The Huttig news., 1908-08-15

! The iron was coming-on the road due at the Front that afternoon All along the line betting ran high. In- terest and excitement peryaded town, camp and home; touched even women and children.
 The supply train backed, switched, loaded freight brought in the night be- fore; yet did not pull out for the Front as usual but side tracked and waited. The iron was coming! It was due at noon
 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 shot rang out from Sally B.'s barroom
 She caught her pistol from some near nook and rushed out, Esther fly ing after her
 "Go back, ehild!" Sally B. said stern ly, from the doorway.
 Not unless you go. Esther re- turned in a voice as firm.
 "Foller still. then the other whis- pered, seeing opposition useless; and they entered the barroom noi.. lessly.
 A man with beetling brows and fierce, resentful eyes stood with his back to them, holding big revolver somewhat unsteadily over Shack New. begin, whose hands were high in air. Tho int aIp fnJ ;e. 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 oyercoat sooner'n you'd like. Hurry up. there!"
 Drop that gun. pardnerl" 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 ficor, his dishevelled hair and the bullet hole in the marauders hat. Shack had had the first shot How had the other mastered the situation?
 The nan wheeled, with blazing eyes, to meet Sally B s pistol barrel almost at his head His own weapon. uncon- seiously lowered, left him helpless, though he made a slight motion as if to lift It.
 Drop it, I sayi Let gol" Her re- volver touched his temple, and her black eyes bazed a message that com. pelled obedience
 He returned her look for an instant. lowered his eyes sullenly. glanced coyertly about. and stooping, laid tie pistol on the floor.
 Now, git inter th at cheer"
 Again he looked at her resentfullv; but only for a breath, when he bent 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 ye? I see ye got the first shot"
 'Yes. But reckoned he was only drunk, an wasn't lookin' fur him to fight I only shot to skeer; but he jumped me like greased lightnin'n
 He looks holler; I low grub ain't ben plenty. Had anything to eat late ly7" she asked her prisoner.
 He shock his head sulkily
 q thought SO Watch him, Shack she ordered, and after the tying was done to her satisfaction, the two won- en went out
 They returned shortly, Sally B. with 2 generous breakfast; Esther, who re- fused to let her come alone, carrying the coffee They arranged the food on chair, and Sally B. took up her re- volver again.
 "Untie his hands, Shack"
 You're the beatin est" Shack be- gan, obeying her order reluctantly, ito go an feed a man that's tried to rob ye."
 No matter He's hungry. 1 wouldn't turn hungry dog off without bone. Get to work, now" she said gruff1y to the bandit An while yore busy tell what you wanted of ten dol lars. Why didn't ye ask fur the hull till?"
 Because 1 wanted to be white an take only enough to get out of the country with Esther thought his face softened trifie.
 Why don't ye work for it? The Boss wants choppers; an everybodys fyin' west like ole Nick was after 'em''
 That's my business. want to leave the country, not chop wood" The sul- len look deepened.
 If yo're that partic'lar, you git that grub out O sight, an git 1 earn my money workin', an you can yourn.
 He scowled at her; and no one saw the gleam in his wicked eye as he caught the flash from Esther's soli- taire
 It was the only ornament of value she wore in this rude place. She had bought 1t for protection, and 1t had