Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-10-05
The Spoilers.
By REX E. BEACH.
- .-pyrisht. E. Bssch

By REX e. BEACH.

He took down his Winchester, oiled
and cleaned 1t, then buckled on belt
himself He felt that he was being
ground between his loyalty to the vigil
Iuntes and his own conscience. The
girl was one OF the gang, he reasoned
she had schemed with them to betray
him through his love. md she was
pledged to the one man In the world
whom he hated with fanatical fury.
WHY should he think of her in this
hour? Six months back he would have
looked with jealous eyes upon the right
to lead the vigilantes, but this change
that had mastered him-what was 1t?
Not cowardice, nor caution. No. Yet,
being intangible, it was none the less
marked, as his friends had shown him
an hour since.
He slipped out into the night. The
mob might do as it pleased elsewhere.
but no man should enter her house. He
found light shining from her parlor
window, and, noting the shade up
through, he discovered Strive and
Helen talking. He skunk back into
the shadows and remained hidden for
considerable time after the lawyer
left, for the dancers were returning
from the hotel and passed close by.
When the last group had chattered
away down the street. he turned to the
front OF the house. and mounting the
steps, Knocked sharply. As Helen up
peared ut the door. he stepped inside
and closed it after him.
The girls hair lay upon her neck and
shoulders in tumbled brown masses,
while her breast heaved unanimously
at the sudden grim sight Of him.
She stepped back against the wall, her
wondrous, deep gray eyes wide and
troubled, the blush Of modesty strug-
CLING with the pallor of dismay.
The picture panied him like knife
thrust. This girl was his bitterest
enemy no hope Of her was for him.
He forgot for moment that she was
false nnd plotting, then, recalling It,
spoke as roughly as he might and stat
ed his errand Then the old man had
appeared on the stairs above. speech
less with fright at what he overheard.
1t was evident that his nerves, so sore
ly strained by the events Of the past
week, were now snapped utterly. A
human soul naked and panic stricken
Is no pleasant sight, SO Glenister drop
ped his eyes and addressed the girl
again:
Don't take anything with you. Just
dress and come with me"
The creature on the stairs above
stammered and suffered inquiringly:
What outrage is this, Mr.. Clients
teri"
"The people Of Nome are up in arms,
and I've come to save you. Don't stop
to argue" He spoke impatiently.
"Is this some r-ruse to get me into
your power?'
Uncle Arthur exclaimed the girl
sharply. Her eyes met Glenister's
and begged him to take no offense.
~ don't understand this atrocity.
They must be mad" walled the judge.
4Ou run over " lue JAN, NIL 0AcA-
lister, and tell Voorhees, to hurry
guards here to protect me. Helen,
phone to the military post and give
the alarm. Tell them the soldiers must
come at once"
Hold on" said Glenister There's
no use of doing that-the wires are
cut; and | won't notify Voorhees-he
can take care of himself. I came to
help you. and If you want to escape
you'll stop talking and hurry up
II don't know what to do" said Still
man, torn by terror and indecision.
"You wouldn't hurt an old man. would
you? Wait! I'll be down in min
ute"
He scrambled up the stairs tripping
on his robe. seemingly forgetting his
niece till she called up to him sharply:
"Stop, Uncle Arthur! You mustn't
run away" She stood erect and deter
mined. "You wouldn't do that. would
you? This is our house. You repre-.