The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1906-06-01

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the outside did not hesitate to call him
1.-THE arch devil Of the district" and the
whole western world was filed with
his doings. his reckless speeches. WA
His fame had fired sthe hearts Of all
the dead shots and restless spirits Of
the west, and from an irregular squad
of twenty-five or thirty men hts forces
had risen to nearly 200 heavily armed
and hardy horsemen. #
Raymond, though keeping keen eyes
upon Munro was unable to find cause
for war in any word or act of the gam
bier, nor could he fathom AIMS mind
either toward Munro or himself She
appeared to find Munro diverting and
spoke of him only in that way. If she
understood his "home life," it made no
change in her attitude. 1t was incon.
ceivable that refined girl should toll,
crate man who passed from one fgnO:
rant and vicious woman to another;
and yet AIMS greeting remained gra-
cious, If not friendly. What it was
when they were alone, he dared not
think.
! AS for Raymond himself, he contin-
ued to punish himself by putting aside
the many opportunities which came to-
! plead his own suit, and took q morbid
sort of pleasure in his remuneration.
! ''There will be one man at least who
will not prosecute her," he said saw
agely and bent his best energies to the
work of developing his mine.
One afternoon as Ann and Mrs. KEEL
! " sat sewing and chatting together a
! woman suddenly appeared In the open
door. She was large and high colored,
her hat was awry, and there was a
wild glare in her eyes and look in
| her face that froze even Nora into 81
lence. Both stared at their strange
visitor in breathless apprehension till
she pointed her unsteady finger at
Ann and hoarsely cried out:
$50 you're the one that's cut me out?'
The muscles of one cheek contorted
and her eyelid dropped like that of q
paralytic as she fixed baleful look on
the astonished girl. After moments
pause she stepped uncertainty upon
the threshold and leaned against the
jamb. "Well, you'd better watch out.
II you don't give him up, I'll kill your
"She's crazy" whispered Nora.
The intruder fumbled in her absurd
~ famboyant skirt and at last drew
out a pistol "Now you better hop!''
The said, with menacing calmness.
Ann rose, white and calm. "Who
IRE you? What do you want?"
"Wbo am I? I'm Jack Munro's wife,
that's who am, and want you to let
him alone. that's what I want. You
can understand that, can't your" Her
big, fabby face again contorted hor-
rbly.
Nora found tongue. "You go away
or I'll cali Matt
"Call him. What do care for him?
J amt afraid Of no man livin'. No,
sir; let him come. But got no war
with you; you're all right. But that
thing there, with her fancy dresses
I'll pink her with a bullet If she don't
let my Jack alone"
If the drunken creature had swept a
handful Of mire into her face Ann
could not have been more revolted,
more degraded. Fixing look Of dis
dain on the woman, she said: "You are
quite mistaken. Your Jack is less than
nothing to me. l despise him and all
he represents"
The other wildly laughed. "Ah, yes,
you can talk-you're smooth-but I
know!" She began to buster. IF you
hated him, why do you talk and laugh
with him? saw you yesterday" She
raised the pistol. Il tell you, I'll blow
you into kingdom come If you don't
promise right now to give him up!''
As she advanced the two little lads
1t play just outside appeared in the
doorway, and the sight of them steeled
he little mothers heart. 60 away,
larlin's," she called to them. "Quick,
'1,n for dadv'
The woman turned to see who was
'ehind her, and the desperate Nora
'eized her by the wrist. "Give me the
run!' she called.
NJ won't! Le' go mev' shrieked the
jerking hard in the effort to
rec her hand.
Ann seized the other arm. II prom
&C." she said quietly, fixing her eyes
ull upon those of the Infatuated wo-
nan, who ceased to struggle. "Now
% away"
"You promise?"
II promise!'
The woman again laughed harshly,
runkenly. II don't trust you. I'll kill
ou; then I know. Let go met" she
allied. LET go or I'll smash your
acev'
Matt! Oh, Natl" called Nora as
he chung desperately to that terrible
vrist.
Help came from an unexpected quar-
er. Like flash, Woo, the new Chinese
ook Of the household, rushed into the
DOM and flung himself on the mad
7retch. His long fingers encircled her
hroat. "Dlop itv' he CURLY command
d. "Dlop gum For a few moments
be woman struggled, then the re-
n1vor foil n tho nn0r and Nora