Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-10-13
The Daily Story
CoNCITA-BY EBERT FARNswoRTH.
Copyrighted 1Vls by Associatel Literary Rureau

weapons. | was thinking what to 90
when Concita said:
wait here, senior, while I 90 and
meet him. Perhaps l may say some
thing to induce him to let you pass
on"
l saw no objection to this, for
knew that the man would not injure
girl. Indeed, he would have no reason
TO injure her Without waiting for
reply from me she rode away and met
the robher where he struck the road.
He knew who she was, for he had re-
Gently seen her at her fathers house.
He raised his sombrero TO her, and I
saw that they stood talking together.
though / could not hear even tho
sound of their voices. There were
pauses in their conversation. during
which one or the other seemed to he
celebrating. The talk must have last
ed more than twenty minutes. when
after few quick words from first one
and then the other Concita turned her
horses head and galloped back to me.
Il have made bargain for you"
she said, by which you may save
half the money you have about you. !
proposed that you surrender half of it
to him and half TO me. You are to re-
turn TO Colorado Springs and report
that you have been robbed. He is to
shoot some holes In your hat and
clothes so that you may tell the banker
that you made gallant defense"
THAT won't do" replied. II shall
tell straight story in any event"
Not so fast, senior. You have not
heard all my plan. have told him
that you and l will divide my half be-
tween us. Now, have a little device
which, If it works. all you have with
you may be saved l have told him
that l prefer to do the shooting into
your hat and clothing. For this pur-
pose l shall ask him to lend me one OF
the two revolvers slung to his waist.
If he had only one the case would be
simpler, but he has two. When no
hands me his revolver 1 will do some
very bad shooting, missing the mark,
and will call on him to do it himself
I shall contrive. IL possible, that he
shall empty all the chambers of his
remaining revolver in doing so. This
will give you six shots to his none"
ton of my appreciation of her action
had we not been under the observation
of the road agent, though l had no
great hope for the success of her plan.
But / acquiesced gladly, and she rode
back TO him and reported my consent.
Then the two Joined me. Concita chat
ting and laughing with the fellow. evil
IDENTITY much pleased at the prospect Of
getting lot of money, though she did
not tell him that l had large amount
with me.
We all dismounted. Concita took
my coat and hat; the robber handed
her one of his revolvers, at the same
time drawing and cooking the other
as a measure of precaution. Concita
/ hung my apparel on sage bush and
began to fire at the hat. She bungled.
as she intended, emptied the revolver
and then asked the robber for his other
one. Instead of giving it to her he
fired at the coat himself and put two
shots into the skirt. Then Concita sug-
gested that he put a couple more into
my hat, which he did.
Tie matter now began TO grow ex-
citing, for l did not believe that Con-
cita could persuade the rascal to lose
any more shots. / saw that she was
playing him with those eyes and lashes
of hers. and she begged him TO give
her just one shot | feared that he
would suggest using my revolver: but,
being in my boot leg. 1t was not visible,
and he could not know that | was
armed. At any rate, Concita had him
in thrall, and he handed her the weap-
on. She fired two shots in rapid sue
cession, and both his reyolvcrs were
empty.
In twinkling I stopped, drew my
revolver from my boot leg and cover
ing my man, ordered him to throw up
his hands. With an oath at Concita
he did so, and the victory was ours.
After q short colloquy we decided
chat Concita should take the funds on
10 Denver, while / drove my captive
back to her fathers house, the latter
distance being much shorter than the
other. So gave her my horse. which
was the better of the two, and she
rode away merrily.
1t was not pleasant ride driving my
man back to Toney's True. l had him
covered and could shoot him at the
slightest offer of resistance. but
knew he was desperate and might turn
upon me. If he did might only wing
him. and before l could get in another
shot he might overpower me. How
ever. ran him in successfully.
held my man at Toney's till late
at night, when Concita returned with
several members OF vigilance COM
mittee. She had reached Denver IN
ample time to pay the note and started
at once with her escort on her return.
The committee attended to the road
agent. and I returned to Colorado
Springs | told Mr.. Quackenbos how
Concita had saved his money. ana he
sent me back to her with $500 in gold
dust found IL difficult to get away
from her. To tell the truth. did not
get away from Der except temporarily,
for married her.