Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-09-23

the unseen enemy. While he was do
ing so the woOdcutter. whom the rob-
bers had not disarmed, put bullet in
his brain.
The road agents now all being dis
posed of. / descended. The woman
had tainted In her husbands arms.
The wood was scattered on the road
beside the cart The dumb brutes were
standing patiently waiting for the
crack of the whip to move on. Hear.
ing steps above him. the woodman
looked up and saw me descending. At
that moment his wife regained con-
seriousness. and by the time l Joined
them both had recovered something of
their equanimity.
Talk Of gratitude. There was graft
tude enough in that young woman's
eyes to thank an army for the relief
of a beleaguered city.
II thought you had deserted u.s."
she said
'If had come on you would both
have been dead by this time and I
as well probably"
THAT'S true" said the man. Were
only here by a miracle"
AS soon as the pair had recovered
from the shock the man began to re-
place the wood on his cart. I turned
in and helped him. AS soon as we had
finished the job and the couple were
ready TO proceed on their journey he
said 10. me:
II don't think well have any more
trouble. but ! don't know"
IF you're not certain shall go back
with you. l don't ike leaving a man
and / won't leave a woman in dan
ger"
The wife gave me a look that set
tied me. turned back with them,
intending to take a fresh start the
next day.
Nov. IL you don't mind" said, II
would like an explanation as TO why
the robbers suspected you Of carrying
gold OF of knowing who was carrying
it"
"It is better" said the man, ''that
you shouldn't know till we're out OF
danger. Not knowing. no one can
force you to tell. Wait till we get to
Punkerville. then I'll tell you all about
it."
To this 1 assented. and we continued
our journey to within a few miles of
the town. when, unable to keep the
slow pace Of the oxen, I showed signs
Of impotence.
''If you don't mind" said the wood
man, who since the fracas had dropped
his lingo. you might ride ahead and
send out a wagon"
did so after having accepted an in
vftation from the man to call that
evening at his house.
When l stood before the door Of his
dwelling looked upon the best house
in the town. l found the woodman
dressed like a gentleman and his wife
dressed like lady.
Permit me to introduce myself" be
said. las the owner of q newly dis
covered mine up in the canyon. Last
night 1 got wind OF proposed attack
by road agents to carry of our stock
Of accumulated ore. We are defense
less up there, and determined to bring
it down here, my wife. who was with
me, agreeing to act as vedette. Had
we not met you
pardon me. think I have curbed
my curiosity sufficiently as to where
this gold dust was. VIII you kindly
tell me in what shape you have
brought it,"
81 will show you"
Going out of the room. he returned
with a log of wood and with his knife
pried up a small part of the bark.
Having exposed the wood under 1t, be
loosened a round wooden plug that
stopped a hole and removed it Then
from the hole he poured into his hand
a small quantity Of gold dust.
THAT will do" 1 said. 1T under
stand perfectly"
The next day I renewed my Journey
to the mines, made my examination
and returned
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