Bloomington High School, The Gothic, 1915, Page 16

Description:	SixteenThe GothicThe Gallantry of Jean O’NeilBy Paul E. TracyWELL, demanded Long Tim Monohan, who are youafter now--me?The Sergeant of the Riders laughed, and thengrew grave again.Jean ONeill, he answered.Jean! exclaimed Long Tim. Jean ONeill! WhatsJean been doing, lad, to have the Riders after him?Theres a reward of five thousand dollars offered forhim, said the Sergeant. Hes wanted down Edmontonway for rustling and for the murder of a homesteader.Jeans wild, and hes been in tight places before, but hesalways skinned through some way or other. The Ridersare out after him now, Tim. Hes made one break too many.Have you seen him?Yes. He rode through here nearly two days ago withRene Feroux. He said that the Riders were after him andtold me to tell them that he and Rene were making for theborder. He joked so much that I didnt believe him.Its true enough, remarked the Sergeant.Do you believe that Jean ONeill would kill anyone,except in self-defence?” queried Monohan.“No, Tim,” said the Sergeant, “I don’t think that ofJean; but--I have my orders.”“Think you’ll catch him?”“I’m going to try to.”“Lad,” Long Tim Monohan spoke earnestly, “I lovedthat boy’s mother. I’d done anything on earth for her andI’ll do anything on earth for her boy. Can’t you give hima chance to get away? He has almost two days start, Iknow, but if you go after him, you’re sure to get him. Can’tyou let him slip, some way?”“Tim,” the Sergeant spoke even more earnestly, “somefew years ago I took a solemn oath to preserve the law andorder, regardless of consequences. I have my orders to getJean. He has broken, or at least it is believed he has brok-en, the law I swore to uphold. If Jean were my own brotherI’d have to get him. I’m sorry, Tim.”“I know.” Monohan seemed to have grown older. “Ishouldn’t have asked you, but--” He finished with a shrug-gy gesture.After a moment, the Sergeant spoke again. “Jean is onCoeur-de-Lion, Tim. He has a chance.”“A chance! With you and McTravish watching the bor-der! Never!”The sergeant mounted. “Au revoir, Tim. I must beoff.”They shook hands and the Sergeant rode away.* * * * * * * * *Jean Francois O’Neill rolled out of his blankets, roseslowly to his feet, and, yawning and stretching to “get thekinks out” after a night’s sleep, walked over to the firewhere Rene Feroux was cooking the breakfast.“Over there’s the border,” he remarked to Rene, cheer-fully. “Before many hours we’ll be safe in the states andaway from the Riders.”“Better be,” growled the half-breed in a surly tone.“Barry’s after us, and that damn’ Scotchman is watchingthe border. We got t’ be careful, Jean.”“Oh well, Coeur-de-Lion’s got any horse in the Domin-ion beat before the start, when it comes to a matter of athirty-mile race or so, and that roan you--er--picked upnear Edmonton has some speed, too. Rene, man, when weget over that border, we’re going to whoop things up a bitand then we are going to be so damned respectable, we’llsoon be wearing halos.”“Yes, when we get there. If you don’t shut up youlinglike a coyote, we won’t get there. The Riders are out afterus, Jean O’Neill, and the Riders are buzzards. They’reB. H. S. 1915Heaven and bills fall dew!Image alt-text: The “W” in the word “WELL” at the beginning of the page has a black outline around the letter and decorative leaves below it.
Source:	http://cdm17129.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/hs-bloom/id/1538
Collection:	Bloomington High School

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