Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-01-11
The Argus Daily Story
His Avenger-By Clarissa Mackie.
Copyrighted 1911. by Associated Literary Bureau.

You amt used TO Such scenes,
ma'am," protested Crane mildly, for
they had paused to discuss the ques-
ton.
II may as well get used to tiff it
kills me-" declared Mrs. Clancy, and
then, fixing glowing eyes upon each in
turn. she said earnestly: 81 want you
to understand 1 appreciate you've been
good friends to me ever since I came
from the east, and 1 know you've al
ways been good friends to Harry, but If
I'm convinced that his being up there Is
your fault-why. why, the whole seven
of you will hang for 1t If have to do
1t myself"' The widow looked per-
fectly capable of engineering any num-
Der of lynchings at that moment.
Absurd as was the situation from one
point of view, there was the tragedy
In the background, and it was a grave
ly preoccupied party that swung
around the last hill as the sun dropped
its lower rim below the horizon.
A yellow shaft of sunlight struck
the cottonwoods, and from the tallest
one something dangled from a stout
upper limb.
Don't you look, ma'am-wait tin we
come back" commanded Gabriel with
sudden authority, and he pressed a
flask into her hand.
The brave hearted little widow sud
denly lost courage and bowed her
head once moro on the neck Of her
pony.
When the seven pounded to a stand
h. traa
slipped from their saddles and hesitat-
ed. Harry Barry's roam horse whin-
MED sharply. and then, apparently
from the air above them, came fam
iliar voice, peevish, as II from long
waiting.
Don't stand staring like idiots! I'm
plumb tired out hanging up here! It
said.
The seven turned awed looks upon
one another, and as by one accord the
! youngest and strongest, the two Lew
| ises, Jim and Tim, sprang toward the
tree and fairly spurred their way up
into the lower branches, from which
| they mounted higher. Then there came
the sound of several voices raised in
inquiry, explanation and direction.
After awhile three men came down
the tree instead of the two who had
climbed up. The third man was Harry
Barry, and the others were helping
him, for his limbs seemed stiff and
his face was quite pale. He smiled
as cheerily as ever as they gathered
around him.
Another one on me-" he grinned
sheepishly when they had administer
ed restoratives to him. 81 was coming
back from dosing the sick critter,
when 1 took notion to climb that
there tree and look around the land
and see if there was anybody knew
sashaying around-laugh II you
wanterr he said as a knowing smile
went the round Of the group.
Il went up in the tree, and looked,
and l thought 1 saw way off an old
friend of mine Che showed all his
white teeth, land so I was in hurry
| to get down, and my heel caught in a
crooked little branch, and l fell ker-
PUNK till q handy little stump Of a
broken limb caught hold of my belt,
and there I hung as fine as silk. That
was all beautiful and nice. only, gents,
1t was SO that there was sharp
little prongy branch sticking out of
the tree right behind my shoulders,
! and 1 couldn't move hand or foot with
out ketching it like knife, so there 1
hung till went to sleep a while back.
When woke up was all numb and
cold from hanging there. I'm feeling
|
knew I heard you fellers coming and
seen you out the corner of my eye"
They examined the small ragged tear
in Harry's shirt between his shoulder
blades, and they saw that the flesh
was red and bruised from the tortur.
ing branch that had pierced 1t.
"You had narrer escape" said
Gabriel soberly.
81 guess you won't get to breaking
no laws now" joked Hem Wayland.
, you've somehow got taste Of what
: necktie party feels like when you're
the guest of honor"
: Crane had ridden ahead to break the
n good news TO Mrs. Clancy, and Gabriel
suddenly vaulted into his saddle and
wheeled about. 1--WE chaps better be
making for the Lone Bull. Lees keep
ing your supper hot for you, Harry"
a "And there's a lady waiting around
the corner for you" added Jim Lewis
T over his shoulder as he followed Crane
"a lady-who-ahr' The question
g died on Harry Barry's lips as the Wild
2 ow Clancy's little pony dashed toward
q the cottonwood tree bearing a slender
e erect figure, with an aureole of au
burn hair and dancing blue eyes. There
e was no lack OF color I'm her cheeks
, as she saw the stalwart form OF
] Harry
: Gosh! Let's get out Of thisw gasped
: Jim Lewis as he followed the rest OF
r the seven in their mad dash to escape
i the tender scere that would follow
Lets go home and see Lee has SUP
E per plenty hot for them" suggested
r Gabriel, and soon the faithful sever
e were dim dots on the twilit plain.
j Following them in the mystic ligh,
' came Harry Barry and his sweetheart
, riding slowly. hand in hand.