Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-11-29
DAILY. STORY.
THE BOY BEHIND THE ROCK.

OF Sixty, ucI udlE anu gray, hCl
hands large and bony and her neck
hardly more than skin and muscle, lay
on bed of straw in u shacklety old
cabin among the hills of Tennessee.
She had been slowly dying for year
past, and she realized it.
BY and by a boy of fourteen entered
He had rifle under his arm and a
string of squirrels over his shoulder
He was long haired and unkempt and
understood for his age, but there was
CLINT in his eye and look around his
mouth that told of courage and deter
mination.
Danny, 1 was waitin' for you un,"
said the mother as the boy unburdened
himself and stood looking at her with
out a sign of emotion in his face.
"Huh?"
You are fourteen years old today.
1t is the day we have been waitin' for.
Danny. do you know what your pop
did on his fourteenth birthday"
"Killed man."
Yes, Danny, dear; he killed a man.
who was it,"
zone of the Huylers."
80 1t was, Danny; so it was. What
did he un kill one of the Huylers fOr?"
''Kase the Huylers was KILN we
uns.''
That's right. We unS has been kill
in they uns for fifty years, and they
uns has always had a little the best of
it. There was always more of 'em.
Danny. do you know I'm goin' to die?"
what for?" stolidly asked the boy.
''Kase l can't fight no longer. When
the sun goes down tonight you won't
have no mom."
The boy moved his feet unsteadily
and looked around. but made no reply.
I'D have died months ago, Danny,
but l was waitin' for today. Today
you are fourteen years old. Do you un
know what that meansT
I've got TO do as pop did"
That's it, Danny-thats it for shore.
The day your pop was fourteen he
killed Tom Huyler. Thar's two Huy-
lers left-Bill and Sam. Bill went by
with n grist to the mill about two
hours ago. He'll be comm back about
3 o'clock. You un will do as your pop
did, Danny-you un will kill him.
When you un come home and tell me
it's done I'll die happy. You I'm aren't
afeared?"
"Of co'se not"
You un will go down the road to
the big rock and hide in the laurel Oh
top and shoot from there. He'll be a
fair mark as he comes back with the
co'nmeal. You I'm hain't goin' to shake
and shiver when you draw Il bead on
him. are you, Danny? You I'm never
killed man yet. but you hain't goin'
to shake and SILVER and make a clean
miss of it or only wound him?''
eve shot bars" answered Danny
in indignant protest. I'm shore to
get he un.'
"Of cose you will-of cose. Bound
to do it. The Huylers have killed your
grandfather. your pop and your broth
err John, and you un hain't one to
stand that. It's time to be goin'. and
mebbe you un would like TO kiss nom
befo' yo' co.
After long minute he slowly advanc-
ed and printed a cold kiss on her pale
forehead. She smiled family and said:
II can't remember when before.
Mebbe it's sorter foolish, but I'm feel
In mighty weak and womanish to-
day. Now run along. I'll be loozin'
for you when the sun gifts down to the
top of the big chestnut. Lived right
yere and looked at that big chestnut
every day for the last fifty years"
The rifle was leaning against the
wall. The boy reached out for it, and,
leaving the squirrels where he had
dumped them down and without an
L. = IR05
he turned and walked away. He went
out to the rough highway and then
walked down to the rock she had
spoken of. The people had no name
for 1t, but it should have been called
the Rock of Blood. Four men had
been killed from ambush right there.
In three minutes Danny was hidden In
the thicket on its top and was peering
down the highway. An hour later.
when Bill Huyler strapped his corn
meal on the back OF his mule at the
mill, three miles away. and made |
ready to return home, the miller jo-
cosely said TO him:
Better he on the watch, Bill"
"Who for?"
"They say that young cub of limp
son is CROWN up
For two hours Danny waited. He
was cool and calm, and he smiled at
the idea of his shaking and shivering. |
He was no more excited than as If |
beating up the woods for squirrels. He |
heard every noise about him in the |
forest. He saw chipmunks crossing |
the road rods away, but there was one |
thing he missed. A thunderstorm |
came creeping up unnoticed by him. |
He neither felt nor saw it until Bill |
Huyler came in sight down the trail. |
Then he put his rifle to his face and |
took aim. He was waiting for the |
rider to reach a certain mark when the |
sky was lighted by an awful |
fash, followed by clap of thunder |
that made the hills throb, and man and |
,aaI,In wont dawn