Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-05-14

spoke Colonel strickland. his own voice
unsteady. shes good grit clear
through-and. somehow. she gives me
more courage than I've had for many
a day. They haven't got Tom yet
and they'll have the fight OF their lives
before they do get him.
That's the talkr' cried Colonel Tod
hunter Face 'em that way. Bill, and
we'll make 'em strain their souls for
every inch they try TO gain! They got
10 do it-by the good God up yonder In
them skies, Bill. they got to do itr'
But the little flicker OF encourage
ment caused by a girls brave words
soon died away in the somber shadow
of Tom Strickland's prison. 1t was two
very weary and gray faced old men
who came away from the prisoner an
hour later and parted at the jail's front,
each TO go TO his own home.
That evening Colonel Todhunter went
by appointment TO the Strickland home
for a conference with Toms father and
Major Gentry Dryden. leading counsel
for the defense. 1t was nearly mid
night when he returned to his own
home.
He found Aunt Mirandy Ransom
there. The old negress rose. trembling,
at sight OF him. her black hands fiut-
tering toward him in instructive glad
ness of welcome.
Dress Gawd. yo' done come" she
cried. Il been eatin' my ole heart out
waitin' fo' yo'. sub! Kunn1 Todhunter.
yo' got some mighty quick an ticklish
wu'k cut out fo' yo' eff yo' gwine save
Mars Tom Strickland's life-das hue
come 1 hyar now to tell yo' erbout it,
subj
Through the after midnight blackness
that was soon to change into the gray
of q cloud swept dawn a fugitive man
and woman fed.
Side by side they sat in a light road
wagon drawn by a rawboned horse
whose long and swift stride told Of its
selection for this special service.
The man, gaunt, swarthy. with keen
black eyes that CLEANED alertly from
under the wide brim Of weather beat
en- sombrero. seemed Ill content. how
ever. with the progress being made.
Almost necessarily he urged the
horse to increased effort, now and then
cursing outright in the grip of fever
fish impatiences
Save when he leaned forward for this
urging the man sat slouching and limp.
the mark of the vagrant IShmael on
every line of body and limbs.
The woman was tense. rigid. her face
20 hn Fro
in by shawl thrown over her head
and drawn about her shoulders. Once
or twice her glance went furtively TO
the man beside her. Fear and distrust
were in her eyes. Her hands were
tightly clasped together as they lay in
her lap.
Deep woods stretched on either side
of the road. Their stiffness was pro-
found. The enveloping gloom seemed
as of the grave itself. The woman
shuddered and drew her shawl closer.
Lord ha' mercy" she spoke. 81
can't do it. Jesse-l can't! It's worse'n
murder-worse'n what's been done
a'ready~
The man laid a cruel lash across his
horses tanks. you fool" he NUT
tered. Its high time 1 brung you
away! You lovesick fooI"'
The girls eyes flashed sullenly.
''That words a lier she retorted.
"Ain't l goin' with you? And would
be a-doin that If 1 was lovesick for
somebody else? It's a lie. and you
know itr'
The man laughed. 'If you had stay
ID a
the whole thing out and you'd be in
jail now stead o. him."
Suddenly the woman threw her arms
upward It'll ha'nt me to my dyin'
day." she cried. u ought to ha' told
the truth! l wish 1 had! I wish
had! 1t couldn't be no worse'n it Is
noww
81 say that It couldr savagely re-
turned the man. You keep your
mouth shut, / got all can do to save
US as it is, 'thoutn you Vaughn. your
tongue. You keep your mouth shut"
The woman passed her hands over
! her face miserably.
The man again slouched down in his
seat. Now and then his moody glance
turned apprehensively to his compan-
| ion.
1--WE done a whole lot for your sake
Lottie-May," he spoke ct last II
could ha' got away, long ago. I'm TAX
in big chances on your account. And
you don't seem to care" -
Lottie-May Doggetts face grew
shamed. Yes. do. Jesse!' she ex-
claimed 81 know just what you're
dom for me. The only show I got Is
to go with you. And you mustn't
think l don't appreciate it." Her
hands futtered piteously at her throat.
MY Godr' she cried. her voice break
ing in anguish. TON Strickland's
goin' to be hung! He's goin' TO be
hung! They amt nothin' on earth can
save him"
Far in the east the gray dawn was
breaking
"D--n Tom Stricklandw cursed the
man. "l'll be glad when he is hung!
You've always been in love with him.
Hes goin' to be hung repeated
the girl. And they amt no way to
save him nowT'
An evil mockery leaped into the
- Tna