Rural Retreat times. [volume] (Rural Retreat, Va.) 1892-1918, 1911-12-15
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separated, crept across the interven-
ing blackEess, and reached his side.
"Holy smoke. Cap" the little man
muttered in suppressed excitement, as
he realized my presence, Its goin
ter be b'ilin' hot in thar mighty soon.
Mariar's steam is risin'."
He silently made room for me, and
bending down so as to bring my eye
upon level with his, managed to
gain some slight glimpse Of the scene
within the cabin.
Mrs. Bungay stood with her back
to the fireplace, an iron skillet firmly
gripped in one hand. Her face was
red with indignation, and there was
look in her eyes. together with
defiant set to her chin, which prom
ised trouble In front of her, care
lessly resting on the table, his feet
dangling In the air, was 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
Lost 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 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,
were lounging between him and the
door,
Bungay chuckled expectantly.
20 Lord! if they only git the OF
gal just little more riled." he whis-
pered hoarsely. jumping up and down
on one foot in his excitement, they'll
hev Their fight of their life
do you know the fellows?" l asked
rs that Red Lowrie?"
He shook his head.
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, 81 tell you we're hungry, SO
trot out some hoecake and fill up this
pot, unless you want to reckon with
Red Lowrie.'
The woman stood facing him, yet
never moved. / could see red spot
begin to glow in either cheek. If
had ever doubted it, l knew now that
Maria possessed temper Of her own.
"You amt no Rel Lowrie." she re-
torted.
The fellow laughed easily.
mo more / ain't, old woman, but
| reckon we amt SO durn far apart
when it comes to getting what we go
after Come, honest now, where is
the little white-livereG cur that runs
this shebang?"
Whatever Maria MIGHT venture to
call her lord and master in the
privacy of home, 1t evidently did not
soothe her spirit to hear him thus
spoken of by another.
IF Jed Bungay wus hum" she an
swered fiercely, her eyes fairly blaz-
ing, II reckon you would MT be sprawl
in on tibet thar table fer long"
Wouldn't l, 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
II she doesn't get out of the way I'll
give her something to jump for" And
he patted the stock of his gun.
Instinctively drew my revolver,
and pushed its black muzzle into the
light under Jed's nose.
Shall give him a dose?" I asked
eagerly.
mot yit; o Lord, not yit!" he ex-
claimed, dancing from one foot to the
other in excitement Let Their OF
gal hev show. l reckon she's good
fer Their whole three of EN-. Tess they
shoot"
BIZ came up grinning. He evident
ly anticipated some fun, and as he
reached out grimy hand for the slab
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. In
another moment she was battling like
wild fury with the other two
1t was quick. intense struggle. The
man near the door CHANGED to be the
first in and he received a blow from
the skillet that most assuredly would
have crushed his skull had he not
lodged; as it was it landed upon his
shoulder and he reeled back sick and
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 grasped
the red beard of her antagonist. 1t
yielded to her hand, and bare of face.
save for a dark moustache, the man
stood there. painting for breath. above
her. Then suddenly. almost at my
very ear, voice cried.
Frank! Frank! l am here!"