The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1912-01-12
His
Avenger
Later Events Showed
a Mistake
BY ClARlSSA alACKlE


hnished supper and were gathered
about the long table over newspapers
-Had cards. Most of them were smok-
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
Rany 'impartially in a high, complain
ing voice:
Him, Hally Bally. no come eat
c&ow: him sabe I keep chow veIly hot
ssil him come aloundr'
Harry Barry's seven comrades fixed
piercing eyes on the cook Gabriel
spoke. smothering yawn with one
lean hand before he did so.
II guess he sabe you'll keep his sup
Rer hot for him, Lee. If you DON'T
NE paused significantly. and the wrath
ful Chinaman found seven blue muz.
zfed revolvers focused upon different
parts Of his anatomy.
Understands" snapped Gabriel.
Lees straw slippers tapped restless
" on the bare floor His frightened.
teady eyes roved from one to another
sf the stern faces. He nodded his
head like toy mandarin. YES, yes.
sabe velly, velly much!'
"You will keep Mr.. Barry's supper
hot for himr'
''Velly hotr' said Lee forcfbiy. CAS-
hot as And he named the hottest
p1ace there Is.
The seven were still shaking with
silent laughter over the episode when
there came the rapid thud Of small
kcofs and the Widow Clancy slipped
hrom her saddle at the door and stood
Scfore them.
where is Harry Barry?" she de-
nanded in 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 Barryr' 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
Eested the Crane from the background
One or two others offered suggestions
as to the probable cause Of Harry Bar
rvs absence even while they expected
10 witness his dnshing arrival at any
Instant At last they stood mutely be-
fore the pale widow and waited for her
tS speak again.
you're a clever lot Of fabricators" !"
she sneered.
4 look of concern came flts Gabriei's
h&oe. "You don't think hes got into any
tkoQbie. Mrs. Ciancy?" he asked quick
w.
CAS- If you didn't know Her voice
tfcmbled with grief ana anger. "As II
1ou didn't know! What has he done
1kat you-the men that he called his
rates, his friends-yes. every ono Of
ysu-what has he done that yoa should
Nrang him to the tallest cottonwood at
10 spr1nssT
"whatP' thundered Gabriel. pushing
Esrward. Harry Barry hanging
Where did you sayr' The seven who
fsSed the merry hearted comrade
whose grave danger had caused them
Atarm on another occasion listened
with white faces whilo Mn. Clancy
explained in q shaking voice:
II saw him myself. His horse was
staked under the tree. I was a quar-
Ger Of a mile or when happened to
see him dangling up there in the tree"
nhe hid her face in her hands and
shuddered. "I was looking for a lost
sratter and had my fieldgiasses.~
"Ars. Clancy" said Gabriel heavily.
fcr he loved Harry like q younger
Srother. ''there is some mistake You
oan count on the seven Of as to nvenge
Marry If harm has come to him"
81 am his ayenger." said Mrs. Clancy
oSldly. "I want you seveA to come
aaong with me-"
The seven silently obeyed more from
Hity for the agitated woman than he.
cause they were fearful of her threats.
Harry Barry's comrades we're grief
stricken Mt the disaster that had over
aken their friend. What could he
have done to have merited the severest
Denalty OF that unprotected country,
where Justice is swiftly meted out
wherever 1t is outraged. with the dome
sf heaven for a courtroom and the vic
t2ms for Judge and turyp
Crane. who was leading the Ale,
tprned and spoke to Gabriel. who was
next "You remember once before we
was hauled out to save Harry. the. time
when we got the letter about the Last
Hope2"
Sure" returned Gabriel, land we
fSund that the Last Hope was the name
N6 a mine he'd discovered. Mebbe
there amt anything In this either" He
nniled hopefully.
Tho Widow Clancy'st voice came
VIGOROUSLY shrfii from the rear. Laugh.
viii your" she cried. "oae Of You
laugh again ana I'll p-put s--a--b-bul-
fet-through-y-y-your' she sudden
Ncbrokei into tears ana bowed her
head on the neck Of her pony Gabriel
was beside her IN an instant.