Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-11-08
DAILY SHORT STORY
A Woman's Pluck.
lOriginal.1


cabin on a plantation in the south and
addressed man sitting in n chair be-
fore his door. BiXby was a northern
man who, having lost his health, had
decided to live an outdoor life in
genial climate. With his wife he had
gone south and settled in Georgia.
"Tom Venable? Who's Tom Vena-
ble?" said Bixby with bewildered
air. His question was not answered,
for at the moment Il number of men
Joined the first conner, and handouts
were clapped on BiXby's wrists. Alice,
Joe's wife, came to the door in time
to see her husband led away.
''They think I've murdered somebody.
Alice" said joe "and are going to take
me to town for few days, but it'll
all come out right. Don't worry"
1t was soon after the close of the
civil war and at The height of the
carpetbag days. when northern set
tiers in the south Were in constant ter
ror. The committee had pounced
upon Joe more for the purpose of ter
rorizing carpetbaggers than in the
cause of justice. Instead of taking
him TO county seat and turning him
over to the authorities, they camped
near a deserted log cabin, IN which
they confined him. After supper they
smoked and considered what to do with
him. The conclusion was to give him
a Judge Lynch trial the next morning.
the result of which was predetermined.
4 man was left on guard at the cabin
door, and the party went to sleep in Il
barn near by.
When Alice Bixby saw her husband
led away by the committee on
charge of murder, she knew exactly
what it meant. For awhile she be-
lieved they were taking him to imme-
date execution, and the thought para
lyzed her mentalIyand physically. Then
came the hope that they might delay
the murder. and she began to think
what she could do to save him. After
many plans had been considered and
abandoned she hit upon one which she
proceeded to put into practice. Aiming
herself with the only weapon in the
house, she took Il horse from the stable
and followed the party at n distance.
About ? o'clock in the morning she
suddenly appeared before the men in
charge of the prisoner and begged pite-
ously for an interview.
Couldn't on no account" replied the
guard. GO away from yere or I'll
call out the committed"
'What'll they do with him?"
'Waal. 1 reckon they'll hang him to-
morrer''
Alice pleaded so hard for one last
goodby that the guard finally consent
ed. While she was inside he listened
to the conversation, which was wall
ing on the part of the woman and at
tempts to reassure her ON the part of
the man. At last she babe him fare
well and came out. The guard of
course kept rifle ready to receive the
prisoner should lie attempt TO leave
when the door was open, but did not
expect such an emergency, the words
of the man within pointing to n hope
that he would be able to prove his in
nocence. The guard did not know that
Alice between her means had been
talking in whispers.
Take this for your Kindness" said
Alice, giving the guard a watch, land
woman you have befriended."
The man took the watch, and. resting
his rifle in the hollow of his shoulder.
strained his eyes in the darkness TO ex-
anime it. Alice stood by and little
behind him. Suddenly he felt cold
metal against his temple and knew
that it was the muzzle of Il pistol.
eff you move or cry out" said Alice,
"I'Il pull the trigger" Then she called
in n low voice, "All right, Joep'
AS Joe left the cabin Alice felt the
guard move. She pressed the steel the
harder against his temple. reminding
him that it was still there. and he re-
sumed his immobility. He saw his
prisoner disappear in the darkness and
heard n horse crashing through the
bushes. The sounds ceased; still Alice
stood rigid. Had the guard seen the
pale face above him and recognized
that she was straining every nerve to
keep from swOoning he might have
risked a stroke for the upper hand
He waited, expecting every moment a
change in the situation, but no change
came. Finally he said:
"How longs this goin' to last?"
"Move and you der
Alice knew that all depended on keep
ing the man as he was as long as pos
sible. Joe was not mounted on fleet
horse, and unless he secured good
start it would be easy for the dozen
men who had arrested him going in
different directions to catch him. The
watch, which the guard still held in
his hand, not daring TO make motion
to throw it down, licked loudly. To
steady herself Alice counted its beats.
but a minute seemed so long that she
desisted. A gray streak appeared in
the east. and she could see the time.
It was O'Clock. She had entered the
cabin about 3. Joe had an hours start.
The arm that held the weapon was
ready to drop. but she did not dare