Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1908-10-09

oriental forefathers did in Old Tesla
expected. she probably wasn't either
of these.
The train had stopped. Garrett
could hear the laughter and exclama-
tons of the four men at the other end
Of the car who were engaged in an
extremely audible game of cards. At
this moment new passenger ap-
peared In the nearby door and
dropped into the seat Garrett had &C.
cupied.
He was tall, handsome man, with
thick, tawny hair, graceful mustache
and friendly blue eyes. Both Garrett
and Miss Alamo looked at him. He
certainly was good to look upon. Gar
rett remarked that his broad-brimmed
felt hat, with four dimples in the
crown, was Of about the same shade
as Miss Alamo's dress.
The newcomer studied his watch.
Trains a little late, isn't IT." he
asked Garrett in an easy tone.
Il suppose so. These trains al
ways are"
The engine breathed and muttered
in the quiet Of the station. Garrett
gazed through the window at mule
cart with dusky driver, asleep; at a
shabby general merchandise" shop
beyond the white road; at young
Mexican rolling a cigarette with vel
low paper, and lifting his fingers one
by one, as from a musical instrument
until the thing had burned down into
the shadow of his mustache; at big
hulking bird circling in the clear sky.
What sort of a fowl is that?" asked
Garrett of the newcomer, who was
staring in the same direction.
"A buzzard," replied the handsome
man, who smiled his charming smile
and added, You're from the north, l
reckon?"
Garrett nodded.
UGH" shivered Miss Alamo. How
l hate buzzards."
They have sinister reputation"
said Garrett. He had been staring
through the window again. II was
just fancying," he went on, "a man
wounded, or helpless out there-would
they pounce on him."
mot unless he was Dead" replied
the handsome man. He smiled again
his charming smile. "And the longer
he had been dead the better they
would like him.
Garrett looked for a questioning
second at the blue eyes of the new.
conner. He fancied that Miss Alamo
rather liked the man.
When the train had been rumbling
again for a number of miles the card
players became particularly audible,
and the handsome man seemed an
noyed. you would think this was
their private car" he said to Garrett.
Then one of the men used dis.
agreeable epithet in loud tone. A
dozen men in other parts of the car
looked quickly toward them. Both
Garrett and the handsome man arose,
and the latter strobe forward in the
car. Miss Alamo caught Garrett by
the sleeve. Let them alone" she
whispered, cor we'll have fireworks"
t'Look here!" came the mellow voice
Of the handsome man, there's lady
in che car, and you've got to respect
her presence. Understand me?" The
four men were on their feet as the
speaker strobe back toward his seat.
what is that to your" roared one
of the card players, flinging the pack
into the aisle.
There were other loud words, con-
fused murmur and stir through the
car, and Garrett saw the handsome
man pull tho bell cord. The air
brakes squealed. A moment of
startled silence fell over the group of
passengers.
"A trick!" cried Miss Alamo in Gar
ret'u ear. TITS hold.up!"
AS she spoke, Garrett saw the
CLEAN of three revolvers at the other
end of the car, and heard the metallic
voice Of one of the card players shout
ing, Hands up, everybody! and quick
about it,"
Garrett afterwards remembered that
it was like vote at a meeting, except
that everyone was voting twice. He
was surprised at the instructive re-
spouse his own hands made to a de-
mand of which he scarcely had
realized the purport.
He saw the quick movement of one
of the men who turned to the forward
car; he heard the grunt of the trucks
as the car stopped; he became con-
scious of some movement and a sharp
outside the train. Then he
turned his eyes to the
handsome man across the AISLE
The handsome man was standing
with his back toward the window, one
loot on the seat. and over his knee
hung his strong white hand. lingering
he hair trigger Of q revolver.
Gentlemen" came the musical !