Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-03-24

you. RQbT'
The very same, Matt"
''WeIl, now, wait a whist and I'll
come and put out your horse"
| Mrs. Kelly called cheerily: Rob,
we're glad to see you safe returned.
Are you hungryF'
He slid from his horse. II am emp
| ~ as a wolf in March," he replied.
Where's LOUISE
Louis, He hasn't returned Didn't
you leave him at the Springs?"
"No. He left early this morning and
Ann thought he had hit the stage road
for the camp. 1 hope he hasn't gone
wrong
This news took away large part of
his pleasure in the friendly hearth to
which he was welcomed and, removing
his outer garments. he bent to the
blaze in silence while Mrs. Kelly spread
some food before him.
Kelly listened to the news of Louis
disappearance with less concern. Hes
run into some Of Munro's men and Is
probably up at headquarters. He
couldn't get lost. He knows the road.
What's the word from the Valley"
They're coming, Matt"
"When?"
Tonight or tomorrow"
1--WE been receiving delegations and
posters and all kinds Of warnin's. It's
been a lively day on the hill. They're
buildin' a fort"
so Frank Brown told me. How do
our men feel?'
Matt rubbed his chin. They're a
little uneasy, to tell the truth
Mrs. Kelly interrupted. ''Sit up and
eat. Rob. Talk afterward."
Raymond could see that Kelly was
disturbed, and that he had something
Nora know. 1t was plain that he no
longer minimiZed the danger, and his
face fell easily into stern lines.
Selling the moment when his wife
left the room to put the youngsters to
bed, the big miner laid sheet OF paper
before his partner. What do you
think of that?"
Raymond looked at the deaths head
warning. for such it was, with amaze
ment. II seemed at first sight rough
joke. In one corner glared the conven-
tional crossbones and skull, rudely
drawn, and to the right and beneath
them sprawled the word "Beware"
All this was amusing, but the logic of
the argument which followed gave him |
thought:
This neutral business is played out. |
Either you are for or you for the |
dudes. II you are for the dudes. get out |
II you are for US. send in your men to |
help US repel the invaders. This Is our /
first inc he Cd
COMMITTEE
Raymond rose. Lets go down to
my shack. We can talk matters over
there more freely"
I'll be with you in n few minutes"
answered Kelly.
1t was warm in the cabin. for the !,
faithful Perry had built q fire early |
In the evening. and after he had light
ed Il couple of candles and kicked the
fire into Il blaze the room resumed its
cheerful glow. but he was too deeply I
disturbed over Louis nonappearance to
fully enjoy it. He took Qua his revolv
er and was examining it carefully as
Kelly entered.
Ibid yc meet with any trouble. Rob-
None. Some of the committee of
safety wanted to arrest me and hold
me as hostage. but Barnett stood 'em
off / didn't see a soul till on my way
back i came on one of Jacks picket
posts, where / found four men camp
ed in misery and eating snowballs for
supper"
Its strange the power he has over
them wild cowboys. Drunk or sober.
they do as he tells them. His trouble
will come with Brock and Smith, who
are neither miners nor cowboys, for
they are all tryin' TO derive their power
from Carter. who is dead sick of the
business and likely to fly the coop at
any minute. Where You goin'?"
Uptown to take a look round for
Louis
You go not, 'Tis a poor time for
you to visit the street. They have it
n their heads that you are playin' the
spy"
Il must find that boy. He left the
Springs at 8 this morning, and his sis
ter is worried about him.
Il will go for ye, Rob. It's too dan
yerous for you
Raymond rose and laid a hand on
kelly's shoulder. See here, Matt, 1
want to talk plainly to you. You've
got to bundle up that little wife and
the boys and get out of here I'm go
ing to take hand in this game I'm
going to call the Independents togeth-
ar and make a stand"
Kelly faced him. IF We make a
stand l must be beside We. What Is
your plan?"
Il will not tell you unless you prom
Sc to take Nora out of danger"
Kelly's face grew stern, and his
voice fell to a level hoarseness that
sent culver through the young mans ,
blood. See here, boy, we struck hands
IN this partnership. We share and
share alike. / am with We and so Is
Nora. 1 am ready to dig a hole in the
ground and stand 'em Off I'm worn
'ut with their comm and goin', whip
'awin' now on this, now on that side
} the question. They've declared war ,