Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-07
81 RANDALL PARRISH

rode on down thertrail as you uns cum up
Like IT. calculated the fellow with
woman, we'rep too old birds to be caught
with any such chaff. Well take look
around the old shebang anyhow, and while
we're at it you put something on the
table for me and my mates to eat"
The voice and manner were rough, but L
was impressed with a certain accent creep
ing Into the mans speech bespeaking edu-
cation More. in spite of an apparent ef-
fort to make 1t so. his dialect was not
that OF those mountains.
Even as he uttered these last words.
throwing into them a threat more In
the tone than the language.
became aware of thin ray of light pene-
trating the seemingly solid wall just In
front of me. and bending silently forward
could dimly distinguish the elliptical
head of Bungay as he applied one eye to
a small opening he had industriously
made between the logs. Grasping Mrs
Brennan firmly by the hand so that we
across the Intervening blackness and
reached his side.
Holy smoke. Cap" the little man NUT
tered In suppressed excitement as he re-
allied my presence. its a goin' ter be
b.ilin' hot In thar mighty soon. Mariar's
steam is a risfn'.
He silently made room for me. and.
bending down so as to bring my eye
upon a level with his. managed to gain
some slight glimpse OF the scene within
the cabin.
fireplace. an iron skillet firmly gripped in
one hand. Her face was red with in
disnation, and there was look In her
eyes. together with defiant set to her
chin which promised trouble. In front
of her, carelessly resting on the table. his
feet dangling in the air. was a sturdy-look-
Ing fellow OF forty or so, with red st-ag-
Cling beard covering all the lower half of
his face, and a weather-worn black hat
pulled so low as almost to conceal his
eyes. His attire was nendescript. as
though he had patronized the junkshop of
both armies. In his belt were thrust a
revolver and a knife, while within easy
reach of his hand musket leaned against
a chair. Two others of the party. young
er men. but even more roughly dressed
than their leader, were lounging between
him and the door.
Bungay chuckled expectantly.
20 Lordi If they only git-the oil gal tEst
little more riled.' he whispered hoarsely,
jumping up and down on one foot in his
excitement they'll hev Their fight of their
life"
DO you know the fellows?" asked. rs
that Red Lowrie?"
He shook his head
Never laid eyes on any of 'em afore.
but We bet they're no good. Reckon they're
a part o his crowd"
The man who posed as the leader of the
party picked up the empty coffee-pot be-
side him and shook It.
Come, now, Mrs. Bungay," he command
ed, II tell you were hungry, so trot out
some nOecaKe ana NIL up lniS pol, uni aSS
you want to reckon with Red Lowrie."
The woman stood facing him. yet never
moved. l could a red spot begin to
glow in either cheek. II ! had ever doubt
ed it. l knew now that Maria possessed
a temper of her own.
You amt no Red Lowrie," she retorted.
The fellow laughed easily.
No more / amt. old woman, but reck-
on We amt so durn far apart when il
| comes to getting what we go after. Come,
honest now where is the little whte-lv-
cred cur that runs this shebang?"
Whatever Maria might venture to call her
lord and master in the privacy of home, 1t
evidently did not soothe her spirit to hear
him thus spoken of by another.
IF Jed Bungay wus hum" she answered
fiercely. her eyes fairly blazing. Il reckon
you wouldn't be sprawln on tibet thar
table fer long"
Wouldn't 1. now? Well, old hen, we've
fooled here with you about as long as 1
care to. Bill. go over there and put some
of that bacon on to fry. If she doesn't
get out of the way I'll give her something
to jump for And he patted the stock of
his gun.
Instinctively I drew my revolver. and
pushed its black muzzle into the light
under Jed's nose.
shall give him a dose?" 1 asked
agerly
Not yit; o Lord, not yitr' he exclaimed
dancing from one foot to the other In
excitement. Let Their OF gal hev a show.
1 reckon she's good fer Their whole three
of EN-, less they shoot"
Bill came up grinning. He evidently an
ticipated some fun, and as he reached out
grimy hand for the slab of bacon took
occasion to make some remark. What II
was / could not hear, but | noted the
quick responsive flash in the womans
eyes, and the next instant with a crash
she brought the iron skillet down with all
her strength on top of the fellows head
Without even groan he went plunging
down, face foremost. in front of the fire.
In another moment she was battling like
a wild fury with the other two.
1t a quick, intense struggle The
man the door CHANGED to be the first
in. and he received blow from the skillet
that most assuredly would have crushed
his skull had he not lodged; as 1t was 1t
landed upon his shoulder and he reeled
back sick and helpless. BY this time the
fellow with the red beard had closed upon
her, and wrested the skillet from her hand.
Struggling fiercely back and forth across
the floor. Maria tripped over the body of
the dead dog and fell, but she did so
her fingers grasped the red beard of her
antagonist. 1t yielded to her hand. and
bare of face save for dark moustache
the man stood there, painting for breath
above her. Then suddenly, almost at my
very ear, voice cried,
Frank, Frank! 1 am here"
CTo be continued Monday)