Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-10-04

81 like you for that he said. his
smile returning "You are a true and
brave southern girl
"A true, not 4 brave, one"
Have you n lot of nerve;"
Il don't know. My nerve has never
been put to the test why do you ask
that?"
Because TO defeat me you will have
TO do that which would be hard for
most people to do
What"
You will have TO inform Confed-
crates that I am a Federal soldier in
disguise carrying important dispatches
through country supposed to he in
Confederate hands; in other words.
that 7 am spy. When you have told
them that they will put rope around
my neck. throw the end over the limb
of a tree and shall hang there a dead
man"
The girl shUddered She sat on her
horse. revolving something in her mind.
She had come 10 prevent Murray from
carrying out his purpose. and. although
she was not minded to be the cause of
his hanging. she was not ready to let
him 90 through. The young man, too.
had his problem 10 solve. Had his
enemy been Il man the result would
have depended on the life Of either one
or the other, but a girl-this was an
entirely different matter.
III ride on a little way with you"
she said
They rode on slowly till they came
TO a wooden trough beside the road
into which water ran from a pipe.
while a tin cup stood on post. The
girls horse. seeing the water. turned
to drink. the mans horse following.
Il would like a drink myself" said
Alice. and she was preparing TO dis
mount when Murray threw himself
from his horse and. stepping up TO the
trough. reached for the cup. then bent
over to fill il. In doing so he exposed
his right hip, at which was slung a
revolver. Alice bent down, and before
he was aware of what she was doing
she had the weapon in her possession.
He turned. and as he did so heard n
click. When he faced her he was look
ing at the muzzIe of his own pistol.
There were two weapons between
these two young people-the revolver
in the hands of the girl, while on the
lips Of the man was that good natured,
winning smile. She summoned all the
severity of which she was capable to
show him that she was in earnest and
having him at her mercy was disposed
to sacrifice him If necessary to what
she considered the good Of her country.
We'll" said Murray, 'is it hands
up?"
GIVE me the paper you carry"
"I'll not give you that, but III give
you something in place of it."
WHAT
"A kiss"
She summoned all her will power 70
look terrible Give me that paper or
I'll fire" she said.
He stood back few PAGES. took Off
his wooden hat, folded his arms and
said:
put it. into the center of my fore
head"
Alice bit her lip. She had cherished
a faint hope that he would yield. But
there he stood with head uncovered.
arms folded, handsome even in his
butternut clothes, breeze stirring the
hair over his forehead while on his
lips remained still a trace Of that i'm
perturbable smile. She played her
part so we'll that he was not sure but
that she might bring herself to sacri-
flee him to her cause.
Alice. having nerved herself for the
contest. was determined
not to give it up without a desperate
struggle. She had no experience with
a pistol. but determined TO put ball
close to Murray's head to
scare him-if he were To be scared at
all
Give me the paper" she said. AT
three / fire"
Don't waste your breath counting"
he replied. Fire at once"
One
Before ! die | have but one word
to say to you. You are ravishing"
Two
And love you"
Allce's bosom was hOaving with con
flcting emotions. 4 desire 10 strike a
blow for her cause and the more nat
1ral one Of a newly born love She
was endeavoring to mask her feelings
behind the nuZzle OF a cooked revolv-
pr, but her resolution had from the
first been sapped by her feminine ma
lure. And now II had suddenly crum-
Jlrd at the words Il love you"
Murray saw that the victory was
iis. His smile deepened, and his eyes
-epeatnd what his lips had spoken
He advanced slowly toward her. The
point of her revolver sank 10 her side;
ne encircled her waist with his arm.
her head sank: their lips met.
When darkness came Alice Clay
,ourne rode back 70 her home. and
Robert Murray rode forth on his mis-
lion.
Put he returned In safety md re-
Dained long enough 10 convert n rebe!
nto Union girl. though the change
vas not complete til after the war had
.nded.