Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1900-05-18

assailant was of medium height, but
heavily built. He was swarthy, black
mustached AND black-haired, with a
face which, under the influence of pas
sion, suggested little more than brute
ferocity. He was roughly dressed, in
this respect differing widely from his
companions, whose garments, though
evidently designed for hard service,
were of costly material. One of these
men was young, hardly more thap
boy-a remarkably comedy fellow, with
clean-cut features and dark clear
skin. The third man, who seemed to
be the leader of the raiders, was tall
and sinewy. His piercing eyes looked
out from under heavy brows; long
mustache failed to hide the firm mouth
There was about this man an air of
authority and a sollierly bearing which
more than suggested military training.
None of the three displayed weapons,
though it was not easy to suppose that
they had ventured unarmed on their
mission.
The peril Lamar had dreaded had
come upon him; the enemy he had fled
from had found him at last. With all
my experience of his marvellous nerve,
was a1nazed at the unshrinking cour-
age with which he confronted his foes
Not muscle of his face quivered. The
only change | could mark was in his
eye; the old look of the fugitive had
gone, and in its place was the fierce
light of desperate hate.
For Il time, which seemed almost an
eternity, though probably it could have
been measured in seconds, no one spoke.
Then the tall stranger, after notion
ing to his companions to change their
placcs-a vancouver which brought the
STRIPPING opposite me, as stood at La
mars right-;ddIcssed the master of
the house, pouring out upon him in the
native tongue of both of them stream
OF invectivcs. as could guess from an
occasional cxpletiYe of which caught
the meaning. Az he spoke, half
smothered curses broke from the
others. rho man who had thrust me
back seemed to be beside himself with
rage. while could see the fingers Of the
youth working convulsircly, as if in an
ticipation of the moment of closing
about l.amnr's throat.
When the first burst of passion had
spent itself, the spokesman began what
appeared TO be the recital of some ter
ribic story. More than once he paused
dramatically, but only to proceed with
renewed fcrceness. Withal. he made
slow work of it---no doubt for the Joy
of proionging his encmy's or.leaI-fol
his tale was still unfinished when the
only reinforcement we could hope for
arrived. There was the sound of a
door thrown open, then quick steps as
the newcomer crossed the kitchen, and
then johnson burst into the room.
With bound he was beside Lamar.
painting from his run, but quite pre-
pared to take hand in whatever might
be doing.
1t was strange scene that the lamp
shonc down upon. There we were,
three to three, ranged on either side OF
the table, The attacking force no longer
ontnumberng the defenders. but, OF
course, far better prepared for strug-
gle. They had blundered in delaying
it. and now for moment they hest
tated. exchanging quick glances, and
giving the fisherman an opportunity to
study them. Lamar sat motionless,
except for his eyes, which followed
every movement of his chief adversary.
Suddenly the tall man gave short
quick order. and the youth, stepping to
the door, opened it. and whistled shril-
ly. We heard an answering signal,
followed by sounds of some one APP
preaching the house. and then fourth
man. dressed like the ruffian at whose
hands had suffered, appeared in the
doorway. The light dazzled him at
first. and he halted on the threshold,
shading his eyes with his left hand and
displaying an ugly-loolsing knife in his
right. While he stood there, his mate,
with an oath. whipped out similar
weapon and sprung toward the table.
Quick as the man was. however, John
son was quicker, graphing him and
hurting him back against the wall with
such force that he lay stunned by the
blow. had had high respect for the
tisherman's muscles, but never had I
credited them with the ability to put
forth such power as was evidenced by
the crash of the burly stranger against
sl.s wall; -.