Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-10-17

Y ...- &yD
The four sacks ,rerc droppCd sofIU INTO
the Jcdthery bottom.
robbery last night. Here they are
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 it 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
| ly in each others faces.
Then in a flash Glenistcr stripped
back the blankets and seized the
"pokes." leaping into the back 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 It,
There was loft overhead he remem-
bered hopefully, then realized that the
pursuers would search there first of
all.
II told you he was hard fighter"
said DeXtry as the quick footsteps
grew louder. ''IIe amt no fool, nei-
Their. Stead of our ben' caught in
the mountains, I reckon wen shoot il
out here. We should have cached that
gold somewhere"
He spun the cylinder Of his black
ened Colt, while his face grew hard
and vuture-like.
Meanwhile Cherry Maotte watched
the hunted look in Glenister's face
grow wilder and then sl fen into the
stubbornness of man at bay. The
posse was at the door now. knocking
The three inside stood ricd and strain
ed. Then Glenister tos@ni his burden
on the bed.
y
there's going to be trouNle."
who's thereT' inquired Dextry
through the door, to gain time. Sud
denly without word he. girl gllded
to the; hot blast heater, now cold and
empty. which stood in a corner Of the
room. These stOveS, used widely In
the north. are vertical iron cylinders
in4a in1, Is a
She lifted the lid and pccred in to
find It quarter full Of dead ashes
then turned with shining eyes and
parted lips 70 Glenister. He caught
the hint, and in an instant the foul
sacks were dropped softly into the
feathery bottom and he ashes rakeG
over. The daring maneuver was al
most as quick rs the fash Of woman's
wit that prompted II and was carried
through while the answer TO Dextry's
question was still uuspoken.
Then Glenister opeued the door care
lessly and admitted tho group of men
"We've got search warrant TO lool
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 bee,
to the girl, who watched them will
Indifferent eyes. nor 10 the old man
who glared at their every movement
: Glenister was carele.ey sarcastic, al
though he kept his right arm free
hi !,
thoroughly trained alcrtncss.
Mcnamara directed the search wit
a manner wholly lacking in his forme
mock courtesy. It vas as though b
had been soured hy the gall Of defeat
. The mask had fallen off now, and hi
character showed -inslstent. oycrbcar
+ Ing, cruel. Toward the partners h
preserved n contemptuous silence.
The invaders ransackcd thoroughly
while dozen times the hearts o
, Cherry Malotte and her two compar
ions stopped, then hinged onward a
Mcnamara or Voorhees, approached
then passed the stove. At last Voorhee
: lifted the lid and pecrcd into its dar
interior. At the same instant the gil
cried out sharply, 1iugng herself fror
: her position while the marshal jerkc
his head back in time to see her das
- upon Dextry.
, Don't. DON'T" She cried her az
peal to the old man. Keep coo
;. You'll be sorry, Dex-theyrc almos
. through"
o The officer had not seen any move
< ment on Dextry's part, but doubles
d her quick eye had detected signs @
violence Mcnamara emerged glover
= ing, from the back room at that M
q ment.
Let them hunt" the girl was sayn!
8 While De1try stared dazedly over he
. head. They won't find anything
r Keep cool and don't act rash"
n voorhees, duties sat uncomfortabl
q upon him at the best. and. looking @
q the smoldering eyes OF the two mel
2 ne became averse to further scare
In powdery household whose men
l. pers ltched TO shoot him In the back.
n ut isn't here" he reported but tn
politician only scowled, then spoke fc
the nrst time directly to the partners
I've got warrants for both of 70,
d and I'm tempted to take you in. but
.. won't I'm not through yet-not
;. any means. III get you--get 20
!. both He turned out of the door. 70
d lowed by the marshal, who called o
IT mis- guards, and the group filed bac
- along the walk.