Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-06-28
By
REX
BEACH
THE IRON TRAIL

She gave a cry Of surprise and Of
fered him n glimpse Of a trim ankle
and dripping foot.
See, They're wet, and l wrigsled
NV toes right through my stockings. l
never was so excited.
The boatman fastened the painter
and resumed his outer clothing. ONeil
lit q cigar and asked:
Tell me. why did you insist on com
ing?'
Il was afraid something might hap
pen to you" He raised his brows. and
she flushed Don't you understand?
Dan would never have forgiven me,
and-and-I just had to come, that's
all It's corking material for mel
thought you might upset. and II
don't know why | insisted" She bent
over her stubborn boots, hiding her
face. She was flaming to the ears, for
suddenly she knew the reason that bad
prompted her. 1t rushed upon her like
a sense Of great shame. She recalled
the desperate grip at her heart when
she had seen him ready to leave, the
wildness Of her longing to share his
danger, the black fear that be might
meet disaster alone. 1t had all come
without warning. and there had been
no time for self consciousness. but
now she realized the truth. The poign-
! ant pain of it made her fingers clumsy
and sent that food of scarlet to her
neck and ears.
When Natalie arrived they cast OF
and the remaining miles were made In
a few hours.
Appleton joined them for lunch in
the tent they remembered so well and
professed to be shocked at the report
! of his sisters foolhardiness. But what
ever may have been Natalie's fear OF
ridicule it promptly disappeared under
his complete Endorsement of her wis
dom In refraining from such a mad ad
venture. AS If TO put her even more
at ease O'Neil was especially attentive
to her. and Eliza reflected gloomily
that men. after all. dislike bravado II
women. that a trapeZe artist or lady
balloonist inspires only a qualified ad
miration.
During O'Neil's absence work hat
progressed steadily. On his return hi
found the grade completed to within {
few yards Of Gordon's right Of way
Although be was still unable to walk
he TO
whittier he was helped by Appleton
and Happy Tom.
Into the narrow space between thu
end of his embankment and that Of hi
rivals a gravel train was spilling it!
burden and hundred pick and shove
. men were busy. The opposing force
also seemed hard at work. but their &C
tivity was largely pretense. and the,
showed plainly that they were waiting
; for the clash. They were a hard look
ing crew, and their employer had neg
lected no precaution. He had erecte,
barbados for their protection until hi
grade looked like a military work.
They haven't showed any guns yet
but I'm sure they're armed" Appleton
told his chief.
How is the place lighted by night:
= O'Neil inquired,
; ''Oil torches" Slater answered "Ah
| | We've been recognized. That come
from being fat, s'pose"
As he spoke a donkey engine at tn
: right Of the proposed crossing set up
noisy rafting. a thin steel cable whip
l ped into view between the rails an,
> from the left there appeared a contriv
ance, which O'Neil eyed curiously. l
). was a sort Of drag and rode back ant
= forth upon the rails.
'Humph! They'd better not put niue
: trust in that" Murray grunted grimly
6 Don't fool yourself. It's no rubbe
r tired baby carriage" said Slater. ''Ou
e men are afraid Of it.
S After watching the device scuttl
). back and forth for a few moment
r O'Neil said shortly:
I Post a notice at once offering