The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1911-11-16
dialect was not that Of those noun

the tone lnaH the language UecdHlt
aware Of thin ray of light pene
trating the seemingly solid wall JUS
in front of me, and bending silently
forward could dimly distinguish the
el.ipticai head of Rungay as he applied
one eye to a small opening he hac
industriousy made between the logs
Grasping Mrs Brennan firmly by the
hand so that we ,nould rot become
separated. | crept across the interven
ing backl SIS, and reached his side
Holy smoke. Cap" the little mar
mrttered in suppressed excitement, as
he realized my presence, its goin
ter be bilin hot in Il ar mighty soon
Mariar's steaLI Is a risin'
He silently made room for me, and
bending down so as to bring my eye
upon level with Ibis, | managed tc
gain some slight glimpse Of the scene
within the cabin.
Mrs Bungay stood with her back
to the fireplace. a.. iron skillet firmly
gripped in one hand Her face was
red with Indignation. am there was
"a look In her eyes. together with a
defiant set to her chin. which prom
Used trouble In front of her. care
lessly resting on the table. his. feet
dangling in the air, was a sturdy
looking fellow of forty or so, with
red, struggling beard covering all the
lower half of his face. and weather
worn black hat pulled SO low as al
n .ost to conceal his eyes. His attire
was nondescript. as though he had
patronized the junkshop of both
armies In his belt we're thrust re
volver and a knife. while within easy
reach of his hand a musket leaned
against chair Two others of the
party. younger men. but even more
roughly dressed than their leader,
we're lounging between him and the
door.
Bungay chuckled expectantly.
20 Lord! If they only git the oil
gal just a little more riled." be whis
pered noarsely. jumping up and down
on one foot in his excitement. they'll
hev Their fight of their life"
do you know the fellows?" asked
lis tina. Red Lowrie?''
He shook his hea0.
Never laid eyes on any of 'em
afore, but We bet they're no good
Reckon they're part O. his crowd
The man who posed as the leader OF
the party picked UP the empty cot
fee-pot beside him and shook it.
Come. now, Mrs. Bungay." he com
$ anded. II tell you we're hungry. Sc
trot out some hoecdke and fiji up this
pot. unless you want t. reckon with
Red Lowrie
The woman stood facing him. vi
never moved. could see a red spot
begin to glow in either cheek If
mad ever doubted it. knew now that
Maria possessed temper of her own
You amt no Re, Lowrie.' she re
torted
The fellow laughed easily
mo more | ain'., old woman, but
|. reckon we amt so durn far apart
when it comes to getting what we &c
after Come. honest now. where is
the little white-livereL cur that runs
this shebang?"
81 Whatever Maria mi~ht venture tc
call her lord and master In the
privacy OF home. it evidently did no,
soothe her spirit TO hear him thus
spoken of by another
IF Jed Bungay wus hum" che an
swered fiercely. her eyes fairly blaz
ing. II reckon you would mt lie sprawl
in on tibet thar table fer long
wouldn't |. now Well. old hen
we've fooled here with you about as
long as care to. Bill. go over there
and put some of that bacon on to fry
If she doesn't get out of the way ri
give her something iojump for" AnG
he patted the stock of his gun.
lnstinctively drew my revolver
and pushed its black muzzle into the
light under Jed's nose
Shall ! give him dose?" 1 asked
eagerly
Mot yit: o Lord. not yiti" he ex
claimed, dancing from one foot to the
other in excitement lie. Their oil
gal hev show. | reckon she's COCO
Ter ther whole three of EN-, less they
shoot"
Bill came up grinning. He evident
" anticipated some fun. and as he
reached out grimy hand for the slat
of bacon. took occasion to make some
remark What it was could not hear
but noted the quick responsive FLASH
in the woman's eyes, and the next
instant with.a crash she brought the
iron skillet down with all her strength
on top of the fellows head Without
even groan he went plunging down
face foremost. in front of the fire. II
another moment she was battling like
a wild fury with the other two
II was quick. intense struggle. The
man near the door CHANGED to- be the
first in. and he received blow from
the skillet that most assuredly woult
have crushed his skull had he no,
lodged; as it was it landed upon his
shoulder and he reeled back sick anc
helpless BY this time the fellow with
the red beard had closed upon her
and wrested the skillet from her hand
Struggling fiercely back and forth
across the floor. Maria, tripped over
the body of the dead dog and fell
but as she did so her fingers graspel
the red beard of her antagonist L
yielded to her hand, and bare of face
save for dark moustache. the mar
stood there. painting for breath above
her Then suddenly. almost at ny
very ear. voice cried.
Frank Frank! am here,
~nAnrEG ~