Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-06-05

cotton.
'Hold on, thar, Ron" he called out,
II want to speak to YOU"
Ronald paused and Dave got down
from the wagon and joined him.
Look heer, have you got anything to
shoot with?" was Dawes anxious ques-
ton.
mot thing" returned our hero;
"why do you ask?"
Before answering Dave drew his re-
volver from his hip pocket.
"Well," he said, as he proffered it,
you'd better take this, an be on the
safe side. sgd Hart and Thad Williams
is in town, an they are due long heer
about now. sgd may pass you without
word; it's all OWN to his load O. rot
gut. He kinder likes me, an told i'm
one day if he ever harmed you I'd make
sitter out'n his damn carcass, an he
knows meant it; but the sight O. you
might make i'm rabid."
Ronald hesitated, but, on being
urged, he took the revolver and put it
into his pocket.
Il don't want any row." he said, set
ting his lips firmly, "but will not be
shot down in public road"
Now you are talking like free
born American citizen said Dave, and
he went off to unload his cotton.
Ronald had succeeded in banisking
from his mind the unpleasant thought,
reused by Dawes fears, and had crossed
the creek bridge and was within sight
OF the dormer windows of Carnleigh
when, down the deserted road, he heard
mans voice singing rollicking song.
1t was Sydney Harris voice, and its muf-
fed quality indicated inebriation. He
was still hidden from view by a sharp
bend in the road, but a moment. later he
came into sight, slowly riding along on
horseback. He did not recognize Ron.
aid till he was withip-some fifty yards
OF him. Our hero saw him rein in his
horse suddenly and then whip out his
revolver. Ronald paused and put his
hand on his own weapon. cooking it,
while it was still in his pocket He
was, for the moment, conscious OF no
other feeling than the instinct Of self
preservation. Even then he hoped that
his antagonist had drawn his revolver
only in spirit of drunken bravado.
But this hope was quickly put to fight
by Syd's erecr carriage-and the steadi-
ness of his aisn, which was now directed
on him. sgd laughed harshly.
This is the moment that has been
sent in answer to my prayers" he said,
deliberately. "Thar's been sight o.
talk about yore spunk, but never be-
lieved in 1t myself. I've always knowed
yore liver war white. Now, this heer
road is entirely too narrow fur me an
you both to travel on. You jest git into
them thar woods, ur I won't leave a
piece O. yore carcass big enough to bait
gnat on"
Il don't want to have any trouble
with you, Hart" answered Ronald, who
had still not drawn his revolver, "but /
will not allow any living man, drunk or
sober, to drive me from public high
way"
you won't, hey? Well, we'll see how
you like lead pills" Our hero saw the
barrel of the revolver steady itself, and
blue puff of smoke rise from it, fol-
lowed by sharp report. Ronald heard
the ball whistle by him. He drew his
revolver, and, crouching down in the
road, that as little of his body might be
exposed as possible, he began to fire,
coolly and rapidly. His every shot was
returned by the lodging man on the
horse, which, frightened by the fire
above and in front of him, backed into
the low bushes that bordered the road
on the left. From behind these bushes
Sgd continued to fire, and wherever
Ronald could catch sight of him
through the foliage he coolly directed
his shots. Ronald did not know which
of his last two shots had done the work,
but suddenly he saw the horse plunge
into the road without its rider and start
down towards Carnleigh at the speed
of a runaway. For moment Ronald re.
manned where he was; his revolver was
empty, and he did not know but thai
Hart might be unframed, hiding in am
bush waiting for him to draw nearer
At this juncture another horseman gal
loped up. 1t was Thad Williams, lis
long stringy locks flying in the breeze,
his revolver drawn, ready for use. He
refined his horse in at a point in the road
from whence he could see behind the
bushes that obscured Hart from Rom
AIDS view. For fully minute he sat
astride his snorting animal, his eyes
bullying from their sockets.
Damn you, you've done inn" be
said, with a deep breath, and he swung
his revolver round till it pointed at our
hero.
Mine is empty" answered Ronald.
I'm in your power"
I With another oath, the stalwart fell
low thrust his revolver into his belt and
swung his right leg over the rump OF
his horse and stood on the ground.
You've killed 'im," he gruntcd. as he
stepped towards the bushes; dare to