The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-08-20
(Continued.)

L suedheQ out W the DdCh way anu
came here through the mud. Say, but
I'm a sight" She stamped her trinity
booted feet and firted her skirt
81 don't savvy what you mean," said
Dextry, glancing at his partner warn
ingly. 1--WE amt done nothin'"
We'll it's all right then l took a
long chance so you could make a get
Rway1f 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
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
it was now apparent that a sixth man
had made a 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 Glenister stripped
back the blankets and seized the
''pohes," 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 1t.
There was a loft overhead, he remem-
bered hopefully, then realized that the
pursuers would search there first of
all.
Il told you he was a hard fighter"
said Dextry as the quick footsteps
grew louder. He amt no fool. nei-
Their. Stead of our beln' caught in
the mountains, I reckon We'll 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-ike.
Meanwhile Cherry Malotte watched
the hunted look in Glenister's face
grow wilder and then stiffen into the
gtubbornness Of a 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 thereY' 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 a 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 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 fash OF woman's
wit that prompted it and was carried
through while the answer to Dextry'S
question was still unspoken.
Then Glenister opened the door care
Iessly and admitted tho group Of men
we've got q search warrant % - &
through your house." said Voorhe0a
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 gIared 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 a 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, fl.nging herself from
her position while the marshal jerked
his head back in time to see her dash
upon Dextry.
"Don't. Don'tr' She cried her up
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 Dexry's part. but doubtless
her quick eye had detected signs N
violence. Mcnamara emerged, glover
ing. from the hack room at that mo
ment
Let them hunt" the girl was saying
while Dextry stared dazedly over hel
head. They won't find anything
Keep cool and don't act rash"