Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-07-15
DAILY SHORT STORY
The End of a Freak

ern visitors at Sunset ranch the COM
mander of the fort sent Lieutenant
Whiting with detachment of troop
ers to insure protection.
Lieutenant Whiting had left West
Point a few years before. where he
had spent his last evening with Kate
Huntington, visitor from New York,
vainly endeavoring TO secure n pledge
from her that she would be his wife.
But Miss Huntington did not consider
one just emerging from cadetshiD n
suitable partner for her, especially as
she wished an establishment and Whit
ing had nothing but lieutenant's pay.
Whiting met Miss Huntington at the
ranch for the first time since their sep
aration at West Point. She seemed
ready TO resume their intimacy, at least
temporarily, but Whiting was reserved.
One evening they were standing to-
gether on broad veranda of the
house viewing Il scene lighted by the
full moon.
'What Il glorious night for rider
said the girl. Il have Il mind to order
my horse and have a canter."
"YOu would be in danger of scalp
ing"
Pedro she cried to Il Mexican boy
who was strolling by, saddle my
horse and bring him to me ut once
Whiting begged her to desist from
such mad undertaking.
Il remember" she said cuttingiy.
chat when we were at West Point
together l thought how fine it would
be to be mated with brave man. 1t
seems that | would have been disap-
pointed
Pedro" the young man called after
the departing boy, tell my striker TO
bring my horse.
Il was not long before the two were
Salloping over the country, the girl
in a singular state of exhilaration, the
man taciturn He was too young in
the military service to be called Il
coward with impunity by n woman
and not old enough 10 feel that the
brave course for him TO take was TO
decline to be moved by her to fool
hardness. He rode on without a
word, constantly keeping an eye open
for danger. Presently on n rise in the
ground some distance ahead the sill
houette of Il man ON horseback ap-
peared for 4 moment, then sank into
the darkness of lower ground.
Turn for your life said Whiting.
"Your horse is fleet. Save yourself"
And you:"
81 shall cover your retreat"
"Come with me-"
mo; | am Il soldier. 1t would never
do for me to share the chance of es-
cape with Il woman. l must give it
all to YOU
Forgive me. have done wrong.
know you are brave. Come"
MY brother officers would not share
your opinion if should ride back be
side you. If You wish to save me.
save yourself first. Once in the ranch
You may send me assistance"
"Will nothing move your"
Nothing"
Realizing that there was but one
chance to undo what she had done.
Kate gave her horse n cut with her
whip and dashed away. Whiting dis
mounted and entered Il thickct. lie
had brought all the arms he could car
~, Winchester and two reviewers
Taking position behind Il tree, he wait
ed knowing that If he had not been
seen. which was improbable. the enc
my would hear the gallop of horses
hoofs and give chase. 1t was not long
before an Indian was dashing by at
full speed. when Whiting shot him
dead. Another Of the SavageS, seeing
the fate of his companion, drew rein
In time to save himself Whiting re-
solved while the Indians were cXamin-
ing the ambush into which they had
fallen to gain time by leading his
horse through the timber to the rear.
In this way he made half n mile near
er the ranch before they discovered
his withdrawal. When they did dis
cover it, they came furiously and in
body.
But Whiting had discovered n ravine,
into which he descended, and before
the saVages had reached his second
stand had gained sufficient distance in
its bed to elude them. A quarter of an
hour had elapsed since Kate Hunting
ton had left him, and he knew that
she had reached the ranch. Therefore,
keeping in the ravine, he made n wide
circuit.
Five minutes after Miss Huntington
rode into the ranch and gave the alarm
the troopers, in command of SER
geant. dashed away to save their COM
mander They met the Indians and
drove them back, but not without the
loss of several men killed and wound
ed. Then, believing that Whiting had
fallen into their hands before the fight,
they reluctantly rode back to the
ranch.
When Kate Huntington saw them
returning with their dead and wound
ed and without Lieutenant Whiting, a
full realization of her criminal, head
strong folly rushed upon her. Cover
ing her face with her hands, she
moaned.
An hour later Whiting rode into the
ranch. Kate approached him as
sunnliaI II hut he received her with the