Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-11-21

I~ eRASER'S shot drew many eyes
E to the river-for in the win
EsFnT7SS ter time any occurrence,
esESJ however trifing. could ges in
slant attention Of the lonely garrison.
Troopers In various stages of dress
came tumbling out upon the long porch
at barracks. Others looked from the
many windows of the big frame struc-
ture. The washerwomen and their
hopefuls blocked tie doorways of
"Clothespin row." officers everywhere
at headquarters, ut the suffers, In
their homes-and their wives and fam
lilies up and down the Zine" remarked
the signal. But when Lounsbury
brought up beside ERASER. and the two
seemed to he occupying themselves
with nothing in particular, the onlool-
ers laid the shot to an overventure
some water rat and SO withdrew from
their points of vantage.
"What is it?' was the storekeeper's
first breathless demand.
The young officer, hands on hips.
nodded straight ahead. You see those
willows just below the cut:' he asked
"Well, there's Il queer black bunch in
EN-"
Eyes. Is it MANI"
81 think so.'
"Moved?"
Not yet"
''Come on then. Maybe he's aiming
for the coulee mouth. SOS to sneak up
to the Lancasters' from behind"
They charged away across the mile
of ice
"If it's Matthews why didn't he wing
me as l went by?' painted Lounsbury.
Look, looli.' cried Fraser Now,
he's moving
They stopped to loosen their revolv-
ers, after which they started again,
cautiously.
The tops of the willows were shal-
ing. Presently they spread outward,
and the "black bunch heightened
Then it emerged and was resolved
into a blanketed Indian,
Charley exclaimed the officer. As
he spoke the outcast shouldering &
bundle of sticks, Began TO climb the
cut.
and burst into laugh. q
Fraser" said Lounsbury. did You
ever hear of the fellow that stallled q
deer all day and then found it was q
speck on his glasses?"
That's one on me-" admitted the
lieutenant sheepishly. 81 knew nobody
had come out of that door-but YOU
see we were in the stable awhile"
'Charley'-that squaw Indian they
told me about. Ell? Pretty good to
them"
Yes. From what 1 understand
they're pretty good to him."
They followed leisureiy and took VI
q stand in the cottonwoods above the
landing to discuss the situation. Al
the very outset Lounsbury determined
not to speak of the plan that included
Mrs. Martins aid, the rebuff he had
suffered, frOr4 the section boss having
decided him against it.
Spy George" he said regretfully. 81
wish when l had Matthews covered
that I'd just marched him up the cou
lee and on to Clarksr'
Good idea. Too bad you didn't"
But I'll tell you this: I'm not goins
to stay out here all night just to shoe
him off. I've a good mind to happier
In down there, sort him out and do the
marching act anyhow"
'Now, look here reminded Fraser
that wouldn't do. You don't want t.
kill Matthews, and you don't want t
be killed. 1t d be one or the other i
, you poked your nose in there"
what do you adviser"
Lie low till you see a good oppor
tunity. l think the chap'll como out"
But suppose he doesn't?"
you'll have to stay h>ce, that's all
I'll divide the watch with you"
"Oh, 1 don't like to ask you to d.
that. old man. We ought to be abb
to think up some kind of scheme"
The sun was fast declining. Soon
disappeared behind the river bluffs
when the boom of the evening gul
swelled the last note of retreat"
Fraser sighed. The trumpet ha
suggested a certain dire possibility.
81 don't care for the cold" he dc
clared, "but-but" 20
suppose the X. o. II give me NOR
than q month in quarters for this
There's that dance at the majors mex
week. I'd like awfully to 60 If Fr
under arrest 1 can't. And who'll fee
my horse and my rattlesnakes?"
Some sassy sergeant III shoot. you
fiend of a neg" said the storekeepel
sand the rattIers II be requested t
devour one another. When that
over I'll break it gently to you IAN