Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-05-25
The Argus Daily Story
Evelyn Pierce-By Edwin Thornton.
Copyrighted. 1911. by Associated Literary Bureau

nothing for the darkness On q shelf
stood lantern. which Uncas instantly
lighted: then. after pretending TO look
for something. seizing her and clap
ping his hand over her mouth. he
dragged her through another opening,
and she found herself outside the fort
What she had suspected was plain TO
her now, though so great was her ter
ror that 1t only flashed through her
mind. Uncas had come to the fort TO
effect an entrance for his comrades
He had secretly made the opening TO
the ma gaZine. concealed il and made
another through the wall of the fort
Desiring to possess her. he had ar
ranged to take her with him when he
went back to his people Doubtless
long before dawn he would lead them
through the magazine into the fort
and massacre the garrison before they
could form to repel the attack
Evelyn was very strong for a girl.
She had not been captured long be-
fore summoning all her strength for
a supreme effort-it was enhanced by
terror-she wrenched herself from the
Indian. and before he could get his
grip on her again she dArted away for
the fort She ran in the dark. but took
no thought OF falling. Fortune favored
her In this, while It deserted the Indian
He fell. and while he was getting on
his feet again Evelyn gained sufficient
advantage to reach the opening into
the fort and pass through it When
Uncas entered through the same aper-
ture she was standing by barrel or
Eunpowder. from which the head had
been removed, holding the lantern d.
rectly over it.
"Come a step farther" she said.
"and I'll drop It."
She stood at bay ready to sacrihc"
herself and the Indian. Savage as he
was, he at once began to look for some
strategem by which he could again get
the advantage OF her. Drawing away.
he feigned fright, then penitence, tell
ing her he had been tempted by his
passion for her to take her to his own
wigwam and make her his wife. He
would rather die than harm her.
This and other things he said.
watching her like a cat for an oppor-
tunity to catch her of her guard and
get her again in his power. Mean
| while she was thinking how to get out
/ Of his clutches. She could hear SEN
try walking on the parapet, though his
/ steps were only audible to her when
/ ne came to that end of his beat near
est the magazine. He had turned and
/ st,1 Ia, 60 Cd
a resolution. She listened to UncaS as
though moved by his penitence till the
| sentry came back to the end of his
beat nearest her. then gave a shrek
so loud that had it not been inclosed
would have awakened the garrison.
Major Bertrand had given orders
that key to the magazine door should
hang in the sentry box of the man who
guarded it. Since the magazine was
never unguarded the key was always
within reach of a sentinel. The man,
hearing the shrek, seized the key and.
opening the door. saw Evelyn standing
by a powder barrel. The moment she
saw him she pointed to the hole in the
wall leading from the magazine by
which the Indian had beaten "A retreat
A hasty explanation ensued, and
within a few minutes men on horse
back started after Uncas. In his fail
when chasing Evelyn he had received
a sprain which deferred him in his
flight Hearing his pursuers near upon
him. he crawled under a bush but they
had caught sight of him and. pressing
on. dragged him out
When they reached the fort with him
they took him 10 the commandments
quarters, where Evelyn had gone and
after fainting spell. had regained
somewhat of her equanimity.
After a brief examination Uncas was
taken out and shot
So ended an attempt OF the Indians
to gain by strateGem possession OF the
fort, which doubtless would have been
successful bad not the man TO put II IN
practice lost his head over woman.
Had he not attempted TO take Evelyn
with him he could easily have intro
duced his red brothers and caught the
garrison mapping.
4 great change came over those who
had turned n cold shoulder upon Eve
Ign. She had warned them against the
savage and by her heroism had saved
them from being massacred. And not
long afterwlrd another matter was
cleared up
Private Conover was not Conover Mt
all. but Eugene Werner, a gentleman :
son, who had enlisted in the ranks for
the life. the experience and a possible
commission in the army. Evelyn had
recognized him as such when the 9th
ers had either failed to do so or had
declined to take notice of the fact.
After the episode which had nearly be
! come a tragedy Evelyn openly asso-
1 ciated with him. and Major Bertrand
for her sake recommended the young
mGn for commission. Then he ana
Evelyn became engaged and were
! married at the fort
, II was then that a latent infatuation
, several of the officers had conceived
for Evelyn famed up. aud they con
demned themselves for not uavlHg
uia de an effort to win her
: !