The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1911-11-10
COHyRNGE E~ACNr GUpC 6

| Ing blackEcs and reached his side.
Holy smoke. Cap" the little ma
| mrttered in suppressed excitement. a
he realized my presence. ITS goir
ter be b'ilin' hot in thar mighty soor
Mariars steam is a risin'."
He silently made room for me. an
bending down SO as TO bring my ey
upon a level with his, l managed {
gain some slight glimpse of the seen
within the cabin.
Mrs. Bungay stood with her bacl
to the fireplace, an iron skillet firml,
gripped in one hand. Her face wa
red with indignation, and there wa
look in her eyes. together with I
defiant set to her chin. which prom
ised trouble. In front Of her. care
lessly resting on the table, his fee
dangling in the air, was sturdy
looking fellow Of forty or so. witt
red, struggling beard covering all th'
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 boti
armies In his belt were thrust a re
volver and a knife, while within easy
reach of his hand a musket leaned
against a 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 ther fight of their life"
do you know the fellows?" l asked
rs tha. Red Lowrie?"
He shook his head
Never laid eyes on any of 'em
afore, but ye bet they're no good
Reckon they're a 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
landed, 81 tell you we're hungry. sc
trot out some hoecake and fiji up this
pot, unless you want t. reckon with
Red Lowrie."
The woman stood facing him, yet
never moved. ! could see a red spot
begin to glow in either cheek. II
had ever doubted 1t. knew now tha,
NJ sn {nvr 80 h
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 60
after Come, honest now, where is
the little white-livereL cur that runs
this shebang?"
Whatever Maria mi"ht venture to
call her lord and master Ia 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 fierccly. her eyes fairly blaz.
ing, II reckon you would mt be sprawl
in on thet 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 It's black muzzle into the
light under Jeds nose.
Shall give him a dose?" l asked
eagerly.
Not yit; o Lord. not yit!" he ex-
claimed, dancing from one foot to the
other in excitement. Let ther oil
gal hev a show. reckon she's good
ter ther whole three of EN-, iess they
shoot"
Bill 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. Ii
another moment she was battling lik,
wild fury with the other two.
II was quick. intense struggle. The
man near the door chanced to be tn,
first In, and he received blow from
the skillet that most assuredly woul,
have crushed his skull had he no
lodged; as 1t was it landed upon hi
shoulder and he reeled back sick an
helpless. BY this time the fellow wit
the red beard had closed upon hel
and wrested the skillet from her han(
Struggling fisrcely back and fort
across the floor. Maria tripped owe
the body of the dead dog and fel
but as she did SO her fingers graspe
the red beard of her antagonist.
yielded to her hand. and bare of fac,
save for = dark moustache. the ma
stood there. painting for breath. ahov
her. Then suddenly. almost at N
very ear. voice cried,
Frank! Frank! ! am here!"
CHAPTER TX.