Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-01-30

head"
"Nuther did l. To tell the truth |
was lynn down nappin' wen Pete, |
we're. who'd been down the canon |
rounding up some of the critters,
came Dustin IN on US"
81 amt saved but four hosses." said
Pete mournfully, "and there's only one
burro on the hog back"
I'VE came back as fast as we
could" said Maitland. 81 pushed on
ahead, George, Bradshaw and Phillips
are bringing Bob and the girls. We
must search the canon"
1T can't be done tonight, old man"
said Kirkby.
Il tell you we can't wait, Jack!"
We've got to, I'm as within to lay
down my life for that young gal as
anybody on earth, but in this yere
mist an as black a night as it's goin'
to be, we couldn't go ten rod without
KILN ourselves an we couldn't see
nothin' nowsys."
But she may be In the canon"
'Tf she's in the canon 'twon't make
no difference to her w'ether we finds
her tomorrer or next day or next
year, Bob"
/ Maitland grosned in anguish.
Il can't stay here inactive" he per
/ sisted stubbornly.
/ IT'S a hard thing, but we got TO
wait till mornin'. Ell she got out of
the canon and climbed up on the hog
back she'll be all right, she'll soon
/ find out she can't make no progress In
this mist and darkness. No, old
/ friend we're up agin it hard We jest
got to stay the night were We are an
as long as we got TO wait we might
as well make ourselves as comfortable
as possible. For the wimmen an
children. anyway. I fetched up some
ham and some canned goods and 9TH
er eatin's in these yere canvas sacks.
We might kindle fire.
ITS hardly possible" said Matt
land I'VE shall have to eat it cold"
ooh. Robert" pleaded his wife,
isn't it possible that she may have
/ escaped"
Possible, yes. but"
I'VE won't give up hope, ma'am,"
said Kirkby. until tomorrer wen
We We had a look at the canon"
By this time the others Joined the
party. Phillips and Bradshaw showed
the stuff that was in them. They i'm
mediately volunteered to go down the
canon at once, knowing little or moth
ing Of its dangers and Indifferent to
what they did know, but as Kirkby
had pointed out, the attempt was
clearly impossible. Maitland bitterly
reproached himself for having allow
ed the girl to go alone, and in those
self-reproaches old Kirkby Joined.
They were too wet and cold to
sleep. There was no shelter and it
was not until early in the morning
they succeeded in kindling a fire.
Meanwhile the men talked the situa-
} ton over very carefully. They we're
two days journey from the wagons
II was necessary that the women and
children should be taken back at once.
, Kirkby hadn't been able to save much
more than enough to eat to get them
back to a ranch or settlement, and on
very short rations at best. It was
. finally decided that George and Pete
, and Mrs. Maitland, the two girls and
the youngster, should go back to the
wagon. drive to the nearest settle
ment, leave the women and then re-
. turn on horseback with all speed TO
. meet Maitland and Kirkby, who would
meanwhile search the canon.
The two men from the east had to
, go back with the others, although
: they pleaded gsllsntly to be allowed
| to remain with the two who were to
! solr ~
might have kept them with him. but
that meant retaining a larger portion
| OF the scanty supplies that had been
| saved and he was compelled against
his will to refuse their requests. Leav-
ing barely enough to subsist Maitland
, and KiTkby for three or four days, or
until the return Of the relief party,
, the groups separated at dsybreak.
ooh. Robert" pleaded his wife, as
|; he kissed her good bye, take care of
, yourself. but find Enid"
> Yes" answered her husband, 81
shall, never fear, but must find the
dear girl or discover what has become
OF her"
There was not time for further
leave taking. L few hsndclssps frcm
. man to man and then Robert Matt
; land, standing in the midst Of the
group, bowed hts head in the sunny
: morning, for the sky again was clear,
! and poured out a brief prayer that
: God would prosper them, that they
would find the child and that they
. would all be together again in health
and happiness. And without another
: word, he and Kirkby plunged down to