Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-06-26

season and the guns IT IS evident that
they were sportsmen. Presently they
emerged from among the trees and
stood on the bank of a lake. A PENN
sula-at high water an island-jutted
out in front of them. In its center was
a large dwelling house inclosed within
q high wall. On the. roof was a cupola.
and above the cupola fioated n banner
on which were embroidered the words.
Votes For Women"
What the dickens do you suppose.
fellows" said Ned Bixby. that the
suffragists are doing housed in that
fashion, with a big wall all around
them?'
Its some kind of a headquarters"
suggested Tom Singleton.
But the suffragists don't put them
selves away off from anywhere.
There's no hiding of their light under
bushel. They sound the loud tim5rel
and advertise their cause"
My opinion is" rejoined Bixby,
'.that there is some plotting going on
under that flag"
w nat KIM OF plUtlluS!
I've heard through a sister Of mine
who is a suffragist that the English
militant tactics are about to be innu.
gurated in this state. and I'll bet the
women come together here to lay down
program. You see. in that case they
wouldn't want cops and detectives
shopping around to head them Off"
Il move" said Singleton, that we
storm the citadel"
Not by forceT' Queried BiXby.
"Oh, no! Nobody wants to Storm q
I feminine citadel by force. One must
use persuasion"
The huntsmen resolved themselves
/ into committee of the whole to con-
slider how to effect an entrance into
the citadel, and. influenced by Bixby' s
suggestion that the women were plot
! ting to set fire to or blow up something,
it was finally agreed that the men
make themselves up for toughs and
offer their services for the work Owen
Wagstaff. the homeliest man in the
party. was selected to make a wedge
of himself and open the way for the
others.
That same afternoon Wagstaff, who
had four days growth of stubble
beard on his face and had Redeemed
his nose and torn his clothes, took ad
vantage of a supply wagon entering
the suffragist grounds to get in as q
deliveryman and, going to the front
door, rang the bell. The summons was
answered by a young lady with a
"Votes For Women badge on hel
bosom, and Wagstaff told her that he
would like to see the principal of the
establishment A handsome woman
aged about thirty, appeared, and Bixby
after telling her how hard up he was
asked if the lady couldn't give hin
something TO do by which he could
turn an honest penny. The lady TOLD
him to remain where he was and wen
out. Presently she returned with two
others, one of whom Wagstaff consid
cred pretty enough to kiss. Then thu
principal told him that they had wOrl
enough of a peculiar kind to give EN-
ployment to a dozen men, whereupoI
Wagstaff said he was captain of
gang of half n dozen. all Of whom ha(
been in Jail the principal part Of thei
lives and were ready to blow up o.
set fire to anything. One Of the ladiet
asked where his men were. and h.
said he had them handy.
Two of the committee were in favo
of dealing only through Wagstaff, bu
the other said they should not emplo!
men without having seen them. Tn
single member carried the day. AM
Wagstaff was directed TO bring hi
men into Suffragist castle the mex
morning, when quite likely propo
sitiOn would be made to the gang
That was all he wanted, and he tool
himself away.
That night the huntsmen went int
camp Il few hundred yards from tn
castle and in order to produce ia
vOrable impression during the evenin
set up bowls such as men would in
dulge in who were carousing an
fighting among themselves. Thei
yeIls were bIoodcurdling and wer
intensified by the firing of guns.
did not seem to the ladies in the In
closure th.t enough men would b
alive the next morning TO form a col
poral's guard.
However. when day came there wa
no evidence of any one having bee
killed during the night. and afte
breakfast the toughS were seen NOV
ing in body toward the castle The
had made themselves look as disrepJ
. table as possible, but most OF ther
were swell and found it difficult not I
behave as such. They were inspected
and the women, influenced by til
dreadful sounds sent up the night b,
fore, were inclined to think them q
ted for any job. including murde
The principal addressed them as TO
, lows:
! I'VE propose TO begin to set fire
and blow up small buildings at frs
and If we do not by this means secur
our rights we will destroy property {
greater value. We will pay you we
for your services. and If any OF 80
> are caught while doing our work u
viii furnish you with money and couI
eel for your defense. AS 10 your pa.
that will depend on the damage &c
do Whenever you destroy anythir
we shall expect you TO attach suffr
] piSf T1QefarE vva shall fyira Won IN III