The Lambertville record., 1912-04-19
His
Later Events Showed
a Mistake
BY CLARlSSA MACKlE


ing, and the air was blue with the ex-
halations from pipes and cigarettes.
The Chinese cook tapped into the
room nolsily. He addressed the COM
pany impartially in high, complain
ing voice:
Him, Hally Bally, no come eat
chow; him sabe keep chow velly hot
till 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.
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.
Underestimate" snapped Gabriel.
Lees straw slippers tapped restless
ly 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,
| sabe velly, velly muchr'
You will keep Mr.. Barry's supper
hot for him?'
"Nelly hot" said Lee forcibly. "As
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 Mt the door and stood
before them
Where is Harry Barry? she de-
manded in low, intense voice. All
the pretty color had fled from her face,
and her pallor was enhanced by the
vivid auburn of her lovely hair.
Where is Harry BarryT 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 suggestions
as to the probable cause of Harry Bar
ry's absence even while they expected
to witness his dashing arrival Mt any
instant. At last they stood mutey be-
fore the pale widow and waited for her
to speak again.
You're clever lot of fabricators!'
she sneered
A look of concern came into Gabriel's
face. You don't think he's got into any
trouble Mrs Clancy?" he asked quick
ly.
"As If you didn't known Her voice
trembed with grief and anger. "As IL
you didn't knowl What has he done
that you-the men that he called his
mates his frlends-yes, every one OF
you-what has he done that you should
string him to the tallest cottonwood at
the springs2"
"Whatp' Numbered Gabriel. pushing
| forward. "Harry Barry hanging
where did you say" The seven who
loved the merry hearted comrade
whose grave danger had caused them
alarm on another occasion listened
with white faces while Mrs. Clancy
explained in shaking voice:
81 saw him myself. His horse was
staked under the tree. l was a quar-
ter of mile off when l happened to
see him dangling up there in the tree"
She hid her face In her hands and
shuddered. 81 was looking for lost
crtter and had my fleldglasses."
Mrs Clancy" said Gabriel heavily,
for he loved Harry like younger
brother. there is some mistake. You
can count on the seven of us to avenge
Harry If harm has come to him."
II am his avenger," said Mrs. Clancy
Oddly 81 want you seven to come
ilong with me"
The seven silently obeyed more from
pity for the agtated woman than be-
cause they were fearful of her threats.
Harry Barry's comrades were grief
at the disaster that had over
taken their friend. What could he
have done to have merited the severest
penalty of that unprotected country,
where justice is swiftly meted out
wherever ii Is outraged. with the dome
OF heaven for n courtroom and the vic
Tins for Judge and jury?
Crane. who was leading the file,
turned aud spoke to Gabriel, who was
1o%t ''YoH remember once before we
was hauled ont to save Harry, the time
when we got the letter about the Last
HopeY"
FsCtfr,, 4 a. al
found that the Last Hope was the name
of Il mine he'd discovered. Mebbe
there amt anything In this either" He
rmind hopefully
The Widow Clancys voice came
uervausly shrlll from the rear Laugh
VIII you?' she cried. "One of you
lauPh again end I'll p-put a-a-b-bul-
let through Ty-you" She sudden
~ broke into tears and bowed her
head Oh the neck of her pony. Gabriel
was beside hcr in an instant.
you're mistaken, Mrs Clancy" he
said 2oothinGly I'VE was only re-
Wembering that Harry scared us once
ho'orr You remember we've told you
about the Last Hone mine and how
we rode all night chasing that boy,
sle 10 find him alive and well at the
end Of the trip, and we can't help but
think there's some mistake now and
that Harry can't be done away with"
"But / saw him." cried the widow
plaintively. 81 saw him there, his
head dropping. Oh. 1t was awfulp
1--WE think - we're sure that he
wouldn't do one of the things he'd
have to hang for" was Gabriel's ear
nest assurance.
"Of course he wouldn'tT Mrs. Clan
cy lifted her tear stained face and
turned drenched blue eyes upon him.
Gabriel was relieved. TO see the
spunky little widow giving way to
grief was 80 foreign to her disposition
that he was alarmed.
"Mebbe you'd like to wait here while
we go and investigate" he suggested,
but the widow was firm In her deter
mination to be on the spot.
you amt used to such scenes,
ma'am." protested Crane mildly, for
they had paused to discuss the ques-
ton.