Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-06-01

pause, Tor the meill1uOuS gray man
had taken off his spectacleS and was
breathing on the lenses with as tran
quill a deliberation as though he were
still in the village schoolroom, ruling
innocent children instead of grown
men as infamous as himself.
Tom watched him still. Indeed, his
eyes had scarcely left this venerable
villain from the mo e.nt it appeared
he was one, and now his fascination
was complete. He glanced at his own
legs, crossed in unconscious imitation
of the little bushranger, and his trou-
sers We're all stained and his boots
still stiff from the blood that had run
down and into them, drawn by the
lash. Then he looked at Hockey, so
wicked and strong and sly, and his
heart leaped as he had never thought
! to feel it leap again. Here was the
man for.a whipped dog TO follow! He
leaned eagerly forward and begged
and crayed admission to the band as
another might have pleaded for his
life.
| Hockey Simpson surveyed him
strangely. "Well, WE'LL said he, Il
was thinking it would never do to
leave you here"
"Why not?'
"You were probably heading for the
sea"
Il was
"Well, the ensign and his men are,
without doubt, between the sea and
! ourselves. You might have fallen in
with them"
"That would have been my lookout"
"NIine. too, perhaps"
"What do you meanT
'YOu might have put them on my
scent"
Tom had seen it coming, yet he lost
his temper when it came.
80 you think that of meW he cried.
you see how I've been treated, and
yet you think that!'
Il did think it," was the reply. Il
don't say l do now. No; it never oc-
Cured to me to trust you on the
grounds you suggest"
Then what did it occur to you
to dOT'
Hockey Simpson shrugged his shout
ders as one who would rather not say.
ITO tie me to tree perhaps and
leave me there to starve."
Hockey Simpson bit his thin lips to
. avoid smiling, but bent his gray head
when that was impossible, and Tom
bending his. saw that the cork was of
. the polished steel hook and its point as
sharp as needle. The little gray man
. was feeling it with his thumb as he
still tried to swallow his smiles.
Il see"' said Tom in low voice
Eyes, now l see.''
I'VE never do things by halves" OBJ
served Hockey. sucking a bead Of
! blood. not without ostentation. from
: the end of his thumb. I'VE do then
with all our might
$50 l see" repeated Tom. "Well
and so do l. You stick at nothing
I'll stick at less. I'll be with you il
: what you please. from whist to whole
sale murder, only give me the chance
Man alive, can't you see for yourself
I'm as desperate as any of you
Haven't you told me the mounted pc
lice are between me and the sea
Then what do you suppose l want wit
my life except to sell it as dear as pos
: sible and be done with it Us quick
l tell YOU" cried Tom, I'm the yer.
r man for you! See here. You're on
: short Take me in his place and serv
( me the same if / turn out worse thai
my word!'
His sudden vehemence. his impas
| CT fnrnrn1 an1 I'm FIR
8 ated eyes all had their effect upon tn
l buShrangers, who now, with the eA
G ception of Peter Pindar and De Grr
e chy, got up and held Il whispered cor
{ sultation some few PAGES from the fire
J. Tom watched them eagerly, and eac
I time the wall eyes or the fire lit spec
tacles were turned upon him he mad
e ready to rise. But now and then the
glanced at De Gruchy instead. VIII
was still nursing Sullen face. all
at such times their whispers fell lowe
;. still, so that Tom was ut once Startle
n and interested when u new voice gol
+ bled in his ear:
y "Yabber-yabber Tonga him-him bal
l. budgerie-him no use"'
1t was Peter Pindar. whose oil
y locks and curling beard nodded di
gustedly in De Gruchy's direction.
"Why not?" said Tom. What ha
he done?"
Him good fellow belonging [frien
;. of Francisco" replied the black. IN
: leave IN alonga Francisco. me Hooke
= Simp'on. Bael budgerie; me leave i
alonga good fellow, my word.'
And the simian face grinned frol
= ear to ear in each of which Tom no
beheld a gold earring smeared wit
blood But he was determined to
= Mortified no more. and, the trio beckol
- ing him, he Joined them with whi
= alacrity he could in the straight wais
4 coat of stiff wounds which now In
a prisoned him.
IS "Well," began the little gray ma
q were going TO give you trial!'
r. Tom broke out with impious thanl
q which the other instantly cut short.
q. stop till you hear what that means
! sold unnlynu thaf