Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-07-03

maid he turned to Axy-" can you falkland heart"
Both, SIR said Axy curtsyng
That's better" said he good-naturedly enough, andi
plainly relieved. Now, then, you have heard what we
want to know. Have you anything to tell us? Be care
fu twill be dangerous thing for you we catch you
fbbng"
"Tl tell you fbs, SIR answered Axy quicklys
but can only say what my aunt has said already:
there's such horse in barn, and you see for
yourself there's pasture and the only other
place is house-f you please to search that There's
the attic, and the cellar, and the woodshed and all the
closets; and if the bay horse with the white star is as
clever at curling his legs up under him he be
at stretching them to away, maybe to scramble
up and down stairs, he might be slowed away in
the pumpkn-bin! | have often hid there myself, and
indeed it's good place to lie snug Will you lookl"
Now the sergeant was already thinking he had made
mistake in searching hilltop, and that the boy mustl
have slipped past them somehow in the fog; and,
over he kind who did not enjoy frightening
little girl desperately he seemed have fright
ened Tilly and besides if the horse there. it
must be somewhere else, and time was being wasted
So the puzzled sergeant looked hard for anxious
minute from Axy to her aunt and then growing only,
upon his horse tossed quick order to his comrades.
and away the three scarlet figures together claer-
ing swiftly down the hill
thank -you-ma am of the rough road. Then lilly,
lifting her streaming face from Aunt Nancys crumped
kerchef where she had buried it, sobbed Historically:
"Oh Axy-oh, Axy! they asked me if I'd EN-
and had! And SO wouldn't say anything at ALL And
they said they'd take away with 'em if didn't; and
l was SO frightened l didn't know what to do; but I
didn't tell didn't tell"
She dropped her face again against the soaked ker-
chief; and Aunt Nancy patted her shoulders and
mured There, my dear; there, therel" She added
sharply: What the poor child talking about,
Axy?"
Come into the house and I'll show you" said Axy;
and taking Tiys hand, she led the way the paror,
whsked the key from behind the hall cupboard, and
threw open the door. For moment they could not
into the dim room, and before their eyes had grown
used to the darkness Belinda neighed greeting
neghed unchecked, loud and long that Aunt
Nancy heard, and jumped as if she shot A min
ute later Axy pouring out explanations, and Ze1
thanks, while lilly still sobbed softly and Belinda, tor
gotten in the excitement walked syly the
epiece, and laying her down sideways, and curl
ing back her lips, chased the last remaining apple up
and down the smooth ledge with her white teeth snap
ping, and little snorts and pufings of enjoyment
At nightfall she led the barn, where she re-
manned safe during the few remaining days before the
British marched out of the vicinity Then Zeb took her
home And little later DR.. Thyng-who, scarcely less
than the parson and the squire great of the
neighborhood-rode in his Sunday coat and best
rufles make formal call Miss Achsah and Miss
Matilda Binns and to thank them for all they had
done and which had done the he declared he could
tell and he praised them both till lilly blushed like
peony, and Axy held her chin high with pride it
tipped up skyward almost sharply her little turnup
nose! And If the two sisters did not really enjoy this
much the many less imposing which Zeb, their
friend from that day, made in less stately fashion,
yet it great honor and great event, the less.
Standing the doorstep curtSyng their goodbys, they
felt the doctor his saddle lifted his fine cooked hat
shook the reins Bendas glossy eek, and cantered
away, as if something had lifted them quite out of
little grhood and added good years to their
dignity.