The Delta independent., 1912-09-27
CHAPTER XII.
A Hero In Spite of Himself.

Passion sent Mallory into the un.
equal fight with two armed and des-
perate outlaws. But reason had
planned the way. He had been study
ing the robber all the time, as If the
villain were a war-map, studying his
gestures, his way of turning. and how
he held the revolver. He had noted
that the man, as he frisked the pas
sengers. did not keep his finger on
the trigger. but on the guard.
Marjorie's little battle threw the
desperate of his balance a trifie; as
he recovered. Mallory struck him, and
swept him on over against the back
of seat. At the same instant, NAL
lory's right hand went like lightning
to the trigger guard, and gripped the
fingers in a wise of steel, while he
drove the mans elbow back against
his side. Mallory's left hand mean
while flung around his enemy's neck.
and gave him spinning fall that sent
his left hand out for balance. 1t fell
across the back of the seat, and NAL
lory pfnioned it. with elbow and knee
before it could escape.
All in the same crowded moment,
his left knuckles jolted the mans chin
in the air. and SO bewildered him
that his muscles relaxed enough for
Mallory's right fingers to squirm their
way to the trigger, and aim the gun
at the other robber. and finally to get
entire control OF 1t.
The thing had happened in such a
flash that the second outlaw could
hardly believe his eyes. The shrek
Of the astounded passengers and the
grunt of Mallory's prisoner. as he
crashed backward, woke him to the
need for action. He caught his other
gun from its holster. and made for a
double volley. but there was nothing
to aim at. Mallory was crouched in
the seat, and almost perfectly COW
cred by human shield.
Still, from force of habit and fool
hardy pluck, Bill aimed at Mallory's
right eyebrow, just abaft Jake's right
ear, and shouted his old motto:
Hands up! you'll"
Hands up yourself!" answered
Mallory, and his victim, shuddering at
the fierce look in his comrades eyes,
gasped: For Gods sake, don't shoot.
Bill"
Even then the fellow stood his
ground. and debated the issue. till
Mallory threw such ringing determine
tion into one last: Hands up. or by
God, I'll fire!" that he caved in, lifted
his fingers from the triggers, turned
the guns up. and slowly raised both
hands above his head.
A profound "Ah!" OF relief soughed
through the car. and Mallory, still
keeping his eye on Bill, got down eau
tiously from the seat The moment
he released Jake's left hand, 1t darted
to the holster where his second gun
was waiting. But before he could
clutch the butt OF 1t. Mallory 1abbed
the muzzle of his own revolver in the
mans back, and growled: Put 'em
up!" And the robbers left hand
Joined the right In air, while Mallory'a
left hand lifted the revolver
Mallory stood for a moment, breath.
ing hard and a little incredulous at
his own swift. sweet triumph. Then
he made an effort to speak as II this
sort Of thing were quite common with
him. as If he overpowered a pair OF
outlaws every morning before break.
fast. but his voice cracked as he said
in drawing-room tone:
"Dr. Temple, would you mind re
lieving that man OF those guns?"
DIR. Temple was SO set up by this
distinction that he answered: mot by
a"
"Walter" Mrs. Temple checked
him, before he could utter the beau
tiful word, and DIR. Temple looked al
her almost reproachfully, as he
sighed: "Golly. I should like to swear
just once more"
Then he reached up and disarm ed
the man who had taken his wallet
and his wife's keepsakes.
American children breathe in this
desperate romance with their earliest
traditions. and DR.. TEMPLE felt all his