Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1912-01-16

uedVy. tWO-tOOL UucklnS cane KNIVES
in their hands, she became suddenly
aware Of the rashness Of her act II
only she had her revolver or a rifle all
would have been WELL Put she had
carelessly ventured out unarmed.
ITO much talk along you fclla hoy
she said severely. TOO much talk.
too little work. Savvee:'
Gogoomy made no reply. but. ap.
Iarently shifting weight he slid one
foot forward. The other boys. spread
fanwise about her. We're also sliding
forward. the cruel cane knives in their
hands advertising their intention.
"You cut IN grass!~ she commanded
imperatively
But Gogoomy slid his other foot
forward. She measured the distance
with her eye. 1t would be impossible
to whirl her horse around and get
away. She would be chopped down
from behind.
She lifted her riding whip threaten
ingly, and at the same moment drove
in both spurs with her heels. rushing
the startled horse straight at Gogoomy
He swerved aside to avoid the horse
at the same time swinging his cane
knife in slicing blow that would have
cut her in twain. She leaned forward
under the flying steel, which cut
through her riding skirt, through the
edge of the saddle through the saddle
cloth, and even slightly into the horse
itself Her right hand, still raised,
came down, the thin whip wishing
through the air. She saw the white
crooked mark Of the veal clear across
the sullen, handsome face, and still
what was practically in the same i'll
slant she saw another member of
the band, over ridden, go down before
her, and she heard his snarling and
grimacing chatter-fOr all the world
like an angry monkey. Then she was
free and away, heading the horse at
top speed for the house.
Out of her sea training she was able
to appreciate Sheldon's executiveness
when she burst in on him with her
news. Springing from the steamer
chair in which he had been lounging
while waiting for breakfast, he clapped
his hands for the house boys; and,
while listening to her, he was buckling
on his cartridge belt and running the
mechanism Of his automatic pistol.
"Ornfiri," lie snapped out his orders.
"you fella ring big fella bell strong
fella plenty. You finish m bell. you
put m saddle on horse. Viaburi. you
go quick house belong Seelee he stop,
ten fella two fella black fella boy"
He scrubbed a note and handed it to
Lalaperu. "Lalaperu, you 60 quick
house belong white fella marster
Boucher.
That will head them back from the
coast on both Sides" he explained to
Joan. And old Seelee will turn his
whole village loose on their track as
we'll"
In response to the summons Of the
big bell .Toan's Tahitians were the first
to arrive. ~ their glistening bodies
and painting chests showing that they
had run all the way.
Sheldon proceeded to arm Joan's sail
ors and deal out ammunition and
handouts. Adamu Adam. with loaded
rife, he placed on guard over the
whaleboats. Noa Noah, aided by
Matapuu. was instructed to take
charge OF the working gangs as fast
as they came in. to keep them amused
and to guard against their being STAN
peded into making break for them
selves. The five other Tahitians were
to follow Joan and Sheldon on foot.
I'm glad we unearthed that arsenal
the other day" Sheldon remarked as
they rode out of the compound gate.
A hundred yards away they encoun-
tered one OF the clearing gangs coming
in. 1t was KwaQue's gang, but Shell
don looked in vain for him.
What name that fella Kwaque he
no stop along you?" he demanded.
"Here. you fe1a Babatani. you talk
m mouth belong you
Babatani stepped forward In all the
bis fellows.
"Gogoomy he finish along Kwaque
altogether" was Babatanis explana-
ton. HE take IN head 'b'long him run
like b."
In brief words and with paucity Of
imagination he described the murder.
and Sheldon and Joan rode on.
A mile farther on. where the run
aways' trail led straight toward the