Middletown transcript., 1911-11-11

crash on the floor. Where is the lit
tie sneak, anyhow"
what do you want of him?"
want him to go long with US;
we're hunting some parties, and need
q guide. They toP US up the road
bit he knew every inch O. these yere
mOuntings."
There was q pause, as II Maria was
endeavoring to decide as to the hon.
esty of the speaker. Her final answer
proved the mental survey had not
proven satisfactory.
wal, reckon" she said calmly,
"as you uns II be more likely ter
find him down bout Connersville."
Then whut's all these yere dirty
dishes doing on the table?"
He'd sum Yankee officers yere; they
just rode on down ther trail as you
uns cum up"
Like hell!" calculated the fellow
with complete loss Of temper. "See
here, old woman, we're too old birds
to be caught with any such chaff.
Wen take a look around the old she
bang anyhow, and while we're at It
you put something on the table for me
and my mates to eat"
The voice and manner were rough,
but was impressed with q certain &C
cent creeping into the mans speech
bespeaking education. More, in spite
Of an apparent effort to make 1t so, his
dialect was not that Of those noun
talns.
Even as he uttered these last words,
throwing into them . threat more In
the tone than the language, ! became
aware of q thin ray Of Hight pene-
trating the seemingly solid wall just
in front Of me, and bending silently
forward could dimly distinguish the
eIliptical head Of Bungay as he applied
one eye to q small opening he had
industriously made between the logs.
Grasping Mrs Brennan firmly by the
hand SO that we should not become
separated, crept across the interven'
ing blackness, 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 a 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 waf
a look in her eyes, together with q
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, viii
red, struggling beard covering all the
lower half of his face, and weather
worn black hat pulled so low as al
most to conceal his eyes. His attire
was nondescript, as though he haC
patronized the junkshop of bott
armies. In his belt were thrust re
Volver and a knife, while within easy
reach of his hand a musket leaned
against a chair. Two others Of tht
party, younger men. but even more
roughly dressed than their leader
were leuDging between him and the
door.
Burgay chuckled expectantly.
90 Lord! If they only git the ol
gal Just a little more riled," he whis
pered hoarsely, jumping up and dowr
on one foot in his excitement, "theyl
hev ther fight Of their life
do you know the fellows?" I asked
''Is that Red Lowrie?"
He shook his head.
Never laid eyes on any Of 'eu
afore, but ye bet they're no good
Reckon they're part O. his crowd"
The man who posed as the leader o
the party picked up the empty eof
fee-pot beside him and shook it.
Come, now, Mrs. Bungay," he com
rIanded, 'I tell you we're hungry, 81
trot out some hoecake and fill up thi
Dot, unless you want to reckon witt
| Red Lowrie."
The woman stood facing him, ye
never moved. cruld see red spo
begin to glow in either cheek. II
had ever doubted It, l knew now tha
Maria possessed a temper Of her OWE
''You amt no Rec Lowrie," she re
torted.
The fellow laughed easily.
"No more amt, old woman, bu
reckon we amt so durn far apar
when it comes to getting what we g
after. Come, honest now, where 4
the little white-livereG cur that run
this shebang?"
Whatever Maria might venture Il
call her lord and master In tn
privacy Of home, it evidently did no
soothe her spirit to hear him thu
spoken Of by another.
eff Jed Bungay wus hum" she an
swered fiercely, her eyes fairly blal
J ing, Il reckon you would MT be sprawl
in on thet thar table fer long"
Wouldn't /, now? Well, old her
! we've fooled here with you about q
long as l care to. Bill, go over ther
and put some Of that bacon on to FRY
II she doesn't get out Of the way n
give her something 10 jump for" An
he patted the stock Of his gun.
IRstinctively l drew my revolver
and pushed It's black muzzle into tn
light under Jed's nose.
Shall l give him dose?" aske
eagerly.
mot yit; o Lord, not yit!" he 81
claimed, dancing from one foot to tn
other in excitement. LIST ther o
gal heY a show. reckon she's goo
fer ther whole three Of EN-, less the
shoot"
Bill came up grinning. He eviden
ly anticipated some fun, and as b
reached out a grimy hand for the sla
Of bacon, took occasion to make som
remark. What it was l could not heal
but / noted the quick responsive flas
in the woman's eyes, and the ne1
instant with crash she brought tn
iron skillet down with all her strengt
ON top of the fellows head. Withou
even a groan he went plunging dow
face foremost, in front of the fire.
another moment she was battling lik