The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1907-12-13

| tCDOcAy last nlSut. mere lucy uIc
now" She darted to the window, the
men peering over her shoulder. Com
ing up the narrow walk they saw
voorhees,, Mcnamara and three others.
The house stood somewhat isolated
and well back on the tundra, SO that
any one approaching 1t by the plank
ing had an unobstructed view of the
premises. Escape was impossible, for
the back door led out into the ankle
deep puddles of the open prairie, and
1t was now apparent that sixth man
had made circuit and was approach
ing from the rear.
my God! They'll, search the place, -
said Dextry. and the men looked grim
~ In each OthegiS faces.
Then in fash Glenister stripped
back the blankets and seized the
"pokes," leaping into the bask room.
In another instant he returned with
them and faced desperately the candid
baroness of the little room that they
lived and slept in. Nothing could be
hidden; it was folly to think OF II.
There was loft overhead, he remem-
|
pursuers would search there first of
ALL
II told you he was hard fighter,
said DeXtry as the quick footsteps
grew louder. "He amt no fool, nei-
Their. Stead Of our bein caught in
the mountains, reckon Wen shoot it
out here. We should have cached that
gold somewhere"
| He spun the cylinder Of his black
ened Colt. while his face grew hard
and vulture-like.
Meanwhile Cherry Malotte watched
the hunted look in Glenisters face
grow wilder and then stiffen into the
stubbornness of man at bay. The
posse was at the door now, knocking.
The three inside stood rigid and strain
ed. Then Glenister tossed his burden
on the bed.
GO into the back room, Cherry;
there's going to be trouble"
who's therew inquired DeXtry
through the door, to gain time. Sud
denly, without a word, the girl glided
to the hot blast heater, now cold and
empty, which stood in corner of the
room. These stoves, used widely IL
| the north, are vertical iron cylinders
Into which coal is poured from above.
She lifted the lid and peered in to
find it a quarter full of dead ashes,
then turned with shining eyes and
parted lips to Glenister. He caught
the hint, and in an instant the four
sacks were dropped softly into the
feathery bottom and the ashes raked
over. The daring maneuver was al
most as quick as the flash of woman's
wit thst prompted it and was carried
through while the answer to Dextry's
question was still unspoken.
Then Glenister opened the door care
lessly and admitted the group of men
"We've got search warrant to look
through your house," said Voorhees,.
What are you looking for?"
Gold dust from Anvil creek"
'All right-search away"
They rapidly secured the premises,
covering every inch, paying no heed
to the girl, who watched them with
Indifferent eyes, nor to the old man,
who glared at their every movement.
Glenister was carelessly sarcastic, al
though he kept his right arm free.
while beneath his sangfroid was q
thoroughly trained alertness.
Mcnamara directed the search with
a manner wholly lacking in his former
mock courtesy. 1t was as though he
had been soured by the gall of defeat.
The mask had fallen off now, and his
character showed-insistent, overbear-
ing, cruel. Toward the partners he
preserved a contemptuous silence.
The invaders ransacked thoroughly,
while dozen times the hearts of
Cherry Malotte and her two compan-
ions stopped, then lunged onward, as
Mcnamara or Voorhees, approached,
then passed the stove. At last Voorhees,
lifted the lid and peered into its dark
interior. At the same instant the girl
cried out sharply, flinging herself from
her position while the marshal jerked
his head back in time to see her dash
upon Dextry.
Don't! Dont!' She cried her ap.
peal to the old man. keep cool.
You'll be sorry, Dex-they're almost
through"
The officer had not seen any move
ment on DeXtry's part, but doubtless
her quick eve had detected signs of
violence. Mcnamara emerged, glover
ing, from the back room at that mo-
ment
LET them hunt" the girl was saying,
while Dextry stared dazedly over her
head. "They won't find anything.
Keep cool and don't act rash'
Voorhees, duties sat uncomfortably
upon him at the best, and, looking at
the smoldering eyes OF the two men.
he became averse to further search
in a powdery household whose men,
bers itched to shoot him in the back.
ut isn't here" he reported, but the
politician only scowled, then spoke for
the first time directly to the partners:
'I've got warrants for both of you.
and I'm tempted to take you in, but /
won't. I'm not through yet--not by
any means. Ill get you-get you
both" He turned out of the door, fol-
lowed by the marshal, who called off
his guards, and the group filed back
along the walk.
Say, you're jewel, Cherry. You've