Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-11-28

Dallas did not taste the tea either
A fearful nausea beset her Her heart
went like trip hammer. She wrap
ped up. turning her back to the blaze
Oddly enough, her father did not make
| second attack on the log. His
| perique went far toward helping him
| fight the gnawing of hunger He could
afford. having to endure little pain, to
let the hours bring Dallas to the point
| where she would ask the life of the
pull He knew where she was most
vulnerable When Marylyn turned from
the tea that now partially eased her,
hunger and began a demand for food,
Simon would die.
1t came sooner than the section boss
expected. His lethargic sleep was
broken by Dallas shaking him. AS he
opened his eyes she thrust the Ratchet
into his hands.
| Dad" she said hurriedly, "get up.
You got TO do it-for Marylyn-for
Marylyn."
To him it was real victory. He
wrenched quid from his tobacco
slab. grasped the Ratchet handle and
arose. Dallas had lighted the lantern
once more. Now she pinned one of
the smaller blankets over his shoulders
| When he put on his hat and llnelt be-
fore the chopped out place in the east
wall she wrapped a second blanket
about his feet and legs.
go long. 90 long" he said, not
unkindly. keep yourself warm"
he hac hn, l,..1l
again.
She did not watch him. but donned
the long cloak over her jersey, kissed
Marylyn and paced up and down the
shack. For every step there was a
blow of the Ratchet.
Poor Simon, Poor Simon" she
whispered to herself. The bull was
lowing again.
At last the sound of the Ratchet be-
came unbearable. She gave a quick
glance around the room, then, crossing
to her father, pulled ut his arm. "If
you kill Simon. there's no wood TO do
any cooking" she said. Better wait.
dad-hour or two, please"'
He twisted from under her hand and
scowled up. "Shucks!" he answered
Here's chips 'nough fer fire. And
swung the Ratchet with fresh zeal.
She fingered moment. smiling grim
ly. 1t was only play for time. She
knew very we'll that there would be
timber when her father reached Simon's
stall.
Lancaster was making fast progress
The log upon which he worked was
, dry from the heat of the hearth. II
splintered like weathered pine. A sec
, ton of it was seen cut away so fal
that final blow with the Ratchet head
drove it in. 1t rolled to the noses OF
, the mules. Lancaster thrust his hea(
through the hole
Between the scantlings that penneG
Simon into his part of the lean-to the
section boss spied two glowing eyes
, They watched him, then the door. theI
, him again "M-m-m-m.' came decI
protest, as the bull flew and paved a
the dirt floor
2 The section boss drew back nervous
e ly. "Simon's actin funny he said
: Hes locoed or he's smelt mice"
, He got no answer. Dallas was in tn
4 corner farthcst from him, crowded
against the logs. Her arms wer'
b raised. Her head rested between them
). Lancaster grunted disgustedly an,
i fell to chopping again. The openin;
e in the wall was not quite wide enough
: up and down for his body. He en-
- larged it by cutting away at the lowe
side. Finally, satisfied with its size, h
u unpinned the shoulder blanket. free
his feet and crawled through.
e And now Dallas looked around, fas
tening her eyes upon the dark hole be
" yond the hearth. Beside it the lar
q tern burned with a sickly fume. at
t. murder! It's murder! It's murder!
q she breathed
t. Marylyn tossed. moaning. Dallas ra
is to her. There she stayed. eyes an
IS ears buried in the bedclothes.
k Within the lean-to a curious parle
% was being held. Lancaster was stant
d Ing. Ratchet in hand. at the bar g