Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-05-08

The believers In the Stubs theory en-
sconced themselves behind trees In or
der to escape stray bullets. The Jones
partisans laughed at them. Jones had
told them that the sheriff was coming,
self up. He had gone out to prevent
his fellow townsmen from witnessing
the ignomfny Of his arrest and the
clapping on OF handouts.
Stranger sat with his back 70 the
gathering audience. not knowing Of
their presence. He took out his watch
and looked for the time OF day. Then
be pulled n revolver from his hip and
examined It. cooking and unlocking 1t
and revolving the chambers.
This act sent several OF the doubling
Thomases among the Jones faction be-
hind trees and confirmed the Stubbs-
ties in their opinion.
A creaking sound was heard in the
distance. and the coach turned bend
I'm the road. Stranger jumped down
from his seat and strobe with long
steps toward it Some among the au-
dience averred that he was swinging
his revolver while he walked; others
were equally sure he had put It back
in his holster. AS he approached the
coach the driver, who recognized him.
drew rein and stopped. Then the door
few open and boy about FIVE years
old made a jump that landed him in
Strangers arms. The child was fol-
lowed by a woman who. standing in
the open door. put forth her arms,
they were clasped around Strangers
neck. and he lifted her to the ground.
The rest of the picture was the man
alternately kissing the woman and the
boy.
Stranger was recalled to his sur
roundings by a shout up the road and.
turning. saw his fellow citizens ranged
IN a semicfrcle between him and the
town. He stared at them in wonder
for moment. then put the woman
and the boy back into the coach, got in
himself. and the vehicle proceeded on
fits way. When It reached the crowd
Enoch Nudge advanced. the driver
stopped the horses, and Mr.. Nudge ad-
dressed Stranger:
1.-THE feelins' of your feller citizens
is much relieved. Some thort y was
waftin' TO kill a man and others thort
Y was wanted for crime. The wom-
an and the kid beside y p'ints to an
other solution. Anyway, we're glad
the mystery is solved and the woman
and the kid are welcome among Us. We
only hope y're married respectable"
To which Mr.. Truesdale replied:
"I married the lady beside me six
years ago, but my poverty and the in
reference of her family have separat-
ed us until now. When 1 came among
you expected to find my wife here.
Then 1 struck bonanza in my mine.
l went away to perfect my claim and
get capital to work II. leaving q letter
for my wife in case she should come
in my absence. Then got a letter
stating that her mother was I'll and
the coming must be deferred. Lastly.
the telegram announced her arrival to-
day. And here we all are intending
TO make our home among you. i am
happy TO announce that the Crow VAL
lev Mining compeEy has been organic
ed with ample capital. and expect It
will make city out Of a town"
After these orations the driver
cracked his whip, and the stage lum-
bered on to Mr.. Truesdale's cabin. On
the site of that cabin a few years later
rose a mansion.
Bill Stubs maintained to the day Of
his death that he was right in his opin-
ion of the mystery-that some ono had
interfered with Strangers affections.
Andy Jones declared his belief there
was some trouble with the law that
had not come out. The others took no
farther interest in the matter as
mystery.