The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1905-10-25

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You said last night you'd never
marry any one but n university grad
uats."
when I said that had Just eaten q
good dInnerl' she laughed provok
ingly.
Throw W your handsr' commanded
voice from behind the mine man
agcr.
He wheeled around. ana Mora look
cd up TO see roughly dressed man
climbing into the cart and another GOV
ering ingram with his rife, As the
latter hesitated about obeyiDg the or.
der tho despcrado repeated angrily:
Throw up your hands. you fool. or
III shootr'
Resistance would be madness. In
grams hands went up.
Neither Of the outlaws thought the
girl worth their notice. and she sat with
the half eaten apple In her hand appar.
entity stupefiei. but her mind was busy.
She knew. though she had not been
told, that the gold from the weeks
clean up Of the 0sage minc was In the
cart.
Usually II was sent TO Roma for ship.
ment to the San Francisco mint on the
backs OF mules. but fhe stage from
Roma to Red Gulch had been held up
few days before. and. though the
sheriff and his posse had been out daily
hunting them. the outlaws were still
at large. and therefore II had been
deemed wise 10 send the gold down In
such careless manner as TO put the
robbers on the scent.
The whole situation mirrored itself
In the young woman's brain. Mentally
she saw Ingram ruined. humiliated and
disgraced, and all through his love for
her For weeks she had kept him In
suspense as to her feelings toward him.
and now by her coquetry she had so
engaged his attention as TO throw him
on his guard
Softly she transferred the apple TO
her left hand. and her right hand went
quietly TO the side OF her skirt. where
an old pocket bulged out For six
months the city girl had been the guest
OF the engineers wife. and each day
she Ind received lesson from Ingram
In the art OF shooting She would not
fail her prcceptor IN bis extremity.
She felt she must undo the harm abe
had done. Tho open air life In the
mountains had Hteadied her nerves. and
sho felt wonderfully cool.
Quickly and deftly sha drew the
weapon forth and sprang to her feet
The next Instant a report broke the
stiffness, the outlaws right arm drop.
pod TO his side. and his ride fell with
crash. With couple OF bounds In.
gram was upon him. had thrown him
TO the ground and was holding him
there with his knees upon his chest
Then he drew q stout cord from bis
pocket and bound the mans arms
tightly TO his sides.
His confederate had carried some Of
the gold into the chaparral and was
back In the cart getting the remainder
when be heard the report. He lifted
hin head quickly. snd q bullet from
Mora's pistol grazed his hair. Unde-
TERED by the shot. he sprang from tho
cart 20 go 10 his mates assistance. but
before ho could reach the gun he had
put down while ha was collecting the
gold Ingram had seized the wounded
mans rife and covered the desperate
with II. Then he ordered the man to
bring him coil Of rope he would find
In the cart. The man sullenly obeyed.
md as the mine mansser was binding
his hands shout was heard.
Hello, IxrAml What are you up
tor
Doing a little OF your work, sheriff
I'm glad you chanced along I hardly
know how TO get these fellows into
Roma"
They're the very nsn we're after
Red Dick and Sandy Bill. How did
Tou manage to catch them single hand. |
dr.
II was not single handed. Miss Ev-
rton did most Of the work"
mo. no." protested Mora. coming |
Onward. "Mr. Ingram taught me all | |
Snow about the use of this." holding
~ the pistol The credit Of hs cap
ure Ia due TO him, my teacher and
Nth a quick look at ingram which re.
yarded him for all ahe had made him
uffer-my future husband"
Lucky man." said the gray haired
lserifr. ITO secure In one morning a
race Of stage robbers. a charming
vife and
RED spples." said Mora. with a re-
urn Of her mischicvous playfulness.
Won't you have one. sherifT'