Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-04-19
DAILY SHORT STORY
A WELL EARNED CONSENT.
LOTiginaI J

q mule on whose back was strapped L
load of wood He was singing a merry
tune and apparently as happy as if his
lot bad been cast in a more exalted
plane. Having some knowledge OF
Spanish | addressed him:
You seem very happy
And why not: I have no riches 70
make me unhappy. Al present nc
greater care is OH me than TO get these
fagots into the city and sell them for
what they will bring in the market"
chatted with him till suddenly a
young girl rode out from thicket and
refined up before us excitedly.
What is it. SuZanne:" asked the
young man quickly.
The bandits. Carlos"
Well
'"They will Ice here in moment.
made short cut through the wood"
The young man looked very uneasy.
What have bandits to do with you,
my fine fellow" | asked-''you who
have nothing but this load Of wood:'
True" lie replied. recovering some
thing of his equanimity. suzanne.
ride on. When they have found moth
ing they will not trouble me-"
He gave her a quick look. and, put
ting spurs 10 her horse. she disappear
ed down the road. | was somewhat
puzzled for she did not appear To he
OF the same social grade as the man.
Her features and voice were high bred.
though her dress was plain. But | no
ticed the mans features were refined
Notwithstanding his coarse garb.
Presently two men came galloping
They paid no attention to me. but look
ed al the young man critically.
1T is not he" said one.
u am not 50 sure" said the other
Then. addressing Carlos. he asked.
did you come from the mines
NO. signOr. | have been I'm the forest
cutting wood
| judged from the robbers converse
ton that they were after some one who
was supposed to be carrying Il large
amount OF gold dust, but they could see
no evidence of any large package on
Carlos person or on his mule. one of
them looked among the fagOts, but ii
was plain that the package was not
there. was expecting the bandits
would relieve me of some $50 l had in
my pocket. but they paid no attention
to me. They were evidently after big
ger game. They rode away, Disguised
at the time they had lost. As soon as
they were gone the young man turned
to me
"Signor," he said in a different voice
from before, are you a lighter
THAT depends upon the cause"
These men will not find the man
they are after and
He was interrupted by Suzanne re
joining us. She looked inQuiringly at
Carlos
'All right so far he said. but they
will return and. convinced that | have
hidden what they are looking for some
where on the road. will torture me to
make me tell. SignOr," he added turn
ing TO me. Il am going to fight VIII
you help me-"
You have no weapons"
He stopped aud pulled revolver
from each boot leg. | had my own re
volver under my coat. took it ont and
examined the chambers to make sure
they were all loaded Carlos proposed
hid behind trees, which grew thick
close TO the road. We waited an hour
and were about 10 proceed when we
heard horses hoofs and the two ban
dts reappeared. Seeing the mule stand
Ing i'm the road, they dlsmounted and
began to tear Off the fagots. Then Car
los aud | as well as Suzanne each lev
eled pistol at them and at the word
given by Carlos fired. Roth bandits
fell dead.
We were but a few miles from the
outskirts OF the city and hurried on
till we arrived at suburb where
there was a police station. where we
reported the killing OF the two men
Then we went on nil we reached the
city. BY this time a change had come
over Carlos and suzanne. They threw
Off any pretense Of being peasants. and
WIS quite sure they were lovers.
Once IN the city. they made their way
10 bank, and Carlos said to Suzanne:
Go in and tell them TO send out for
II while l watch"
Ia "a moment a gentleman came out
hand in hand with Suzanne. He was
all smiles.
My boy. / congratulate you" he
said. You have saved us"
This gentleman was OF great help"
said Carlos. turning to me.
porter came out of the bank and
carried ia the wood. I was invited In
by the gentleman. the president OF the
bank. and when the wood was piled in
his private office a we'll concealed plug
was removed from the end of each log.
and il was found TO be hollow and full
Of gold dust.
] learned the rest later run on
the bank bad depleted its funds, and no
more could he obtained nearer than the
mines. Rut the road was full OF ban
dts. and there was no guard at hand. |
Carlos. poor clerk. who loved the |
presidents daughter. Suzanne, volun-
teered 10 go and bring the dust through |
by stratagem. At this the president |
said TO him. IF you succeed you shall |