Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-06-03

tenanced that night, it even neryed
him for what deeds he must himself
commit before the night was out.
In the laws eye he was a branded
murderer as it was. He seemed des-
tined to deserve that brand. He would
kick no more against fate so plain
and so persistent. so he decided as
he rode, too slowly for his spirit, to
deliberate crime. for despite philoSO-
ply his one immediate longing was for
gallop to rekindle blood which the
murder OF De Gruchy had turned from
fire to ice, and Il greater comfort than
he would have owned to himself came
of his resolve to save and protect Peg
~ and Miss Sullivan from this ruth
less crew. Otherwise he was one Of
them ana would play his part. But he
was not yet the villain he had hoped.
Objective details impressed him little
at the time. And yet lie was left'with
the very sharpeSt memories of floating
gum trees and dropping moon, of the
masks they all put on and the battered
top hat that Hockey wore above his,
the pistols that they loaded and the
brace of horse pistols handed to him
self; the little conversation on the way,
the startling of an old man Kangaroo
that ShOne an instant gray and glossy
in the moonlight. then doomed and
bounded into silence and the shades;
Of all such things, in fact, to the final
plan OF attacI, and division of vii
laiuy. made almost within sight Of the
devoted homestead.
At the time. however. though Tom
! listened tas he thoughU attentivcly and
was much consulted in the strength of
! his present knowledge of the place, he
graspcd very little beyond his own in
| structionS. He was to show them the
oversccr'S hut 0he night Waterman
! would already he on their side or
! dead, then he was to station himself
/ beneath the great bell ana to ring it
/ fUriOuSly so soon as Ginger was haul
] ed out and his hut set well on fire.
! Tom was also 10 answer to the name
of Francisco and to affect foreign
. accent, because the Italians terrible
! reputation had been the best part of
him.
! The bell and the fire were calculated
| to tempt both Sullivans forth unarmed
At all costs those two were to be taken
alive. And thcn"' said the little man
poking Wall-eye in the ribs With his
/ hook
what them" inquired Tom.
I'VE shall do unto them as we've all
been done by"
But you We're never here yOurselfE
Next door TO it," returned Hockey
| Simpson. Il was at Strachan'S. and
this old tyrant ordered me my fiftics
Well see how he likes them himself
just for Il start"
Il wish it was Strachan'S we were
coming to-" muttered Tom, with fiasl
of his former passion.
It'll be his turn next"
But wheuY
"TOmOrrOw-if all goes we'll"
Then YOU don't mean to stop a
Castle SULLIVAN" cried Tom. amazed
"You'll see rejoiued Hockey. "ant
so shall |. There's no saying where
may stop with seventy conyicts at IN!
back"
Seventy cOnvicts! That was thu
rough number at Castle Sullivan
Then what was this to which the littl
man was leading them? No petty rob
berry, after all! y grand rebellion in
stead! Toms heart lightcned at TIL
thought. He gaZed at the cOntiden
little man, looking more like a monke.
dressed up as highwayman ant
perched upon horse, and he felt tina
he could have followed so spirited
leader with all the spirit he himsel
had left but for the thing that hat
been done before his eyes that night
There was no more, however, to b
said. They were at the farm.
At the gate mot the gate of forme
scenes; this one lay east beyond tn
[ stables) all dismounted but the littl
general, who was to keep his saddl
l as generals do. The others led thei
horses to the stables, and, while Wal
: eye stalled them, Tom showed Slppe
and the black his old lair. Anothe
convict had succeeded him as groom
and in Il few moments young Brumm
B was dragged forth by Peter Pinda
|
;, however. the obliging youth at one
put himself at the bushrangers' di!
pGsal. His zeal and enthusiasm al
5 CURED well for the other seventy
: the huts. Under his eager guidanC
e the Waterman, Roberts, was immed
II ately captured in his sleep beneath II
: bell, whereupon that official joined I'll
. enemy with no more demur tina
:. Brummy. Indeed, he went the lengt
# of shaking hands with the suppose
" Italian and personally thanking hi
\. for having come at last.
i Hockey on his horse cut this profe
y sion short and drove both prisoners b
ls fore him toward the overseer's hu
/ which Tom had already pointed GU
- The latter was now left in charge
e the bell rope, with last order not
d ring until the hut was well ablaZe.
tn Il thought he was gov'nor?" To
h, heard Roberts remark.
We 1.-The less you think the better" r
so torted Hockey. But about this owe
n