The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1912-05-16
CHAPTER xxxvIll.


Hands Upl
All this time Lieutenant Mallory
had been thinking as hard as an Of
ficer in an ambuscade. His narrowing
experiences and incessant defeats OF
the past days had unnerved him and
shattered his self.coniidence. He was
not afraid, but intensely, disguised. He
sat absent-mindedly patting Marjorie
on the back and repeating: t
Don't worry, honey; they're not
going to. hurt, anybody, They don't
want anything but our money. Don't
Worry. I won't let 'em hurt yon. 70
Bat2he could not shake on sense
Of nausea. He felt himself a. repre-
sentative OF the military prowess or
the country. and here he was as help.
LEGS as a man on parole
The fact that Mallory was q SOL
dier occurred to number OF the pas.
sengers simultaneously. They had
been trained by early studies in those
beautiful works Of fiction, the school
histories OF the United States, and by
many Fourths OF July, to believe that
the American soldier is an inyincibIe
being, who has never been defeated
and never known fear. .,
They surged up to Mallory iI a
%aye Of hope. DR.. Temple. being near
est. spoke first. Having learned by
experience that his own prayers were
not always answered as he wished,
had an impulse TO try some weapon
he had never used.
Young man." he pleaded across tho
back of seat, will YOU kindly lend
me. gum"
Mallory answered sullenly: milne Is
in my trunk on the train ahead. damn
It. II ] had 1t Id have a. lot OF fun"
Mrs. Whitcomb had an inspiration.
She ran to her berth. and came back
with a tiny silverplated revolver.
'1fi lend you this. Sammy gave It
to me to protect myself in Nevada"
Mallory smiled at the .22.caliber
toy, broke 1t open, and displayed an
empty cylinder Gp@np4
"Whereo are the pills that go with
IT." he said gorq ba4th. ,agg,
"Oh, Sammy wouldn't let me have
any bullets. He was afraid I'd hurt
myself" pGri
Mallory returned 1t, with q bow. 1T
would make an excellent nut.cracker."
aren't you going to use it," Mrs.
Whitcomb gasped, 2"
Its empty" Mallory explained.
But the robbers don't know that!
Couldn't you just oYerawe. them with
it?'
mot with that" said Mallory, "un.
less they died laughing" =" Z
Mrs. Wellington pushed forward:
Then what the devil are YOU going to
do when they Gomez"
Mallory answered nheekly: "lf they
request 1t. shall hold up my hands"
And you won't resIst?" Kathleen
gasped. h
mot resist"
And hesicalls himself a soldIer!"
she sneered. sl5S
Mallory writhed. but all he said
was: ~ soldier doesn't have to be a
jackass.a Il know just enough about
guns not to monkey with the wrong
end ofr'em."
"coward!% she flung at him. He
turned white, but Marjorie red. and
maaeya leap at her. crying: Hes the
brayest man in.the world. You say n
word andaIll scratch your eyes out. !"
This reheartened Mallory n little.
and ::he laughed nervously, as he re-
strained her. Kathleen petreated out
OF danger, with parting shot: Our
engagement ia, on ss55
"Thanks,csMaliory said, and put out
his hand: IVAN you return the brace
lett" e'99tT M
u never return such things" said
Kathleen.
The scene was so painful and such
an anachronism that DR.. Temple tried
tn rhnew IL mnra nralcinp auhfect.