picture gal
leries and pleasure gardens of continen
tai cities. walking beside the whee
chair of a genial old gentleman. Sh
kept her VOW. No time since that awful
hour on the mountain side has she bee
absent from John Conway side.-Chi
cago News.