Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-05-28

more But don't never let 'em get
grip on your ground That's all he'd
say
Bah! He's crazy!! I wish some
body would try to jump the Midas;
we'd enjoy the exercise"
The siren Of the Santa Maria inter.
rupted, it's hoarse warning throbing
UP the mountain.
| wen have to get aboard" said
Dextry.
/ "sh-h What that?" the other
whispered
At first the only sound they heard
was stir from below them came the
rattle of rawlocls and a voice eau
tiorsly muffled.
Stop! Stop there!"
A sliff from the darkness, ground
ing on the beach beneath. A figure
scrambled out and up the ladder to
the wharf. Immediately a second
boat plainly in pursuit Of the first one
struck on the beach behind it.
AS the escaping figure mounted
to their level the watchers perceived
with amazement that it was young
lungs, and, stumbling, she would have
ward and helped her to her feet.
Don't let them get me-" she pant
ed.
He turned to his partner in puzzled
inquiry, but found that the old man
had crossed to the head of the landing
ladder up which the pursuers were
climbing.
Just a minnte-you there! Back
| I'm, Ii IDLY CO. ~,
voice was sharp and unexpected, and
In the darkness he doomed tall and
menacing to those below.
Get out of the way That woman's
runaway" came from the one high
est on the ladder.
$50 peige."
"She broke qu-"
"Shut up!" broke in another. "Do
you want to advertise it? Get out Of
the way, there, We damn fool! Climb
up, Thorsen." He spoke like buckle
mate, and his words stirred the bile
of Dextry
Thorsen grasped the dock floor, try
ing to climb up, but the old miner
stamped on his fingers and the sailor
loosened his hold with yell, carry
ing the under men with him to the
beach In his fall
This way! Follow me-" shouted
the mate, making up the bank for the
shore end of the warf.
You'd better pull your freight,
miss" Dextry remarked; they'll be
here in minute
Eyes, yes! Let us go! must get
. aboard the Santa Maria She's leaving
now Come, GOMEZ"
IL,
humorous touch in her remark, but
did not stir.
"I'm gettin' awful old an stiff &c
run" said Dextry, removing his mack
inaw, "but allow amt too old fol
little diversion in the way of a
rough-house when it comes nosin'
around" He moved lightly, though
the girl could see in the halfdark
ness that his hair was silvery.
What do you mean?" she question,
ed, sharply.
you hurry along miss; Well toy
with 'em till you're aboard" They
stepped across to the dock-house, back
, ing against 1t. The girl followed.
Again came the warning blast from
the steamer, and the voice of an Of
ficer:
, "Clear away that stern line"
ooh, we'll be left!" she breathed,
: ana somehow it struck Glenister that
3 she feared this more than the men
: whose approaching feet he heard,
; "You can make it all right he urg-
: ed her, roughly you'll get hurt II
> you stay here. Run along and don't
: mind us. We've been thirty days on
shipboard, and were praying for some
thing to happen" His voice was boy.
! ishly glad. as IL he exulted in the fray
t that was to come! and no sooner had
I he spoken than the sailors came Out
J. Of the darkness upon them.
beats there was only tangle o,
whirling forms plunged outward, fall.
. ing heavily. Again the sailors rushed
: attempting to clinch. They massed
. upon Dextry only to craps empty air
! for he shifted with remarkable agili
ty, striking bitterly as an old vol
snaps. 1t was battling werk, however
/ for In the darkness his blows fell
short or overreached.
Glenister, on the other hand, stood
carelessly, beating the men off al
> they came to him. He laughed gloat
= ingly, deep in his throat, as though
!. the encounter were merely some
: rough sport, The girl shuddered, fol
I the desperate silence of the attacking
> men terrified her more than a din
!. and yet she stayed, crouched agains
= the wall.
Dextry swung at dim target, ant
|. missing 1t, was whirled off his bal
x ance. Instantly his antagonist crap
q pied with him, and they fell to the
I floor, while a third man shuffled abou
> them. The girl throttled scream.
"I'm goin' to kick i'm BILL" the ma,
7 painted hoarsely. lie me fix I'm" Fl,
swung his heavy shoe, and Bill ours
), cd with stirring eloeuence.
COW! You're kickin' me! I've go
It i'm, safe enough. Tackle the big un.
Bills ally then started towards tn
: others, his body bent. his arms flexes
= yet hanging loosely He crouche
= beside the girl, ignoring her, Will