Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1899-07-07

warm hearted way: "sit down, Fergus;
Tn glad TO sec you. You should sec
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, OF moost
hurry my wurrd, as olive Tim Blake in
me place down in the yard. Owe some
wurred Of John Conover from a dirthy
Chinese tbot Ci've befrinded wunst or
twice. He told me, Nelly Carney. thot
John has med his foiud Mt last, an thot
three ov the worst min in San Francis
co are to be afther not ony PLAT he's
taken DOT alriddy, but II 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 end caught his hand.
Fergus. Fergus. ye're n friend, in
deedi 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 go
faster than any one. Oh, Fergus, help
me, for old times sakel''
w g We MO lO1AlGf llAlf W ANatf
quoth Fergus, ''for thot gang is away
three hours nco. BE ready whin l 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 tho Irishmen
and Nelly 10 the little station where
she had decided to get of.
It was by a short cut. rough and DAN
gerous. that Nelly made up her mind to
lead her followers. 1t was II by which
John Conover used to secretly transport
his gold. Several times she had tramped
with him mp and down the pass. She
calculated hat che could arrive an hour
or two after the attacking party if they
pushed forward all night. A terrible
energy possessed Nelly. Her eyes shore
with terror and anxiety. Could they
reach John in timer As size 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 n light in the
cabin. The party crept up stealthily
Nelly crawled en- her hands and knees
to tie 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 %toTturing him, Indian fashion. by
applying burning sticks TO his feet. He
would not gign away his claim.
Nelly drew back one second, ard
Fergus took her place. a settled gray
look came into the face Of the bis
s%witchman. de motioned the next man,
and all drew their pistols. Fergus crept
to the door. moticning Nelly to shelter
herself. There were q sudden crash in Of
the door. three shots 6nd 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 q badly
crippled man. He had expected no sue.
cor, hut he knew Nelly well enough tc
think she would never rel!nquish the
claim only over his own signature, hard.
ly then. Re had resigned himself TO die
that she might have a,,fortune. 1t was q
snatch from the grave fer him.
Every ono knows the Conovers on the
two continents. The claim was one oil
the best three in California. Kathleen
was such fabulous heiress she coult
have married a dozen titles, but sh,
chose a plain American. She had {
young half brother, who, strange as Il
may seem, was called Fergus from tht
start. He was a famous athlete in az
eastern college in the seventies and mar
ried an English girl Of family. Nelly
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. Shl
kept her vow. No time since that awfu
hour on the mountain eide has she beer
absent from John Conway's side.-Chi
cago News.