Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1901-03-30

Susan STEPPED aside to let them pass and
one OF the horses. catching sight OF her
suddenly Sprang aside and almost un-
seated his rider. Susan locked up anx-
ionsly and saw to her astonishment that
the man. heavy beard was twisted very
much to one side. But he quickly re
gained his seat with an oath. and, stril-
ing the horse, clatteTed after his com
panionS. Susan wondered why the man
was disguised and dmly fancied that the
three rough-looking strangers were IN to
some mischief. But she was thinking Of
Jack the ueXt moment and The strange
incident was shelvcd.
a few moments of brisk walking
brought her to the brow of the hill where
the road turned sharply and ran at an
obhqu5 along the side Of the steep de-
scent. Susan seated herself on log and
looked down into the village, which lay.
as it were. at her very feet. She traced
the one long street of the hamlet. which
was but 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
hail. and then along to the bank-Jack's
bank-and there her gaze rested
Miss Susan's eyes were good ones ANA
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 were puffs of white smoke
and sharp detonations. Susan could see
people running in wild confusion. Then
the three riders started at sharp ear
ter no 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 a daylight bank robbery
one of a series that terrorized all the
countryside during the past summer.
The three robbers were retreatng with
their, plunder What had happened in
the hank? Why was Jack not pulsE-
ing them? She suddenly turned sick ana
cold
Then an indescribable impulse seized
her. She let herself over the edge Of
the bank and began mad scramble
down the steep declvity. She meant to
intercept the ruflians. She slid. she
stumbled. once She fell, but she never let
go her hold on her precious rife. 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
were cantering by. The man in the rear
was the man with the beard. and he had
coarse bag flung across the saddle he
fore him. He was directly opposite Su-
san as she plunged down to the edge Of
the roadway lie must have taken her
fer an enemy, for his glitterinc revolver
flew up and he fred in her direction
quite at random. Susan felt Il sudden
twitch at her broad-hrimmed hat and
quickly dropped behind some bushes thai
lined the roadway. The barrel of her
rife rose. The rohher was rapidly in
creasing the distance between them.
Gould she shoot this man in cold blood:
She had him covered. \ moment more
and IL might he 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 Gallon Brown sprang into
the roadway and fired five shots in rapid
succession after the two horSemen. She
did not aim to hit them. but rather to
frighten them away They hpsitated q
moment and then dashed madly ahead;
the riderleSS horse sallOping 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,
il was half filled with currency. She
shuddered as she looked at the livid face
of the ruftian and then at the blood that
was slowly Saturating his coatSlccve. She
began 10 feel little faint.
She was aroused by the sound of
wheels and the shouting of a man. A
light phaeton was coming toward her.
In a moment she recognized the driver
as the local livery stable proprietor. He
leaped out beside her
Mailed him, didn't you?" he shouted in
a paroXysm of excitement Il was just
ready 10 drive ont o my stable when they
pelted by. As | got into the roadway l
saw you blazin' away. Kill him.
No said Susan. He is stunned by
the fall from his horse. l only aimed
10 break his shoulder"
You done it all right" cried the livery
man, by GeOyge!' he shricked. Its
Jim BascOm himself"
Susan felt her head going round.
Mr.. Tompklns," 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 8 moment later they We're 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 lyin' up
there" shouted the liyerynan. ''She shot