The Glenwood post., 1912-05-18
The
Highwaynan
By Mabel Chase England

Yer money or yer life, Hold up.
LADY,"
The woman repressed a startled i'm
pulse to scream. Then her inborn
1earlessness. coupled with an impa-
uent contempt for the ill-judgment
that would hope to find money on her,
oroke forth in one crisp adjuration.
On don't be an idiit!" she said
Ihe raised club wavered impercepti-
bly, as its mufhed owner strove to
shape his mind to this unexpected re-
ceptlon of his threat Had this soil
'afy female some unseen guard. in her
wake? He glanced suspiciously along
the dark road.
sad. yer money er yer life he
repeated, somewhat uncertainty.
Well. you kin go on sayin' all night
II amuses you. Lemme past!"
The masked figure gave one final
look into the dark.
'Aw. stow that!" he growled. None
yer sass, old lady! You're jest the
kihd wot carries a wad in their stock
IN Cough up now | amt had a
Ab III &C uGlyo'
lhe woman clutched tightly a small
plush bag which she carried
Il amt got no wad," she retorted
decisively. but l got nice little
dineymite bomb in this here bag that'n
blow you where you won't want meals
Tor some time. You'll be too much oc-
cupied kepin' COOL"
As she raised the bag threateningly
the man drew back. The arm holding
the club fell to his side.
Go OIL won't touch you," he
grumbled sulkily. You amt got no
dineymite, but darned if don't ad-
mire yer pluck. You mind me Of"
He watched her as she stalked off
INTO the dark, strange half-forgotten
memories stirring within him Sud
denly a grin widened his mouth
By Jingoes! She's comm back!
What's eatin' herr"
The woman approached with decis-
ion
You got me nervous now" she ad
@itted srudgingly, though l amt
afraid OF you, somehow. But if you're
dyin' to make use of that there stick
Of yours you can come along to pro-
tect me. There's a bad place up the
road a bit"
"Sure!" His heart warmed unac-
countably at this evidence of femin-
Unity, in the valiant female 1t was
long time since he had been called on
for protection, or help in any form
unconsciously he squared his shoul
ders. threw back his head, as he
stepped briskly out beside her
"kil give you a good square meal
when we git home" she promised him
Hungry as he honestly was, the Of
fer!E with its hint of reward, in some
subtle way offended him
.:You needn't mind kind git
along" he answered loftily.
She glanced at him curiously.
How long have you been doing
this?"
"What?"
Why, this here highway robbery
business
That's tellin'," he grinned.
q imagine you're new at it." she
persisted.
"Why?" Indignantly.
"Oh. you're sort of kind an nice
You ain't no hardened criminal" she
vouchsafed, the vile of the eternal
feminine unconquerable even in this
uncertain situation.
The man felt an added warmth per.
meate his entire being A sudden de.
sire to stand well with this fearless,
yet distinctly appealing individual
surged up within him
Suddenly she started Ssh! What's
that?"
They had reached the bad part" a
place where the road wound through a
dense growth of forest, thick with un,
derbrush and dark with an appalling
darkness. Again came the cracking
as of a heavy body pushing through
the brush. She clutched his arm nerv,
ously.
Don't be skeered" he reassured
her. It's nothin' but some animile
prowlin'." He put his hand protect
ingly over hers. 1t felt appealingly
small in his powerful grasp rush
OF memories swept over him, render.
ing him suddenly solicitous for the
woman at his side.
What are you doin' of, anyway,
alone in the pitch dark on a road like
this?" he queried.
81 haven't met nothin' worse than
you, so far
He coughed. suddenly abashed.
"That's so"
An wish you'd take off that crazy
mask 1t makes me feel like a com
plice, wallin' along with it," She drew
away Indignantly,
"Sure!" He tore off the strip of
black cloth obligingly and put 1t in
his pocket.
II used to belong to these parts" he
offered practically after short ST..
lence.
"'Twasn't no fault of the parts
then, | reckon"