Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1902-07-10

AAtso VAIN ~ OACiSs
God knows" said the other Little
enough. But we do not need one Come
manufacturing to me-"stand there"
/ turned to the girl. and She looked
up at me. read in her face what she
saw in mine. We must go through with
the thing, or in half an hour she would
be at the mercy of these outlaws.
why not. my friends?' she said
turning to them. II cannot be married
too soon. Else why should 1 have run
away from home?"
and a forced affair like this could near
nothing. And SO there in the reeking
moon, with one man in stupor anG
with five as wicked specimens of hui
mainly as it had ever been my lot to
meet. the drunken Marvin married us
in the carly morning hours. How the
wretch knew aught of the marriage SER
vice l could not then tell. But he did
and we agreed by nods-only speaking
when forced toto cleave to each othe,
in sickness and in health, in good for
tune and in bad, till death should us
part.
When he came to ask my name, ]
hesitated. and was about to give anoth-
err, and then-curse ME for a careless
beast-the man called Purdy spoke up
reading from the rim of my hat: BAL
fort
And SO 1 gave my name.
Mistress" said Marvin, your name
now.
Deborah Philipse.' she said, be-
meath her breath, and then repeated a
part of what he dictated, though her
arm grew heavier and heavier In mine
till my wounded wrist throbbed with
pain.
| thought then it was over, but he
must needs get paper and ink, and
write out a blurred and rambling GER
tificate that Merton Balfort and De
borah Pililipse We're married the 10th
day of September, 1880, by James Mar
vim. minister of the gospel; whercupon
those looking on roared with laughter
at him and his solemnity, and most of
all at his signature that covered half
the page. When he had signed, Purdy
cried out:
"Now, a toast to the bride!" and VIC
ed.
But Marvin stood up, keeping his bal
ance as best he could, and droned cut
in mock solemnity:
Gentlemen, you forget. The minister
has not had his fee.'
Then, turning to me, he said in a
wheedling tone, with a horse pistol
pointing at me from his right hand.
iou would not forget the man of God
that made you the possessor OF such as
tlis?'
Indeed, | had not seen ii until that
moment, nor had it occurred to me till
then that l had on my first night i'm
this country fallen in with gang of
SINNERS. 1t was clear enough now,
and the amusement they were to have,
and We're having, while robbng me was
of their own develish making.
Let me pay the fee" said the girl
eagerly, and drawing out sillsen purse
she took from it half dozen gold
for forty weddings-and
handed them to Marvin, adding, 81
thank you. sir
could have cried with rage at this
last. the simplicity of the girls vision,
coupled with her infinite skill in turn
ing the whole episode from fight into
a peaceful, or rather harmless, robbery!
Marvin held the pieces in his hand,
and made Il Wry face as he leered at
her.
'Tis but a small sum for so great a
Service. Mistress Balfort."
Why" said she, with a vacant
stare. and then looked a me- Some
thing must have shown on my face: for,
with a sudden catching of her hand at
her throat and falling of her smiling
mask, she handed him the purse and
turned away.
Marvin counted out the pieces with
show precision, and then turned to his
gang.
This is but paltry pair after all, .
said he. "And never have / had so
small marriage fee. Can you not help
your lady wife out, good address
ing me.
An uncomfortable movement that I
made drew four long barrels on my
head not five feet away, and with a
groan threw him my wallet
1T held a goodly sum, and ] prayed
that they might forget to search me,
for what else l had lay with my dis
patches in my boots. But savage
saved us. Every eye turned towards
the sound, and we saw the Jolly good
fellow wriggle and sit up. He was
dressed like my opponent, and / was
watching him as he struggled to his
feet, when a spasmodic grasp clutched
my arm. / turned to see Mistress Phil
lpse's face close up to mine and abject
terror written on every feature.
That man! That mani" gasped she
Save me from him, in Gods name."
And-whether because this was the last
straw. or because of some new and
greater danger from this last addition
to our company, / know not-sle leaned
against me and would have fallen had
l not picked her up and carried her
INTO the other part of the tavern.
The door opened into a hail and from
that turned into the first room, which
as often in such houses, was a bedroom
there laid her on the bed and took
off her soaked shoes. She lay quiet,
and l seized the chance to seek the
landlord. He was not far, for found
him standing looking at me as / came
into the dark hail.
"Gowan" said ], you have as VIII
famous lot here as ever saw, but if
you be the man l think you, YOU viii
get me out of this place.
What can | do with them, sir? They
own the house now Twill be god
send If they do not burn it about our
ears!'
Go back down the road and find the
coach. You'll get hundred times the
pay there for what want you to do.
TN do what ] can" he muttered
Give me another horse and WON
ans saddle, if you have it,"
Il have none but an old mans sad
de-" -,
you'll find two horses hitched to the
coach. Keep them" For, IL the men
had not taken them. they must still
be there. The men. knew, would be
gone by this.
Il cannot get the horse for We Just
now. he muttered, standing first on
one foot and then on the other.
Come with me, then" said /, and we
went back to the main room. Twas a
ticklish job. but we did it. They were
at their jolly good fellow again-now
ne sat on stool with his head in his
hands-and they hailed me as an old
friend. I must needs drink with them
and sing a snatch. But we put a keg
on the table and stole out, leaving them
nghtlng for the first draught of it.
we found the coach, but. as feared,
neither men nor horses. Still there vas
hat in tho t,.o..nlix,-. -