Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1903-11-05

where the powder was stored, and
within n couple of feet of my pistol
nuzzle was q lidless cask, three parts
filled with the coarse, black grains.
CHAPTER XIII.
IN THE POWDER LOFT.
I thrust my pistol back into my
pocket and looked about me at my
ease. A desperate man and a couple Of
hundred weights of powder would be
allowed a wide berth, SO much was
clear, and I need fear no interference
for the present. had been in the loft
several times before with Owain; but,
coming merely to fetch powder and
down again at once, l had given no
particular attention to the place.
must now take more careful sur
vey of 1T lest some other door should
lead into 1T and 1 be taken by surprise.
let the trap down into its place and
dragged upon 1T a great piece of lead
stored there for bullet moulding. No
one could lift 1t now without giving
me warming. and began to move about
the room scanning every corner eager
ly. The loft was built in the very ridge
of the roof, was about sixteen feet
wide, and ran the whole length of the
house. 1t was possible to stand up only
in the middle, the slant of the roof for
There was a window in each end,
the western one, close to mo, bright
with the evening light, the eastern one
looking far and dim. 1 made haste to
traverse the long wedge shaped place
while the light lasted. 1t was empty
of all save the ammunition stored in
the western end-that was certain; but
the huge, MASSEY beams of the roof
made the eastern half SO dus,y that 1t
was impossible to search for trap7doors
or other openings. ] returned to the
better lighted part and knelt down at
the window, which was near the floor.
Almost the first thing 1 saw was
Whitesock. She stood upon the hill
side two hundred yards from the house,
curiosity and wonder distinct in ev-
cry turn of her attitude.
Next saw three men creeping to sur
round her. They posted themselves in
circle and moved gently upon her.
She remained perfectly quiet till they
We're within dozen yards, her nose UP,
shifting the air inpatiently, and mar
Yelling. doubtless. where l could be;
then she turned and was off like light
ming. Up the hill she went, bound upon
bound, her pursuers straining In the
rear. She ran some distance, then
paused to look back. A tiny squat fig
ure shot into sight on top of boulder
beside the mare and made q flying leap
at her.
on the saddle at risht ANGLES to her
hack \ cav tho ,,15,s snraad AVA tho
heels stuck stifflv ont 10 gain a balance
and then the shock hea ded dwarf har,
per FOR had recopnized him niyoted
himself about, dropped his short legs,
stuck his feet into the stirrup feathers.
and waved his hand to the three run
n would have haen mora To his mr.
nosa had ba tal,en n handfsI of name
10 hold on NV fn,. Iyrhitasoci, damned
her head hetween how forelaus and shot
1,a,. baaIs tt,,,, q, - +,,a III, ,rba Nv
nor without n do,bt had a safe seat
an mountain nonv NOT much h,rrer
Than n raj Int this n,.s nntcl, he
,-nod I,ia noue,.s fnr ,u,.y he vent
yhirling tbro,,gl, tho air and hrinping
nm beaatirst On tho syr.ss
HE nacl ho,vayar n,as, sr,e,v doc.
tined TO he broken nv other means
since hs Vac ~, ~, - ,,on,a,st 1Mhita s'
sncL ,rotted ON a. coon q 20 she vas rid
of him and nassed him iust as she
rosa Ha r.n ofto, nor Torty ,,arda
further she 5isanneared ed over rise the
,a,.na Va ,,ishad ~ ba,. +oiI Il, f,1I mr.
s,,it Nd - ,ain,,ta ia+ar . tta tbraa mon
Vent after tha banner - :
All this tni,,ng ,1aca 10 tho ues+ ~
mo IN the the ftnrlow NJ coar hri1i u nj
sI,y vas in fuI1 sipht and i watched
az sa,l,, fo,.4 Tho ,,ayt move r conl1, not
see info the yallev hevond tho rise Int
r co,nr,a,,f1ed tho f,,rtI,o,. s1o1,a .e,,,.;,.a-
H., a,,s1 l,e.fs1ra 49, ,a,, I,sl,..,..,.a1.
c.ntar III, n .,ona stand for tow mo-
,nents than strike away so,thward
and heain to circle hack toward the
bo,,sa n.i,are sha lSnaw. ,.erv wal1 +bat
T w,.s