Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-02-14
CHAPTER XVI.

tanned of his Kentucky breeding.
'The sheriff's army grows apace, but
does not march," he announced one
morning.
/, Ann could not understand this hui
morous defiance of law-this colossal
recklessness. What will you do when
it does march?"
"Meet it and bust it."
''Tell me, now" she said to him al
another time, what is your real mo-
tive? Why should you be the cham
pion of the rights of labor?'
He astonished her by giving back
earnestness for earnestness. "Fll tell
you. my lady. Labor has got to fight
This union is the coming thing. The
toilers have not only got to stand to-
gether, but they've got to drill. hap
pen to have little military training
and I'm going TO give western labor its
first lesson in the power Of military or
ganization.
Rob and Kelly both stand for the
thing that is going out They think any
man has the same chance they have
but l tell you this union that they de
spise is the coming order"
In truth, Kelly and Raymond were
watching Munro's rise to power with
growing unensiness. He was now in
almost complete control Of the camp,
and though he still deferred to the I'M
ion and it's committees, his reckless
bravery, his prompt execution of Or
ders and his knowledge Of military
forms had made of him the chief
source of command, the only adequate
regulative force OH the peak. Those on
the outside did not hesitate to call him
"the arch devil Of the district" and the
whole western world was filled with
his doings, his reckless speeches.
His fame had fired the hearts Of ali
the dead shots and restless spirits Of
the west, and from an irregular squad
of twenty-five or thirty men his 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 nc
change in her attitude. 1t was incon
ceivable that refined girl should toI
crate man who passed from one igno
rant and vicious woman to another
and yet AIMS greeting remained gra
cious, if not friendly. What it wa
when they were alone, he dared nc
think.
As for Raymond himself, he contir
ued to punish himself by putting asid
the many opportunities which came
plead his own suit, ana took morbi
sort Of pleasure in his Remuneration
"There will be one man at least VIII
will not prosecute her." he said SO,
agely and bent his best energies to til
work Of developing his mine.
One afternoon as Ann and Mrs. Kel-
~ 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 eyeNd dropped like that Of
paralytic as she fixed baleful look on
the astonished girl. After a 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
ly flamboyant skirt and at last drew
out pistol "Now you better hop!"
she said, with menacing calmness.
Ann rose, white and calm. "Who
are you? What do you want?"
"Wbo am L? I'm Jack Munro's wife,
that's who l am, and want you to let
him alone, that's what want. You
can understand that, can't you?" Her
big, flabby face again contorted hor-
ribly.
Nora found tongue. "You go away
or I'll call Matt"
Call him. What do care for him?
1 amt afraid Of no man Twin. No,
sir; let him come. But I got no war
with you; you're all right. But that
thing there, with her fancy dresses
Pll pink her with bullet IL she don't
let my Jack alone"
If the drunken creature had swept
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. I despise him and all
he represents"
The other wildly laughed. "Ah, yes,
you can talk-you're smooth-but /
know." She began to buster. "If you
hated him, why do you talk and laugh
with him? saw you yesterday" She
raised the pistol 81 tell you. I'll blow
you into kingdom come if you don't
promise right now to give him upY'
AS she advanced the two little lads
at play just outside appeared in the
doorway, and the sight Of them steeled
the little mothers heart. "Go away,
darlin's." size called to them. "Quick.