Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1902-09-18
"A cold night, sir" said one of the

: new Corners.
Aye, the years moving on ans
/ wered the big voiced soldier.
bad! bsd!n said l, softly, "but we
must wait for him.
Acton nodded. Meanwhile the new
F, corners ordered cold supper, the land
| lord having nothing else, and sat them
/! Hown,by the table near u.s. They had
scarcely settled to their meal when
| again the door opened and Curtis en-
| tered. Even the tavern keeper looked
surprised to see such Il company so
| late; but a poke from his matter Of
| fact Wife sent him about his business.
| Curtis had changed his uniform and
| was dressed like any well-to-d do Young
| New Yorker in knee brooches of snuff
| color, top boots, double breasted
! waistcoat, With a frilled shirt and u
| long buff coat. He threw off riding
! coat and discovered his pistols and a
long hanger
1 The calm, serious face was as com
| posed as usual, nor did the man disturb
| himself To look at amy one in palticu-
| lar. but the seat assigned to him near
| the rest of us. One Of the strangers
| spoke TO Acton after a moment.
| You say that you have come from
| the westward, Sir. Did you find the
| road free from traflie?'
| II met not a soul from the time / left
| the river"
I'VE two are bound westward, and It
| ~ said the road to Gowan's Ferry is full
OF these wild Skinners and cowboys"
i can answer for that road" volun-
| teered Cutris. Not Il soul is stirring
| tonight, for have but Just come over
| IT,"
| Meantime had caught Curtis eye
( and by an almost imperceptiblc Move
| inent saw the same thought in his mind
| that was working in mine. These two
| men coming from the east had a suspic-
| ious manner. Neither of us could have
| said just Why al that moment but by
| this glance we both agreed 10 watch
| Them The meal went on and in q few
| moments the two strangers lit their
pipes and went over to the fire Curtis
was still eating.
What are we to dog" 1 asked under
| my breath.
Wait, said Curtis in the same voice,
and then he added aloud: Master
Holt, sir, at your bidding, SIR said
the landlord, trying to bend his fat
belly In a bow and rubbing his hands
| together.
Master Holt, can you give me room
| tonlght?"
well, yes. gentlemen" said the tav-
ern keeper effusively. Certainly, GER
| lalnly. L suppose, now, these two gem
| tlemen, pointing To the two men from
the east, will have room by them
selves-a large room I Is, at that, sir,
and | can give You three gentlemen ac-
commodation easily. OF course, i'm these
| times. sirs perhaps two will never mind
| being together. We keep IL fine tavern,
| sirs, none auch another the whole
| country round, and my madam. she
The landlord stopped abruptly and
| turned around for the door at the back
| of the room opened and little shaver.
| ran up TO him and was now Juggling at
| his coat. The host stopped and. listened
| to what the boy had to say Then out
! rang a howl from him, and he turned
| clay color:
1 My Cod Oh oh, sirs. We shall all
| be killed." and he wrung his hands.
What is I, Holt, man? What's ia
| do?" cried the two soldiers.
ooh, Lord. Oh. they're here again.
| they We been here before. know EN-.
| They know have little set by for my
| old age, m ruined. I'm runed." and
| the tears rolled down his checks.
| at this moment the woman shrieked
| from behind the counter, and we knew
| that the wife had the news as we'll.
| Every one had arisen and was stand.
ing, when such am interruption at this
moment So bewildered and maddened
me that cried out:
| Well man, what in the devils name
| ails thee? Speak up.
THE SINNERS, the SINNERS. They're
coming to rob me. screamed the terri
| fled tavern keeper.
I'm that case" said the calm voice
| of Curtis, twould not be amiss to drop
that bar across the front doc, and pull
| the shutters to-
Evidently tie landlord had q little
| sense left, for in bound he was at the
door and had the huge iron bar i'm lis
| place between two iron staples AT the
same moment one OF the two soldiers
stepped to the front window to close
| the wooden shutters. His head had
scarcely passed through the frame when
u loud report came to us from outside
and the poor fellow rolled back ana fell
| upon the floor, shot clean through the
| head.
IT was quite enough to break the spell
that hung over u.s. Every one was
| dows With tables and chairs, for most
| mon of those days had bad some train
Ing in such scenes before now. Curtis
| Acton, and / naturally drew together
and as we thrust table against a win
| dow, another shot came through it, and
a pounding began on the door
IT is bad, bad | mutteled.
on the contrary" said Curtis moth
Ing could be more fortunate"
II do not see II in that light ans
wered |, testify We shall be separated
without having talked
On the contrary. again, my friend
| we can now talk without fear of inter
ruption; while before we should have
| been hard put to it to find u way"
Another shot came through the table
and clipped bit off the shoulder oil
| Actions coat.
But we shall be killed. and then oui
expedition Will fail, cried /.
| May, nay said Acton Rob has the