The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1901-03-27

Susan STEPPED aside to let them pass and
one of the horses, catching sight of her,
suddenly sprang aside and almost I'M
seated his rider. Susan looked up anX-
iously and saw to her establishment that
the mans heavy beard was twisted very
much to one side But he quickly re-
gained his seat with an oath, and, strik
ing the horse, clattered after his COM
panions. Susan wondered why the man
was disguised and dimly fancied that the
three rough-looking strangers were up to
some mischief. But she was thinking OF
Jack the next moment and the strange
incident W as shelved.
4 few moments of brisk walking
brought her to the brow of the hill where
the road turned sharply and ran at an
obliQue along the side Of the steep de-
scent. Susan seated herself on log and
looked down into the village, which lay,
as it We're. at her very feet. She traced
the one long street of the hamlet. which
was but a continuation of the highway,
and followed its dusty line past her
aunt's trim home, and the little park with
its soldiers monument, and the town
hall, and then along to the bank-Jack's
bank-and there her gaze rested.
Miss Susan's eyes were good ones and
the air was very clear. She saw a
horseman sitting in his saddle at the
bank door. He was holding the brides
of two riderless horses. Even as she
noted this the two riders rushed from
the building and leaped into their sad
dies. There We're puffs of white smoke
and sharp detonations. Susan could see
people running in wild confusion. Then
the three riders started at a sharp can
ter up the road. Every dozen yards or
so one would turn in his saddle and
fire down the roadway.
Susan knew what this strange scene
meant. 1t was daylight bank robbery,
one of series that terroriZed all the
countryside during the past summer.
The three robbers were retreating with
their plumber What had happened III
the bank? Why was Jack not pu1su-
ing them? She suddenly turned sick and
cold.
Then an indescribable impulse seized
her. She let herself over the edge OF
the bank and began a mad scramble
down the steep declivity. She meant to
intercept the ruffians. She slid. she
stumbled, once she fell, but she never let
go her hold on her precious rifle. And
then, as the earth suddenly seemed fall
ing away from her, she reached the level
ground in a confused heap. But she was
on her feet IN moment. The highway
was directly before her. The robbers
We're cantering by. The man in the rear
was the man with the beard. and he had
fore him. He was directly opposite Su
san as she plunged down to the edge of
the roadway. He must have taken her
for an enemy, for his glittering revolver
flew up and he fired in her direction
quite at random. Susan felt a sudden
twitch at her broad brimmed hat and
quickly dropped behind some bushes that
lined the roadway The barrel of her
rifle rose. The robber was rapidly in
creasing the distance between them.
Could she shoot this man in cold blood?
She had him covered. A moment more
and it might be too late. She thought Of
Jack and fired.
The horse of the fleeing man suddenly
leaped to one side and flung his rider
heavily to the earth. As he went down
he dragged the bag Of plumber with him.
The riderless horse galloped after his
companions.
Then Susan Cation Brown sprang into
the roadway and fired five shots in rapid
succession after the two horsemen. She
brighten them away. They hesitated a
moment and then dashed madly ahead
the riderless horse galloping in the rear.
Susan ran forward to the PROSTATE
man. He was unconscious. She stopped
over him for moment and then drew
away the coarse bag. AS she suspected,
it was half filled with currency. She
ouuuutIcu DIS Sic lUOhpu dl the HNlu ldCC
Of the ruffian and then at the blood that
was slowly saturating his coatsleeve. She
began to feel a little faint.
She was aroused by the sound Of
wheels and the shouting of a man.
light phaeton was coming toward her.
In a moment she recognized the driver
as the local livery stable proprietor. He
leaped out beside her.
''Nailed him. didn't you?" he shouted in
a pafoXysm of excitement Il was just
ready to drive out O my stable when they
pelted by. AS | got into the roadway [
saw you blazin' away. Kill him?"
NO." said Susan 'He is stunned by
the fall from his horse. L only aimed
to break his shoulder
you done it all right" cried the livery
man. "By Georgel'' he shrieked, Sits
jim Bascom himselfi'
Susan felt her head going round
Mr.. Tompkins,'' she said, will you
kindly drive me to the bank as quickly as
you CAM"
Yes, ma'am, WILL he replied, with
great heartiness. you've got the stuff
there, haven't you? Jump IMP
And moment later they were speed
ing toward the bank They had not gone
twenty yards when they met the first
group Of hastily-armed men who were on
the trail of the robbers.
you'll find Jim Bascom lynn up
there shouted the liveryman. ''She shot