Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1908-12-24


noon. p
Hotel patrons had eaten and gone.
Bill Bernard was out on an errand;
and the house was deserted save for
the cook and scullion, and the two
women at their late breakfast. The
sun had not yet thawed the frost Of
the night when a shot rang out from
Sally BIS barroom.
She caught her pistol from some
neal nook and rushed out, Esther fly
ing after her.
go back, child" Sally B. said stern
ly, from the doorway.
Not unless you 60" Esther re-
turned in a voice as firm.
"Foller still, then" the other whis-
pered, seeing opposition useless; and
they entered the barroom noiselessly.
A man with beetling brows and
fierce, ~resentful eyes stood with his
back to them, holding a big revolver
somewhat ~unsteadily over Shack New
begin, whose hands were high in air.
The intruder's clothes were soiled, his
boots dusty and cut from much walk
ing over rock. Notwithstanding his
vicious, threatening attitude, his body
dropped as from intense fatigue.
He did not hear the women; and his
savage, ~low-spoken command showed
him dangerously sure of himself.
"Give me ten dollars out of that
till. Do it quick, and keep still. And
don't try shooting next time when a
man asks you for money; you might
get your wooden o%vercoat soonern
you'd like. Hurry up, there!"
Drop that gun, pardner!" Sally B.
said quietly.
She had waited barely a breath on
the threshold, yet Esther had smelled
burned powder, seen Shack's pistol on
! the floor, his dishevelled hair and the
| bullet hole in the marauder's hat
Shack had had the first shot. How
had the other mastered the situation
The mar wheeled, with blazing eyes,
to meet Sally BIS pistol barrel almost
at his head. His w weapon, uncon'
sciously lowered, left him helpless
though he made a slight motion as il
to lift it.
Drop it, l say! Let go!" Her re
volver touched his temple, and hel
black eyes blazed a message that com
PEELED obedience.
He returned her look for an instant
lowered his eyes s%ullenly, glanced
covertly about, and, STOPPING, laid the
pistol on the floor.
Nov, git inter that cheer!"
Again he looked at her resentfully
but only for a breath, when he ben
stif1y, and dropped heavily down.
"Tie him, Shack, to the cheer; an
his hands behind him, an his feet to
gether. How'd he git the drop on We
l see We got the first shot"
eyes. But l reckoned he was only
drunk, an wasn't lookin' fur him t.
fight. L only shot to skeer; but h
jumped me like creased lightnin'."
HE looks boiler; I low grub ain
ben plenty. Had anything to eat late
ly?" she asked her prisoner.
He shook his head sulkily.
81 thought so. Watch him, Shack,
she ordered, and after the tying wa
done to her satisfaction, the two won
en- went out.
They returned shortly, Sally B. wit
a generous breakfast; Esther, who re
fused to let her come alone, carryin
the coffee. Nley arranged the food o
a chair, and Sally B. took up her re
volver again.
Unite his hands, Shack"
you're the b%eatin'est," Shack b
gan, obeying her order reluctant!
s'to go an feed a mar that's tried t
rob ye."
mo matter. He's hungry.
wouldn't turn a hungry dog off withol
a bone. Get to work, now" she sal
grufly to the bandit. can while yo'1
busy, tell what you wanted Of ten dc
lars. Why didn't We ask fur the hu
till"
Because l wanted to be white a
take only enough to get out OF tn
country with" Esther thought h
: face softened a trit1e.
: why don't We work for it? TT
Boss wants choppers; an everybody
iyin' west like ole Nick was aftt
EN-"
: That's my business. l want to leaN
the country, not chop wood" The ST
len look deepened.
IF yo're that particular, you git thi
grub out O sight, an git! 1 earn m
3 money workin', an you can yourn."
He scowled at her; and no n sa
t the CLEAN in his wicked eye as
caught the flash from Esther's so
taire.
i. 1t was the only ornament of walt
: she wore in this rude place. She ha
] bought it for protection, and it he
served it's purpose well. Most peop
|, supposed 1t an engagement ring,
supposition she tacitly encouraged.
CTo BE CoNTINUED.)