Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-12-05

lily Oh PICKET IOpc LIS
long winter coat upon the new grass.
In Difference to his Unborn dislike Dal-
las was wearing an underskirt of blue.
Though the evangelist had never
seen her trudging behind the mules, he
had often spoken of it pityingly. Yet
as he came toward her now he felt
only an unbounded pride in her unself-
ishness and in her brave efforts to
wrest a living from the soil.
"a splendid Ruth" he murmured,
advancing; "a splendid Ruth toiling
in the fieldsp'
Seeing him, she gave a swift, trou-
bled glance at the shack. Then. avoid
ing his eyes and without speaking,
she pulled up Ben and Betty and held
out hand.
When he took it the pride of mo-
ment before changed to compassion.
| He remembered that he must tell her
| what would alarm, for in her face he
saw traces of many a sleepless night
and of a sapping worry.
| Daughter, you are mr. he declared
and kept tight hold on her fingers.
NO; there amt anything the matter
with me, only'-still avoiding his eyes,
she turned to survey the narrowed
land-"only I'm some put out. This
sod
Never mind the sod," he said grave
ly. Il want to ask-did you see the
mountain" He loosed her fingers and
pointed an arm to the south.
She laughed, following his pointing
Eyes, l did. Looks as If claims are
| getting scarce. don't 1t? When a nest
er has to file up thera!'
Midway between shack and butte
| was an OK team that had been trav-
cling to and fro across a quarter sec
ton since dawn. The team was now
at a stand. and their driver was
slouching against his pillow. Beyond
him were several galloping dots.
"And you saw the cavalry?" said
David Bond.
She assented.
"One word will tell you what it
means, Dallas. It's Indiansv
She showed no sign of disquiet.
Presently, when she had thought over
the announcement, she turned round
to him, frankly meeting his gaze for
the first time. That's funny" she
said why, last year all the way UP
from Texas there wasn't an Indian
bothered usr'
| Last summer before you came the
soldiers at Brannon did not dare go
more than a mile outside the lines to
hunt. 1t will be the same this sum
mer There Is that sfockade full OF
prisoners, and four of them are con
demned to be hanged. Before long the
Indians will be circling the post"
She looked away at the OK team
They were being taken from the pillow
and put TO wagon.
Then again she turned squarely
What about Shanty TOWN. she said
with meaning.
He understood. "Shanty Town goes
when the troops go, ut''-hesitatingi!
Matthews does not. He will stay
at Brannon to act as interpreter"
He will!' she said and colored.
He colored. too feeling himself re
proved, but from under the wide bat
tered felt that had supplanted the nu
bia his eyes shone with no resentment
only fatherly tenderness.
You wonder why / do not remain,
he began, 80 that Matthews could b.
sent away. / shall tell you"
She let the reins fall to the drag
That isn't it," she answered quickly
1--WE have 10 right to ask you to d
anything after the way dad treate,
you But the colonel sent you over t
tell US to look out, didn't he? And b
keeps man over there-pays him t
stay-and that man Is a sight wors
than an Indianr'
: 81 could have that man dismissed,
; he said slowly. "Please let me te
r Sou why 1 don't. In the first place
l the Indians are beginning to act badl.
very badly. They are invading Grow
= territory and stealing from peaceful
: bands. They are molesting white
L wherever they can find them and mul
: dering So we can judge that Their
well be hard fighting, for the troop
! will seek to pay them up.
= "Oh. Dallas, how 1 pray to see trou
t BILE stop! 1 am going to the Indians
e know their leaders-have know
luelu LUZ teu ytdIS VI luOIS. Sud
+ ask them to consider the good of thei
o squaws and children and property an
It ask them to accept reservation life.
s they won't, shall beg few of theI
1t to come in with me and at least tai
l. treaty.
THAT Is the first reason for my g
= ing. The second is the Jamiesons.
/ find those poor women and tell the
captors that the four chiefs here are
danger, 1 know mother and daughte
will be handed over to me-
e You're right! You can save them
"God bless you for saying that!
won't be pleasant with Matthew
here
"But you must go. Never mind abo,
=. Matthews"
1e II cannot go without being Statistic
50 that you and Marylyn will be SAT
v The colonel said
q 1.-THE colonelp' she interrupted. The
Sc half resentfuliy, Did the women 70
e. send any wordY'