Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-09-07
The Argus Daily Story
The Wild Wesley Evelyn Thurber 4
Copyrighted. 1912. by Associated Literary Bureau.

they discussed the matter before John
ny some time elapsed before he got it
through his thick skull that his life
was in danger. His CaptorS wrangled
over the matter, soTe of them averrinS
that they had better delay the hanging
long enough to give Johnny an or
portunity to implicate those who had
taken the other horses that had been
stolen; hut they were overruled and
after lengthy debate they led the cul-
prit out for the purpose OF raising
him at the end Of rope the other end
Of which had been thrown over the
limb Of tree. Johnny. who. by this
time had begun TO realize what was
taking place, turned white, his knees
knocked together, and he had TO be
dragged along
''Whar's my boss gone tor" exclaim-
ed Eben Parker when the party got
outside the house.
True enough. the beast had dlsap-
peared again. The men were dunn
founded. Those who had urged delay
for the purpose of eliciting informa-
ton at once claimed that there was
an organized gang TO run Off horses,
and Parker's animal had been taken
this second time by a confederate from
right under their noses. Fresh tracks
made by hoofs were plainly visible,
and it was decided that two OF the
men should follow, while the other two
remained with the prisoner.
While they were gone Johnny was
locked up in the room he had occu-
pied. one of the men guarding the
stairway, the other watching under
the only window.
Now. there was one thing that none
of the men noticed. Molly Barker had
disappeared. Her mother did not call
their attention to the fact. and as for
the prisoner. he was not in a condi-
ton of mind to notice anything ex-
cept what plainly pertained to his I'M
I fortunate position. The men who
| went after the horse were gone TIL
late In the evening. when they returned
! with the missing horse, on which rode
/ Moll Barker.
| Moll, realizing Johnny's danger. had
taken the horse to go for the sheriff,
| that the cuprlt might receive the pro-
! lection OF the law. Had she not taken
the horse her effort would have result
ed in failure. and had the men known
that she had taken him they would
have surmised she had gone for as
sistance, and they would have hanged
Johnny before that assistance could
have arrived. AS it was, Johnny for
the time being was saved.
The tenderfoot. hearing a step on
the stairs, his heart stood still. He
supposed that the men were coming to
take him out for the second time TO
hang him. The door was thrown open.
and the sheriff. who entered, seeing
his agOriZed appearance, treasured
him by telling him who he was and
| promising him that he would be safe
in his hands and have an opportunity
to prove himself innocent of the crime
with which he was charged. He heard
Johnny's story and. having become
convinced that a mistake had been
made. told his prisoner to go to sleep
where he was and the matter would
be adjusted i'm time
Johnny woke up in the morning to
one fact OF especial importance to
him. He was alive, and the reason of
his being alive was the action OF Mol
Barker The first thing he did was TO
shudder, the second was TO realize that
his heart was going out 10 the shabby
girl who had saved him. He had
found the woody west something en-
urely different from what II had been
portrayed IN the dime novel Never
theiess be had found his romnnce-a
romance as different from what he
had always expected as was the wild
west
The next day the sheriff persuaded
the owner OF the stolen horse that
Johnny was fresh from the east and
unconscious OF committing n crime,
80 Inc posse went back win the re-
covered animal. leaving Johnhy~to fol-
low ms own sweet VIII In MoH'
johnny fal"d TO see inc commonplace
elri OF yesterday Ter act and It's I'M
/ I'l 'AH'N ~ ill'il ll''I ihFt5ltO hti WIN
ed her. ''supposing me to he innocentY''