The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1897-04-23

killing he had grown reckless as Teddy
was affrighted. At his words the old
woman shrank and shivered, moaning
more than ever, but still he held her
fast.
"You'ro p'ison slow, findin that thar
p'ison!" no called after minute.
"Hurry up or Pip
Something cut his speech short,
bullet that Kissed and sang sharply
through tho air yard above his head.
And some enc, slight girl, came on
the run, her eyes burning, her face as
white as her frock
"Out of this! Begone or shoot you
like the wild beasts you arep' she cried,
stopping short and flinging her gun to
the shoulder. She was so white, so frail,
so slender young, any one of them could
have crushed or her life with one hand,
but not hand was lifted. The men
stood STILL shaking and staring, while
she ranged herself beside the old black
woman, who leaned heavily against the
house. Rob gave low, contemptuous
laugh, then went on:
"This is brave work for men-attack-
ing harmless woman at dead Of night
1 could guess who you are. will not
do not want to namo creatures so inef-
fably mean and vile. Be off at once, 1
tell you'll Remember this is Roscoe and
the mistress of it..
"Hol You won't DO long, my fine
ladyp Noch shouted as he made for his
horse. The rest were already mounted
and galloping for life across the fields.
They had scattered furiously almost at
the bullets ping Noch stopped and
faced about. He was alone with the
breathless old woman, tho slim, scorn-
full girl. Why not wiring their necks
and make an end Of them? His hand
itched to feel that soft throat in it's
grasp. He had hated aristocrats all his
life. Now he hated her with hot, per-
sonal grudge.
With hoarse cry he made to spring
upon her. She was too quick for him.
She set her back against the wall, flung
her rife to the shoulder and fronted
him in the moon rays without one thrill
of fear. Her fine nostrils dilated, her
eyes famed with the primal fire, the ell
emental human impulse of combat Her
finger on the trigger was as steady as
! Steel She half smiled as she said, Gov
ering the heart of her adversary:
elbow would like to kill you if only
you were worth killingr'
Among men Noch Annis was no cow
ard. He owned sullen, brutal, bull
dog courage, crafty and cruel, but oour
age for all that. Yet now he skunk
away, muttering as no set his horse in
full run:
"That thar gal, she's the devil er one
er his mighty big imps."
n some way ROD managed TO get rne
old woman inside and stir the hearth
embers to leaping blaze Then she
found lamp, lighted it and looked at
Aunt Phemy, who sat covering and
shaking, but uttering no sound. AS Rob
turned to her she pointed eagerly toward
the water pail. Rob ran and fetched
dipper of water, which she drank with
| great effort.
"Are you hurt, Aunt Phemy? Tell me.
Show me where" Rob said, bending
| close to the old woman's ear. The black
| lips were ashen and shriveled as by the
| touch Of q strong corrosive. They tried
| to speak, but no sound came over them
save faint, inarticulate, husky cry.
'Can you hear me, Aunt Phemyi"
Rob asked, her own lips quivering.
The black woman nodded.
"Can you speak?"
She shook her head.
''Did they-they hurt you, burn, tor
| ture your" Rob asked, her eyes again
flaming her hands beginning to clinch.
Again the old woman shook her head.
Then she stopped, picked up an over
F, turned earthen pot full of pungent, Wis.,
cid paste, held it minute toward Rob,
| then pointed down her own throat.
81 understand. They made you swal-
low that. the girl said. Again the old
woman nodded. Next breath she had
thrown the pot into the fire, where it
Kissed, and its contents sent up weird
green and yellow flames.
FRO BE CONTINUED