Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-04-08
DAILY SHORT STORY
Mentioned in Orders.
IOriginal.I


come TO the post with information that
the Indians were preparing to rise.
and since his information had proved
correct lie was trusted implicitly. The
Indians not only rose, but soon after
left the reservation and laid siege TO
the fort. II was but Il two company
post, incapable of a long defense
against the thousand Indians who en-
camped around il, and unless succor
arrived in time it would be taken and
the garrison massacred.
There was one person in the fort
who mistrusted Joe, and that was Luz
cia, daughter OF the commandant.
Major McGregor. She often caught
Joe casting longing eyes upon her, and
somehow she did not quite like their
expression. She warned her father to
look out for the half breed, but as she
gave no reason and Joe had given in
formation of the rising the major de-
clined TO be Influenced.
One evening Joe appeared hurriedly
before Lucia and told her that her ia
Their had sent him for her She follow
ed him. and he led her to an angle of
the fort. where he rolled away Il barrel,
disclosing Il small aperture. Before
the girl could gather his intent he had
seized her and forced her into u sort
of casemate that opened into the pow
der magazine. This done he pulled the
barrel back where he had found ii.
Lucia would not have known she was
in the magazine had not lighted Ian
tern been left there on shelf some
distance from the powder to enable
those coming for ammunition to see.
But Joe left her no time to consider.
Removing a barrel of powder. he ex-
posed q second aperture. Then after
binding a handkerchief which he had
brought for the purpose over her
mouth lie pulled her through, and they
were outside the fort.
Had Lucia not been horror stricken
ut her situation she would have now
realized Joe's real intention in going
10 the fort with the information that
the Indians were about to attack it.
While it would warn the garrison. it
would enable him to win the white
mems confidence, look about him and
possibly find weak spot through
which he might introduce the savages.
Joe had during dark nights dug a hole
ing with the powder magazine and an
other hole outside. He could lead an
attacking force at night, Il part of
whom could engage the garrison, while
another part might steal into the pow
der magazine. In truth. one man en-
tering there would hold the garrison
at his mercy. The wonder was that
Joe had not put Il time fuse there and
blown the fort to atoms. He had been
seized with u desire to possess the ma
iOr's daughter, and this led to his ulti-
mate plan.
Joe hurried his victim along. she
meanwhile. If not recovering from her
fright, at least realizing that she must
make some move, invent some strata
gem, before it was too late or she was
lost The only thing that occurred TO
her was TO pretend to faint. She sank
down with a groan. Joe Immediately
picked her up and carried her on. But
the night was dark, and Joe was in
very much of 4 hurry. The conse-
quence was that, stepping into Il hole
he did not see. he fell With his burden.
Lucia took advantage of the accident
TO get up and run like Il deer toward
the fort Joe could have easily caught
her but for two reaSOns-firSt, lie had
hurt Il leg: second, Lucia ran more
recklessly than he dared run, riSking n
fall at every step. She longed to cry
out, but dared not lose Il second in re-
moving the handk erchief that gagged
her She reached the fort and entered
the hole not ten seconds before Joe
pushed his larger body more slowly
through it. When he got inside he
saw Lucia standing beside one of the
barrels of powder. the head of which
had been removed. holding the lamp
OF the lantern over the powder.
stop or l drop the light
The man saw desperation in her eyes
and halted.
Come away" he said. You will
kin yourself as We'll as me"
Her only reply was to move the
light. holding it within q few inches of
the powder. and give piercing Shrek.
\ sentry walking past in front of the
magazine door heard the CRY. At an
other time he would have called the
corporal of the guard. who would have
reported the matter. and the author
lied person would have come with the
key and opened the door. but for sew
eral days constant access to the am
munition had been necessary and the
door left unlocked. The sentry brought
his piece 10 a level and flung open the
door. There stood the cOlonel's daugh-
ter. white as n ghost, holding n lamp
over a powder barrel Joe was glanc-
ing at her, trembling from head TO
foot.
Take him. said Lucia.
The sentry brought his piece to his
shoulder and. looking along its muZZle.
gave the order Hands up Then Joe
was marched away to the guardhOuse.
There were both CONSERVATION and
relief when il was known that Joe had
so nearly succeeded in not only getting
AWAY with the colonel'S daughter, but