Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-12-04

STIR"
following certain landmarks contained
in written directions he carried But
all landmarks were obliterated now by
the darkness.
An errand of kindness was bringing
him to this strange country of broken
hills and level plains. He had never
been in Montana before. and the shrill
scream of the wind as 1t swept down
her canyons made no music for him.
He was now beginning to realize that
his journey might end in death. He
shrugged his broad shoulders at his
own danger, but he was sorry for
young Andy Belcher.
Bert Stillman was a young Chicago
| lawyer, and his defense Of Andy
Belcher in a shooting case had saved
that reprobate's life, but there stretched
before the youth term of years in
prison. There was only a brief ten
days before Andy would begin to serve
his sentence. and he had begged to see
his father before he left. A telegram
to old Frank Belcher had been unan-
swered. and because Of his client
agony of mind Stillman had shut up
his office and taken train for Missoula,
in the vicinity of which the Belcher
ranch was located.
He had Travelled for a whole day in
Now be was without horse-a city
man in a wild. winter swept country.
"There is light?" he almost shouted.
Straight ahead through the thick
darkness there appeared a reddish
glow. AS he neared it it took the form
of a star and seemed to guide him on
his way across the trackless snow.
perhaps it is Belcher's place, or it
may be nearby. At any rate, l can
probably get horse and drive over or
send word to the old man." Bert Still
man set his face against the cold wind
and wrapped the blanket over his
head.
All at once a thought struck him
with sudden force. 1t was Christmas
eve.
Now he smiled as he thought of the
dreary Christmas eve he was spend
ing, so different from any other he had
ever experienced.
81 guess that's my Christmas star"
he said to himself. Its surely point
ing the way to safety for me, and it's
furthering matters so that / can get
Frank Belcher to his son. 1 imagine
that's all that matters now"
When he finally staggered up to a
low, comfortable ranch house almost
hidden by the drifts of snow he was
nearly exhausted from cold and the
effort Of propelling his weary body
through the deep drifts
The light shone through an incur
tanned window and sent a draft of
brilliance across the snow.
my Christmas starr he muttered
as he sank unconscious against the
door of the house.
. "My Christmas starr he murmured
later when he looked up into the dark
starry eyes of lovely girl who bent
above him.
'Whyr'- she stammered, starting
back and looking over her shoulder at
a tall bearded man who was mixing
, something hot in tumbler
what is it dear2 Is he conscious p
, asked the man, coming forward
Eyes. father" The girl shrank away
ana leaned against the wall, out OF
sight of Stillman's wondering eyes.
Feeling better?" asked the man, set
ting a steaming glass against Still,
mans lips.
Yes, thanks-just tired out-lost my
horse back here-very sleepy Still
mans eyes closed and he went Il
sleep.
When he awoke again the girl wal
sitting beside his couch. One elbow
rested on her knee to steady the ain
J, of the pistol that was pointed directly
/ at his head
!, please don't move" she said quiet
+ ly. 81 have orders to shoot you i
r you stir"
: Stillman stared back into be- Lowell!
/ dark eyes shining steadily beneath
= her pure white brow, above which
tina soft dark hair was nsStsd tn drnn'