Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1911-12-20
dialect was not that Of those noun.

ta1ns.
Even as he uttered these last words,
throwing into them threat more In
the tone than the language. became
aware Of thin ray Of light pene-
trating the seemingly solid wall just
in front of me. and bending silently
forward could dimly distinguish the
elliptical head of Bungay as he applied
| one eye to a small opening he had
industrionsly made between the logs.
Grasplng Mrs. Brennan firmly by the
hand SO that We jhould not become
separated. crept across the interven-
ing blackEcss, and reached his side.
Holy smoke. Cap" the little man
mcttered in suppressed excitement. as
he realized my presence, tits goin'
ter be b'ilin' hot in thar mighty soon.
Mariar's steam is risin'."
He silently made room for me, and
bending down 50 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 a
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
most to conceal his eyes. His attire
was nondescript, as though he had
patronized the junkshop Of both
armies. In his belt were thrust re-
| volver and knife, while within easy
| reach of his hand 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 OIL
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?" asked.
| us that Red Lowrie?"
He shook his head.
Never laid eyes on any Of 'em
afore, but ye 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 cof-
fee-pot beside him and shook it.
Come, now, Mrs. Bungay," he com-
1 landed, Il tell you we're hungry, SO
trot out some hoecake and I'll, up this
pot, unless you want t. reckon with
| Red Lowrie."
The woman stood facing him, yet
| never moved. could see red spot
begin to glow in either cheek. II /
had ever doubted 1t, knew now that
Maria possessed temper of her own.
'*You amt no Rel Lowrie." she 70.
torted..
The fellow laughed easily.
/ mo more ! ain':, old woman, but
I reckon we amt so durn far apart
when it comes to getting what we go
after. Come, honest now, where is
the little whfte-livereL cur that runs
this shebang?"
! Whatever Maria mfoht venture ia
] call her lord and master in the
privacy of home, it evidently did not
soothe her spirit to hear him thus
! spoken of by another
! IF Jed Bungay wus hum" she an.
swered ftercely,. her eyes fairly blaz.
i ing, II reckon you would MT be sprawl.
IN on tibet thar table fer long"
j Wouldn't l, now" Well, old hen,
we've fooled here with you about al
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 tn
| give her something to jump for" And
he patted the stock of his gun.
lnsttnct1vely drew my revolver,
and pushed its black muzzle into the
/ light under Jed's nose.
| Shall give him a dose?" ] asked
! eagerly.
Mot yit; O Lord, not yit!" he ex.
claimed, dancing from one foot to the
other in excitement LET Their oil
gal heV a show. reckon she's good
Ter Their whole three of 'em, less they
shoot"
Bill came up grinning. He evident.
~ 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 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
a wild fury with the other two.
1t was a 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 dark moustache. the man
stood there, painting for breath, above