Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-11-14

declaration. 1t was when he saw
Lancaster take down the Sharps from
its pegs by the mantel. THAT should
stay behind" he said, touching the ri
fe.. 1--WE are leaving your helpless
girls alone. AT least they should have
something for defense"
Lancaster instantly agreed, observ-
ing to himself that the evangelist after
all had some common sense. SHORE
he replied. "Ah1l put tn gun back an
We'll take yourn."
But he was corrected with severity
81 carry no weapons, sir" said David
Bond. 81 stand for peace"
'Then tn gun goes" declared the
section boss. 9Th gals was alone be-
fore 'thout it. They was no snow on
tn groun' then an heap more chance
of some one comm. They amt no
danger. An eff All take tn gun mebbe
All en- git a deer on tn way back.
We need tn meat"
The evangelist considered moment.
Very WE'LL he said, but would adj
wise differently"
'Ah, shucks!' retorted the other,
struggling with bis coat
A moment later his irritation was in
creased. At the same time the visitor
unknowingly covered himself forever
with suspicion. Through the frosty air
and the darkness rang out the first
trumpet blast from Brannon, and, as
if totally unconscious of the action,
David Bond reached up and barred his
head.
Il love that summons" he said. ut
bids our good lads wake and do their
duty"
Lancaster was not unmindful of the
courtesy due a guest But any refer
ence to patriotism was offensive, aIsl
he had been particularly provoked.
So behind the broad shoulders of the
other he disdainfully turned up his
nose.
They were off at last, with Marylyn
watching them from a window and
Dallas walking alongside for a few
rods to say goodby and to pat Shad-
rach's bony white TANKS encouraging
ly. Morning was stealing up the dun
east, vet overhead the stars were shin
Ing And their near radiance, reflected
upon the snow, coupled with the light
of the slowly growing dawn. made it
possible for the girls to follow the
travellers straight course for miles.
But long after Marylyn left the win
dow the elder girl remained outside.
The dun of the east was painted out
with uprushing waves of pink. The
stars sank back into the heavens,
grew smaller and DINNER and, one by
one, disappeared. Finally a yellow
rind haloed in mist was thrust above
the level of the prairie. AS Dallas
greeted it the distant ridge of snow
drift, rose tinged like the sky, hid the
crawling speck that was the pung.
On his arrival behind David Bond
Nick Matthews had found that full
pockets were plentiful among the sol
diery and had promptly gone about
emptying them. Soon after entering
the Troopers Delight he sat down to
a chip piled table. His quarry sur.
rounded him. And there he stayed
throughout the long night, wide awake,
sharp witted, unwearied, adding to his
heap of colored disks. honestly and
otherwise. Not until reveille, a clar-
ion warning. sent his fellow players
scurrying back across the river did be
put his cards one side and throw him
self down, fo., though confirmed
night hawk, he needed a short nap to
prepare for some business that lay be
| fore him.
Babe" direct contrast to his broth.
ar, being thick necked, stumpy and
dark, had not failed to garner his
| share of the rich harvest From his
| station behind the long counter. which,
was made of four heavy planks sup.
ported on barrels at either end, he
| had poured strange mixtures into beer
| mugs and exchanged them for good
| government coin. When he was not
performing his part as bartender he
was scraping lily timed tunes upon q
| fiddle
It was he who was left In charge
when shortly after noon his brother
armed himself with brace of pistols
| Then, with no word to the few loun
gers in the saloon, the latter set out
| following the road that led up the riv
err to the ferry landing. At the cui
he climbed the bank at leisurely
1 pace and continued his way eastward
making straight across the snow TO
ward the squat shack of the Lancas
tiers.
| His approach was instantly marked
Marylyn was once more at her pos
studying the square landscape framed
by window. When he made a quicl
figure on that landscape she saw hin
and called to Dallas.
1 Here's some one coming" she an
nounced. inwardly glad at the POSSIBLE
| ty of diversion.
Dallas hurriedly Joined her. "Wh,
can it be?' she asked.
The door was unbolted, the othe
window not fastened. Yet so far wer,
her thoughts from molestation that sh,
left them So
| Going to ask him imp questioned