Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-06-13

Wheaton" said Glenister.
At that moment without warning,
the door was flung open, and as the
young man ierked the blankets into
place he whirled, snatched the six
shooter that Dextry had discarded and
covered the entrance.
Don't shoot. boy!" cried the new.
conner breathlessly. My, but you're
nervous!"
Glenister dropped his gun. 1t was
Cherry Malotte; and, from her heav-
ing breast and the flying color in her
cheeks, the men saw she had been
running. She did not give them time
to question, but closed and locked the
door while the words came tumbling
from her:
They're on to you, boys-you'd bet
ter duck out quick. They're on their
way UP here now"
What"
"Who?"
Quick! heard Mcnamara and
Voorhees,, the marshal, talking. Some
body has spotted you for the hold-ups.
They're on their way now, l tell you.
| sneaked out by the back way and
came here through the mud. Say but
I'm sight" She stamped her trinity
booted feet and fiirted her skirt.
II don't savvy what you mean" said
Dextry, glancing at his partner, warn
ingly. 1--WE amt done nothin'."
well, it's all right then. took a
long chance SO you could make a get
away if you wanted to- because they've
got warrants for you for that sluice
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 Voor-
bees, Mcnamara, and three others.
The house stood somewhat isolated
and was well back on the tunda, SO
that any one approaching it by the
planking 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 it was now apparent that sixth
man had made circuit and was ap-
preaching from the rear.
MY God! They'll search the place.
said Dextry, and the men looked grim
ly In each others faces.
Then in flash Glenister 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 a hard fighter"
said Dextry, as the quick footsteps
grew louder. "He amt no fool, Meth
err Stead of our bein' caught in the
mountains, reckon we'll shoot 1t out
here. We should have cashed 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 Glenister's face
grow wilder and then stiffen into the
1 stubbornness of man at bay. The
posse was at the door now, knocking.
The three stood rigid and strained.
Then Glenister tossed his burden on
the bed.
go into the back room, Cherry;
there's going to be trouble"
Who's there?" inquired Dextry
through the door, to gain time. Sud-
denly, without word, the girl glided
to the hot-blast heater, now cold and
empty, which stood in corner of the
room. These stoves, used widely in
the North, are vertical iron cylinders
into which coal is poured from above
She lifted the lid and peered in to find
| 1t 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 bot
tom and the ashes raked over. The
daring Vancouver was almost as quick
as the flash of woman's wit that
prompted it, and was carried through
while the answer to Dextry's ques-
ton was still unspoken.
Then Glenister opened the door
carelessly 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 rfght-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 sang-froid was a
| thorough trained alertness.
Mcnamara directed the search with
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. Towards the partners he
preserved contemptuous silence.
| The invaders ransacked thoroughly.
while dozen time the hearts of Cher
ry Malotte and her two companions
stopped, then lunged onward as Nc
Namara OF 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, fiinging herself