Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-02-24
The Daily Story
STRONG MINDED-BY T. A. MITCHELL.
Copyrighted by Associated Literary Bureau


romance there on the Texas plain ~
not the unfortunate affair come m Z
blight it in the bud.
Now. this very evening Barton ~,
discovered something in Nancy's -.
that betrayed her secret She loraS
Roger after all. That was what - I
worn upon her during the past res,
although she had maintained her eha.-
ful demea nor. He swore softly uase,
his breath as he thought Of how /.
had failed after all TO make his mott
erless daughter entirely happy, ana
that was all be lived for.
So James Barton waited for the a.
envy to come and burn his home {.
they could. but his thoughts travels
side by side with the gallant youp,
form speeding through the night sur
rounded by unseen dangers.
The lower trail led away from tn.
chestnut grove and its concealed dot.
tiers The trail skirted the foot OF
hill and then followed the dry bed o,
Cinder creek. plunged through The
narrow confines of Cinder canyon and
emerged on Roger Dare's north ranre
Nancy Barton. leaning low in the
saddle, rode the miles unflinchingly
Her pride must suffer in going to Roe.
er Dare for help. But what mattered;
She thought of her brave. gray haired
father standing off the crowd of des.
peradoes single handed. and she spur
red Judy to greater effort.
The stones ratified in the dry bed Of
the creek, and then the dark plungs
through the little canyon was accom-
plished with heaven only knows what
hairbreadth escapes from death or dis
aster, and then Judy's feet pounded
over the grass of Roger Dare's land.
4 dog barked in the distance,
light Jared in a window. other lights
sprang out around the house. and
when Nancy arrived on the almost
winded mare she was at once sur
rounded by a circle Of excited men,
with Roger Dare in their midst
What has happened?" asked Roger,
his hand on Judy's neck.
In a few broken words Nancy told
him. and then. reeling in the saddle,
she murmured:
I'm not going to faint I never
fairted in my life" And she straight
way proceeded to drop into Rogers
outstretched arms.
''She has tainted away" said Roger
as he laid her on sofa in the sitting
room. Eliza" turning TO his grim
featured housekeeper, there is trouble
at the Barton ranch. and l must go.
but watch over Nancy. You viii know
what to do, and guard her as you
would your own child. Ben and Gal
lagher will remain with you"
With a last glance at the sweet, pale
face on the allow, Roger turned and
rushed out into the yard. where bis
men were piling on to their horses.
In a moment twenty of them were fly
ing toward Cinder canyon. and the dis
gruntled Gallagher and his companion
were left behind.
Long afterward old Hepsy tried to :
describe the battle of Barton's ranch,
but words were inadequate.
"Lawsy, chile" she told her listener,
81 Jest wish you could hev been dere
and seen how Marse Barton pfnged
dem snakes wild his gun, and right In
de midst of it dere was a rarin' shout
from de lower gate, and l deciar
Marse Roger Dare and his men didn't
come skyhootin' erlong, and-well, de
war ended right off. Marse Roger ana
de rest of 'em jes driv dat Singsong
Pete and de odder snakes clean Oh de
place. and I heahs dey went oyan oe
bo'der inter Mexico. and good place
for 'em, too. wild de greasers! Un
huh, Marse Roger am sure a brave
man. but he amt no Drawer den Marse
Barton-no, subj
Roger Dare, coming back from tnal
wild chase over the border in pursuit
of Singsong Pete and his band, rooe
into the Barton yard and met Bartons
hearty hand clasp with one equaily
warm. No one heard the few words
they uttered as they stood there sac
by side, but that very instant the feau
between them died.
There was q light patter OF hoofs a.
the gate. and Nancy came riding IN %,
Judy. The girl. her face now pale anu
rosy, slipped from the saddle anu
looked from her father to Roger pa.e
II am so glad you are safe-sae'
father" she sobbed, clinging TO bar
ton. IT told you he would come
YES. darling" smiled Barton o,e'
her sunny head. He has come IN
deed. and he tells me that be has come
TO stay -
Nancy was silent for awhile anu
then she timidly put hand to"alu
Roger. her eyes still hidden Oh ~
fathers sleeve. And when she li1.H
her eyes at last and looked sn!n
around she found herself stanoins
hand in hand with her father anu
Roger Dare.
And Aunt Hepsy. who was an in.s.
ested observer Of this scene. was seaA
dalized TO hear her master exeiain.
swell. we can thank Singsong
for this and Rogers happy ans"e
Heaven bless Singsong Pete.
But on the wedding day Nancy
Dlained what. they meant