Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-12-17


Her hands came out in wild implor-
Ing. You won't, you won't, you
won't" she begged. Don't you under
stand? My keeping still was just as if
I'd killed pa! Oh, it was! So ! can't
tell-nowr'
"Marylyn'-
Promise you won't; oh, promise you
WON'T" And she went down. crum-
ping into little, miserable heap.
Quickly he lifted her. well, we
won't tell her, then; not If you don't
want to, but Wen have to some day"
Some day-maybe-but not now"
"All right, then-not now" He led
her from garden to coulee and back
again, trying to comfort her all the
while as best he could.
You see, Marylyn," he said, you're
wrong about its being your fault. It's
mine. l promised Lounsbury I'd look
after you folks"
She stopped short. did you tell
him about you and me?'
mo"
"Oh"' She was relieved. "You
mustn't, either. Not him or any one"
Il don't see how l can ever look
LouDsbury in the face again." he said
bitterly.
Whereupon she straightway began
to comfort him.
At the shack Oliver and Dallas had
arrived at the question of future safe
ty.
II must insist" the captain was say
ing, upon your coming to live at the
fort. cannot spare permanent
guard for this side of the rivera
scouting party up and down once a
day is about the best 1 could do. We
have our hands full already"
Live at the fort Her lips tight
ened little. She got up to walk.
She was thinking of the cold stares,
the "Ahs," the "Ohs and the laughter
| Of the post ladies in their bowling am
bulance: the nudges and the grins Of
the passing musicians, and there's
allus room at the fort when there's
good lookin' gals in the family"
She shook her head.
You love your sister," he reminded.
Think of her"
Il am thinking of her. I'd go to the
| fort If there was danger. But-an-
swer me honest - outside Of what's
happened here, do you think there's
| really any danger"
| From Indians, you mean? Well,
| I'll tell YOUTHS was a complete sur
| prise, a shock to me- Because so far
we haven't seen a sign Of the hostiles
| beyond that signal in the spring. North
of here, at Lincoln, they've shown
themselves. But they're largely con-
centrated in the northwest to meet the
| troops"
'Then there's no danger from In,
dians?'
Still, there might be, and I want
you to come. Frankly, I've omitted to
tell you of one disquieting report that
has reached us. After the recent bat
tie on the Rosebud one of the war
riors of Crazy Horse was captured by
General Crook. The prisoner said that
within days ride to the west of here
our-and your-aged friend
She stopped him. lifting her hands to
her face. Not him. she whispered
mot him! Oh, he was so good to US
captain"
Oliver sighed. 81 fear it's so, yet its
only report"
Some time went by. Meanwhile she
walked about the room in silence. Hel
lips We're trembling.
'You'll Gomez" he said.
when you're sure''-she spoke will
difiiculty-"the Indians are going t,
make trouble l will. But-but l thinl
I'd rather stay. l made dad promis,
once. I'd hate to break it-now."
your father didn't like us. l under
stand. I'm sorry. And of course yol
feel that you should keep your prom
Use to him. Well, can send a convo.
with you to Bismarck"
1--WE haven't a cent. You see, In
counting heap on my garden"
"Oh, we would get something togeth
err for you.''
She flinched. "No, wouldn't lik
that. And dad'd hate,it worse than 1
broke the promise. Besides, I'm &c
ing to pay back B troop
''B troop! My troop? What do yo1
lowe B troops"
why, B troops been. sending us it
surplus rations."
You sure?''
"Well, the sutler saidlso."
81 think there's a mistake. B troo
has had no surplus rations"-
Had no. she began, amazed.
Must have been the suffers owl
stuff"
But he wrote"- From between tn
leaves of a book on the mantei she Pre-
duced folded paper.
"Or some one else's," went on Oliver
She had been about to hand hir
J Blakely's letter. Now, as If struck b
an idea, she put it back into the bool
When he turned her eyes were swim
ming.
1T likely was some one else,'" sh
said.
GOD bless you anyway! To think @
such thing in the midst of your VOL
: ry! Even if you did owe B troop
: would vote you it's full rations and b