Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-03-12
The Dailv
Short Story
THE ~BR0NCHO BUsTFRs

1caiiy sh0t toward his hip -.
Then he paused and sookss - -.
J retic. AEo-o-
! Excuse me-" he said as,.
old man Of sin still linRers+ - a.
me. 7 fancied you. were en-, rIa
me names. ! reckon I'm mot -, ~.
Gated up to the highbrow n,t.a
You see, I've made nv piis ~
have been recommended 10 VI, A.a
a square banker I want N - .
some money with you" $50
Thank you" bowed the b,,,.
profusely. How much Al -
want to deposit?" 'Oa
"Oh, say one hundred ,Aor...,
| dollars. Yes, / was csIisd -
Bronch0 Buster and wild bo,..s
were my specially. What q.
around these diggings for Is tosr1
certain man" aug
Who is he?"
II don't even know ala ma.
only that he was called the D.
1 fessor. He lived somewhere in ~.
county Five years ago / enf -.
a scrimmage a hundred mills g.
here, helping my brother sst 49,
some cattle lot OF greasers -
stolen They followed and No p.
fairly coralled. when 3 man itrr-s
from the brush and ssTsd our IN.
| never saw a crowd unused m
| neatly as he did it, He told ne +.
go on and he would manage n.
greasers. I learned later what
have told you. swore then tbs,
if ever l got any money I'd hun,
him up and divide with him.
want you TO help me do it."
Very we'll nodded the banker
Il dimly recall queer genius, hal
prospector, half scientist, vba
lived about thirty miles from here
Il shall he at Dur5in for q wee.
1 Then I'm coming back here. SEN
me word if you succeed before
then"
| DTuse strobe out Of the bank
manly specimen good to look at
He had some old friends TO look N
and a stake at Durbin, and amaze
them with his generosity and hi,
refusal to drink and gamble.
I've turned respectable boys
ne would say Then one day he "a,
ceived a letter from the Tulsalooss
( banker. 1t read: The man VOL
are looking for died about yea
ago"
! He left Durbin on horsebaek
( Druse had no enemies that ne cou5
/ think of, but just then on his trail
was the most dangerous outlaw O.
The district Dan Beaver had heahi
OF the wealth of the ranchman end
coveted some of it, This was WY
+ bruce, leisurely directing his hon
along a secluded river trail, was
( faced by the outlaw in question AMI
four OF his men. They had DIH
/ iassoed before he realized it
! What were after" explainG
Dan bIuntly, lis a ten thousani-
dollar ransom Wei keep you TIL
one OF US cashes your check for
that amount"
III think of il" observed Druss
and his captors headed for Their
haunt.
We're hungry he remarked
Wen levy for fodder and grul
at that little farm yOnder." The
drove into its stable yard. DaH
went to the house. A young VOL
an came to the door and he stool
talking with her.
Men folks all away reportaa
/ Dan, returning. Shes an inds'
pendent one, that gal, but says We
/ can have something 10 eat il Es
pay for il. Take Druse into the
kitchen, feed the horses and hustf
our meal"
2 Druse, bound, was led into The
Kitchen. He admiringly studied ID
girl who began setting the aoR
! She was charmingly pretty
They tell me they're officers taS.
7 ing you TO the prison down 3
Bohm," she said, and something o.
interest in her face caused Dras
( to inform her of the truth. hil
dark eyes flashed. she ran to hs
rear door and barred it. She seS
cred the rope securing his haAas
then she threw open the door Of
closet, revealing a perfect arm.
ment of weapons. She handed Dill
a rifle, for herself selecting two H'
volvers. Then she approached
window.
You stay in reserve" she o.
dered. Halt, or l fire!" she crisl
to Dan, advancing 20 feet ava.
Your prisoner says YOU are ~.
officers, and I believe him. WIN.
half an hour Mr.. Walters ana ~
two hired men will be here. ioa !
have TO prove up TO them DeiO''
you get into this house.
Dan ran back to his men. Z.
masse the group started a LoFas,
Then the admiring eve oil IT. ~,
caught some pretty play. Graz
Crack! Cracki-the girl aimed =
cripple. not 10 kill. Twice 81
shot weapons from the hanas =
advancing foes. Three others -.
wounded below the knee. Llmpia5I
and beaten. the crowd retrss's.'
They were of on their horses =
wagon containing three men uiV =.
up. Ada Martin, hoUsekeepsIs -. -
the old man who owned the as ~
led Druse into another room, 80
here till l explain 70 Mr.. Wai's'1'
she said. hit
"Hello!" calculated D-use. a.
eve rested on n framed photosl1,t.s
The Professor, Mss i
llease-that pictureE - %.
MY dead rather, was tas
ply. Then she was startleui III
pleased. as Druse seized aeF -
and poured forth his eulos le.,,s
The friend ne had never iorsg 'ss's.
Fate sent me here'" be Wa d,
cred to himself. and It haa; ria
cherished vision OF home anu ,Sa,
and love began to outline o.
very momelH.
ADRIFT NINE DAYS, IN.