Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-11-09


Dodge City-that wickedest town Of
the plains-when news came of the
capture of your village. AT once
started. for l knew that my duty lay
here-here with your poor people. who
will not realize how foolish and puny
is their warfare. l did not come alone"
he added. casting look behind.
a white man accompanied me-a man
so full of evil and blasphemy that
quake for the safety of his miserable
soul. He has walked most of the dis
lance. for he is warmer walking, and
there are scarce enough quilts for
two"
They looked back A mile to the
rear trailed a solitary man..
Squaw Charley made a quick, ques-
tioning sign.
His name is Matthews" said Da-
vid Bond, land his mission, l fear, is
a bad one. All the way he has urged
my poor Shadrach on and on, so that
we have hardly had time to rest and
eat And all the day. as he rides OF
tramps, he mutters to himself, When
1
You'll find out quick enough! and
curses more vilely than before"
The pung was now opposite the
StOckade. Looking across the river
David Bond got his first view of the
high walled prison with it's ever NOV.
ing and wary guards.
He pulled up his horse. "Alas," he
exclaimed mournfully, chow misguid
ed they are-white and red men aliker
The pung slid on until the cut in the
river bank was reached. Again the
| old man refined. ~ cannot cross the
river while the ice is so smooth. Shad,
rach could not keep his feet And
will not leave him behind. But where
can stop on this side?''
CHANGING to the left he saw the line
of saloons. There. Charles" he said
81 shall drive there and ask for shell
ter" .. ..,.. ....T.
| He turned the white horse into the
| cut. AS they approached the shantie:
a woman's voice was heard, raised il
ribald song. p--y g..i. -.. 81 .1Ts.,s
God sends David Bond whittier HI
IS most needed" the old man murmur
ed feryently. ''"
! A shingle sign was nailed over tn,
door of the first building. On it, il
bold. uneven letters. were the words
1.-The Troopers Delight" David Bono
| climbed down and knocked.
| There was a moment of dead silence
within. then sounds as if several per
sons We're moving about on tiptoe
Again silence. The old man knocked
! louder. After a short wait the doc
was thrown wide. \ thickset man
whose eyes squinted at cross purpose!
over his fiat, turned up nose, filed the
entrance. @ rs4a r.. SSH.
| "What in the devil do you want?'
ne demanded roughiy-when he saw
David Bond. But -his;e seemingS anGe
lily concealed his relief that it. was no
1 an differed guard searching for re
creant soldiers. .,----.. q
| 81 wish for nothing in the name. o
the devil" was the simple answer
But in the name of God ask for
! roof .,-a .s ..uIA .Irff#r.l avs
+ THAT buck with you" The squin
I eyed man shut the door behind hin
as he pointed at Squaw Charley.
! mo. He lives in the stockade yon
der" ss 1851 te- oo'r-'s &C.,. ~ = !.
'!oh! He's the one that goes, prowl
, IN round-here day am night, sneakin
! nm stealin'.' 80
He may prowl." said David Bon,
stoutly. "but he does not steal. He i
4 good. honest Indian"
The keeper of the Troopers Deligh
laughed immoderately. Get out! VIII
| ever heerd tell of a honest lnjun
untingly-"where'd you an
your broomtail come from anyhow? 2
"From Dodge City"
dodge City," the man cried. "I'hel
maybe you seen my brother Their. o
heerd if he's comm. Nick Matthew
is his name
| David Bond lifted one hand AM
opened his mouth to answer But til
words stopped at his lips. For fror
the top of the high bank behind tn
line of shanticS there came a shou
Looking up. tsso squint eyed man, Da
vid Bond arr Squaw Charley saw
face peering <wn upon them.
"Hello!' came the voice agar
"Hello, Babe! Hello, gran'pa! Yo
beat me here, didn't y? Look on
I'm comin'r'
And amid an avalanche of snow
icicles. dirt and stones that frightene
the milk white horse so that he a
but overturned the pung Nick Ma
thews tobogganed down the bank o
his overcoat and landed beside theI
on the shelf.
short cut" he said as he got u
and shook out the coat. well, Bab
old socks, how's things goin'? How
he threw his thumb back over hi
shoulder toward the east-"bow 'bou
over there? What news v got?"
Squaw Charley followed the dire
zion of the pointing.
4 ,,,,s4 80