Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-11-12
By ELEANOR GATES.
CHAPTER VII.

NN Squaw Charley's familiar sig
MIt nal-sounded upon the outer
% ~ battens of the warped door
DO las drew back the iron bolt eager
In, taught the lantern that lighted the
45Vt, room from it's high nail above the
he's Nh and held it over her head.
IN a. standing in the opening, with
o. Icy wind hutteri4g the wide fame
a leaped and smoked in its socket,
she met not the fatering eyes of the
faiE. full Indian. but the piercing gaze
Of 7l!ed David Bond.
Sbt fell back and let the lantern
drop to her waist. There she held it.
her fingers trembling despite her eff
fort to appear calm. Many days and
she had waited expectantly for
the man wholly voice and fist had dis
played an enmity toward them. She
had pictured his arrival or that OK his
emissary and planned what she WoUl /
say and do. Now, certain that he was
come at last-after she had long ceased
to watch for himzand reading justice
and fearlessness in the stern visagc
before her, she was dumb and help
less.
Her fathers voice, rising from the
hearthside, beOught her TO action.
"Waal. waa-" he was saying. don't
keep tn doc, <pen all night"
With a defiant step forward and as
if to bar intrusion she spread out her
arms. You're here" she said in a
low tone.
Dallas words did not penetrate the
head covering worn by David Bond,
and the fire having died down for lack
of fuel the interior of the shack was
so dark that he could see only her ges-
ture. He thought her alone and
frightened.
Have no fear, daughter" he begged
at will go somewhere else. But the
ice is so''--
His gentle address surprised and dis
armed her. She advanced relentingly
as her father came up behind.
"W'y-a stranger?" cried the section
boss.
She stopped him. Eyes, but we
wouldn't turn a, dog away tonight
dad" She motioned David Bond tC
0nter.
AS he crossed the sill Dallas for the
first time caught a glimpse of the
white horse and the pung and saw
Squaw Charley lifting his load of chips
from the wagon box.
"You came together?" she asked.
Charley pointed out your house t.
me-" was the answer.
A sudden hope came to her. May
be made mistake" she said. Tel
me, who are you"
David Bond-an evangelist by thu
grace of God"
She lifted the lantern so that ht
could see the others. My. father ant
my sister," she said. Then she pu
the light on the table, retired to a cor
ner and suddenly sank down.
SQuaw Charley, having brought il
and emptied the sack and blanket, fec
the blaze and crouched at one side o
the fireplace. Evan and Marylyn wer,
across from him, intently eXaminin!
the features and dress of the traveller
1t was Dallas who, eased yet shaken
remembered to be hospitable.
"Come, Charley" she said, rising
swell put the horse up. No, no." a
their guest would have accompanie,
her, I'VE won't need help. The mule
are used to Charley now and Simon
pretty ugly to strangers" She starte,
out 'Marylyn," she said from tn
door, "you take Mr.. Bonds coat.
Then, to the evangelist, I'm glad it
you and Observation-Disclosures A rar
smile crossed her face.
The aged man, Invested of his Ion
ulster, advanced and with fatherl
tenderness lightly touched her braid:
"I was stranger and We took m
in.'" he quoted solemnly.
Dallas fingered a moment, arreste
by the picture. Lancaster was lear
ing forward from his seat in unaccu:
toned silence. Marylyn sat besid
him, the nubia thrown across her arm
Nearer was the Indian, his copper co
ored face marvelously softened, ant
before them all stood the evangelis
priestly, patriarchal.
When Dallas and Squaw Charlie
were gone the section boss and hi
younger daughter were for spaC
tongue tied through a Lack of some
thing to say. Soon, however, Davi
Bond broke the quiet to assure Lal
caster of his gratitude. And their
after the two men talked freely.
you need not fear any trouble wit
my horse" the evangelist said as Da
las was heard bidding Simon keep