Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-01-11

ing, and the air was blue with the ex-
halations from pipes and cigarettes.
The Chinese cook tapped into the
room noisily. He addressed the COM
pany impartially in a high, complain
ing voice:
Him. Hally Bally, no come eat
chow: him sabe keep chow velly hot
till him come alound!'
Harry Barry's seven comrades fixed
piercing eyes on the cook. Gabriel
spoke, smothering yawn with one
lean ha1d before he did so.
81 guess he sabe you'll keep his sup
per hot for him, Lee. If you DON'T
he paused significantly, and the wrath
| full Chinaman found seven blue muz-
zled revolvers focused upon different
parts of his anatomy.
Understand" snapped Gabriel.
Lees straw slippers tapped restless
| ~ on the bare floor. His frightened,
beady eyes roved from one to another
of the stern faces. He nodded his
head like toy mandarin. Yes, yes,
1 sabe velly, velly much!'
You will keep Mr.. Barry's supper
hot for him?"
"velly hotw said Lee forcibly. Gas
| hot as And he named the hottest
place there is.
The seven were still shaking with
silent laughter over the episode when
there came the rapid thud Of small
hoofs and the Widow Clancy slipped
from her saddle at the door and stood
before them.
Where is Harry Barry?" she de-
manded in a low, intense voice. All
the pretty color had fed from her face,
and her pallor was enhanced by the
vivid auburn of her lovely hair
where is Harry BarryF she repeat
ed as they arose and clustered around
her.
We've been expecting him every
minute. He oughter been back long
ago." drawled Gabriel.
"Mebbe his horse went lame" sug
gested the Crane from the background
One or two others offered suggestion
as to the probable cause of Harry Bar
rvs absence even while they expected
to witness his dashing arrival at an!
instant. At last they stood mutely be
fore the pale widow and waited for he
. to speak again.
you're a clever lot of fabricators!
she sneered.
A look of concern came into Gabriel
, face. "You don't think he's got into an
trouble, Mrs. Clancy?" he asked quick
ly-
"As if you didn't know" Her voic
trembled with grief and anger. GAS
, you didn't know! What has he don
that you-the men that he called hi
, mates, his friends-yes, every one o
. you-what has he done that you shout
' string him to the tallest cottonwood q
the springsf
"Whatv' Numbered Gabriel, pushin
forward. Harry Barry hanging
= where did you say?" The seven VIII
= loved the merry hearted conrad
whose grave danger had caused theI
alarm on another occasion listene
with white faces while Mrs. Clanc
explained in a shaking voice:
81 saw him myself. His horse wa
staked under the tree. l was a qua
ter of a mile off when l happened t
see him dangling up there in the tree
She hid her face in her hands an
!. shuddered. 'I was looking for a 10:
critter and had my fieldglasses."
Mrs. Clancy" said Gabriel heavil.
for he loved Harry like a young6
brother, "there Is some mistake. 70
can count an the seven of us to aveng
Harry If harm has come to him"
Il am his avenger," said Mrs. Clanc
coldly. Il want you seven to CON
along with me-"
The seven silently obeyed more fro
/ pity for the agitated woman than b
=. cause they were fearful of her threat
Harry Barry's comrades were grit
stricken at the disaster that had owe
taken their friend. What could
have done to have merited the severe
penalty of that unprotected countr
where justice is swiftly melted Of
wherever it is outraged, with the don
OF heaven for n courtroom and the vi
tins for judge and jury?
). Crane, who was leading the FL
turned and spoke to Gabriel, who W;
next "You remember once before v
:. was hauled out to save Harry, the tin
- when we got the letter about the La
Hope?"
Sure" returned Gabriel, land y
;, found that the Last Hope was the nan
!" of a mine he'd discovered. Mebl
there amt anything In this either" f
smiled hopefully.
The Widow Clancy's voice can
'o nervously shrill from the rear. "Laug
will your" she cried zone of yC
laugh again and I'll p-put a-a-b-bu
y let-through-y-y-your She sudde
~ ~ broke into tears and bowed h
head on the neck Of her pony. Gabri
was beside her in an instant
. You're mistaken, Mrs. Clancy"
i'll said soothingly. I'VE was only r
membering that Harry scared US on,
before. You remember we've told "
Z about the Last Hope mine and no
u we rode all night chasing that DO
e only to find him alive and well at Il
lie eud of the trip. and we can't help b
foIr