Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-09-30
DAILY SHORT STORY
Lost Lode's Hero.
Copyright. 1902; by the S. $. aicciur.

copyright. 1902. by the S. 8. Mcclure
Company.1
Tommy Duncan had been bad-so
bad that he had to 'stay in" But, then,
he, lived in the Lost Lode, the tough
district OF the big Montana mining
town. so he was expected to be bad:t
Robbie Jones had called him a '1ow,
down Lost Loder" when Marjorie
Forbes was listening, and Tommyshad
promptly retaliated, causing a howl
ing commotion in the second grade.
Hence the spresent Luneasy hour OF
solitude while he waited for teacher to
bring the principal to chastise him for
his sins after teachers meeting up
stairs. Tommy pressed his hot little
head against the cold window pane and
listened lonesomely to the loud ticking
Of the clock. His stepmother would
beat him when he got home late. he
knew. The twilight of the short noun
tain day was closing in.
Tommy's heavy little heart rose in
his throat as he aimlessly gathered
snow from the window sill into little
balls. Suddenly he caught his breath
in a half choked sob. hearing voices
outside. Forgetting his tears, he peered
cautiously over the window ledge. Two
dark forms lurked in the shadow of
the wide front steps.
Lets git outer tn wind fer q min
ute" growled one. "Sure he amt come
yit?"
Dead certing," nodded the other,
whose evil eyes. besotted and bleared
by drink, eagerly watched the hill
road which ran. down from the Perritt
mine on the hill to the smelter below.
"He's got the dusty with him, amt
he. Damp
"Shet> up yer fool questions. Billr'
rumbled Dan. with an oath. EFF ye're
gettin' cold feet, ye can vamoose. I'm
goin' ter stay right up thar by tibet
shack till get n whack at Bob Perritt
an tibet lot o. swag he's got with i'm.
I'll git even with i'm fer kickin' me
down them mill stairs eff hev ter kill
'imr'
But 1 don't keer ter kill i'm out
right eff good clubbin' III do tn biz
proper" deprecated his companion.
''Well. ef we're goin' ter be so chick
en- livered about it We can hit on'y onct,
an I'll do tn rest. Let's git out o. this
an hide benin tn shack ready fer i'm.
And they moved up on the hill. Tom
my's tear begrimed face was pale I'M
der its tan. He recognized the two
villains as Lost Loders who had been
discharged from the Perritt reduction
works the previous week for stealing
ore. What could he do? Perritt was
teachers beau. He must not be killed,
for teacher would be miserable. He
must be warned.
Tommy looked at the clock: almost
6. Could he go round the freightyards
where the robbers could not see him?
There was not time. He must go
straight up the road past their hiding
place to meet Perritt. His heart jump
ed right up in his throat at the fearful
thought. But it was for teacher.
He flew down the steps and up the
road toward the shack where the foot
pads waited for their victim. His tou-
sled, bare head and wild, straining
eyes flashed through the shadows, n
very ghost of fear.
The noise of the painting approach
drew Black Dan from his lair, to the
boys frightened imagination looking
like huge spider who hears the buzz
ing of fly. At the same moment a.
tall, striding figure swung over the
brow of the hill. He was too latel
run, Mr.. Perritt; rum" screamed
the child in frantic terror lodging a
blow from Black Dams appraised fist.
He caught the CLEAN of a six shooter
in the other hand of the big brute and
screamed again: "Run! They're goin'
to kill yei Ye''- But the great fist
fell with a crash across his temples.
A cloud of black smoke seemed to
fall upon him and smother him. and
the world went out like a snuffed can
die.
When it came back to him again. he
felt strangely light and giddy. There
were white clouds and sunsets all
about him. He seemed to be floating
on cloud. and when n blue eyed an
gel bent soothingly over him he was
not at all surprised.
did 1 get killedY' he whispered,
awestruck. AN I'm REILLY in heav-
en?"
The angel laughed and nodded smil-
ingly to another floating being-a man
angel, Tommy supposed. He came and
put his arm around the blue eyed an
gel, and together they hung oeer the
edge of Tommy's billowy cloud.
''No, dearie; you are right here with
us, where you are going to stay for the
rest of your life. You are a real hero,
like the ones read to you about in the
history book. And we are proud of
you" And then Tommy saw that the
angel was teacher and he was in her
room. which was banked with flowers,
for he had come to be known as hero,
and the whole town had done him hon
or. You have been very i'll, dear
from the blow on the head that ugly,
Black Dan gave you; conclusion OF the
brain, the doctor said. But you will
soon be well now and able to come
with us to our new home when we are
married. Then she met Rob's ador-.
ing glance and blushed