Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-10-12
The Spoilers.
Bv REX e. BEACH.
:. copyrisht. E. beach -
Bv REX E. BEACH

From her station Helen could see
the whole tableau, all but the men on
the stairs, where her vision was cut
off She saw the dance girls crouched
behind their partners or leaning far
out from the wall with parted lips,
the men eager. yet fearful, the bar
tender with half polished glass
poised high. Then a quick movement
across the hall suddenly diverted her
absorbed attention She saw 81 man
rip aside the drapcry of the box OPP
posite and lean SO far out that he
seemed In peril Of falling. He under
took to sight weapon at Glenister,
who was just passing from his view.
At her first glance Helen gasped, her
heart gave one fierce lunge, and she
cried out.
The distance across the pit was so
short that she saw his every line and
lineament clearly; it was the brother
she had sought these years and years.
Before she knew or could check 1t the
blood call leaped forth.
"Drury!" she cried aloud, at which
he whipped his head about, while
amazement and some other emotion
she could not gauge spread slowly over
his features For long moment he
stared at her without movement or
sign while the drama beneath went
on, then he drew back into his retreat
with the dazed look of one doubling
his senses, yet fearful Of putting them
to the test For her part, she saw
nothing except her brother vanishing
slowly into the shadows, as though
stricken ut her glance, the curtains
closing before his livid face, and then
pandemonium broke loose Mt her feet.
Glenister. holding his enemies at
bay, had retreated to the double doors
leading to the theater. His coup had
been executed so quickly and with
such lack of turmoil that the throng
outside knew nothing of 1t till they
saw q man walk backward through
the door. AS he did so he reached
forth and slammed the wide wings
shut before his face, then turned and
dashed into the press. Inside the
dance hall loud sounds arose as the
officers clattered down the stairs and
made after their quarry. They toro
the barrier apart in time to see, far
down the saloon, an eddying swirl as
though some great fish were flashing
through the lily pads Of a pond, and
then the swinging doors closed behind
Glenister.
Helen made her way from the thea
ter as she had come, unobserved and
unobserving. but she walked In a
dream. Emotions had chased each
other too closely tonight to be distin-
guishablc, so she went mechanically
through the narrow alley to Front
street and thence to her home.
Glenister meanwhile had been swal-
lowed up by the darkness, the night
enfolding him without sign or trace.
AS he ran he considered what course
to follow-whether to carry the call to
his comrades in town or to make for
the creek and Dextry. The yigilantes
might still dlstrust him, and yet he
owed them warning. McNamara's
men were moving SO swiftly that ac-
ton must be speedy to forestall them.
Another hour and the net would be
closed, while it seemed that whichever
course he chose they would snare one
or the other-either the friends who
remained in town or Dex and Slapjack
out in the hills. With daylight those
two would return and walk unheeding
into the trap, while II he bore the
word to them first then the vigilantes
would be jailed before dawn. AS he
drew near Cherry Malotte's house he
saw light through the drawn cur
tains. A heavy ralndrop FLASHED upon
his face, another followed, and then he
heard the patter of falling water in
creasing swiftly. Before he could gain
the door the storm had broken. 1t
swept up the street with tropical VIC
lence, while breath sighed out Of the
night, lifting the litter from underfoot
and pelting him with flying particles.
Over the roofs the wind rushed with
the rising moan Of hurricane, while
the night grew suddenly noisy ahead
of the tempest.
He entered the door without knock
ing to find the girl removing her coat.
Her face gladdened at sight OF him,
but he checked her with quick and
cautious words, his speech almost
drowned by the roar outside.
care you alone?' She nodded, and
he slipped the bolt behind him, saying:
'sThe marshals are after me. We
lust had a run in at the Northern,
and I'm on the go No-nothing seri-
GUS yet, but they want the vigilantes,
and I must get them word. Will you
help me?" He rapidly recounted the
row of the last ten minutes, while she
nodded her quick understanding.
you're safe here for little While" :.
she told him, "for the storm will check
them. If they should come, there's
back door leading out from the
kitchen and side entrance yonder.
In nv room you'll find French win
dow. They can't corner you very
we'll"
"Slapiack and Dex are out at the
Chafthouse you know - that quartz
claim on the mountain above the MI
das." He hesitated. "Will you lend
me your saddle horse? It's black
night, and l may kill him."
"What about these men in town."
"IlI warn them first, then hit for the
hills
~, ,I. 80, hno1 s.ynu can't do