The Delta independent., 1912-09-20
CHAPTER xxxvIII.
Hands Up!

| experiences and incessant defeats OF
the past days had unnerved him and
J shattered his self-confidence. He was
not afraid, but intensely disgusted. He
sat absent-mindedly patting Marjorie
on the back and repeating:
Don't worry, honey; they're not
going to hurt anybody. They don't
want anything but our money. Don't
worry, won't let 'em hurt you"
But he could not shake on sense
of nausea. He felt himself a repre-
sentative of the military prowess OF
the country, and here he was as help
less as man on parole.
The fact that Mallory was SOL
dier occurred to a 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 invincible
being, who has never been defeated
and never known fear.
They surged up to Mallory in a
wave of hope. DR.. Temple, being near
est. spoke first. Having learned by
NOT always answered as he wished,
he had never used.
Young man." he pleaded across the
back of a seat, will you kindly lend
me a gum"
Mallory answered sullenly: Mine is
in my trunk on the train ahead, damn
it. If had it I'd have lot of fun
Mrs. Whitcomb had an inspiration.
She ran to her berth, and came back
with tiny silver-plated revolver.
"I1l lend you this. Sammy gave it
to me to protect myself in Nevada!"
Mallory smiled at the .22-caliber
toy, broke it open, and displayed an
empty cylinder.
Where are the pills that go with
it," he said.
"Oh, Sammy wouldn't let me have
any bullets. He was afraid I'd hurt
myself"
would make an excellent nut-cracker."
aren't you going to use lit" Mrs.
Whitcomb gasped.
ITS empty" Mallory explained.
But the robbers don't know that!
Couldn't you just overawe them with
it?"
Not with that" said Mallory. ''un-
less they died laughing"
Mrs. Wellington pushed forward:
Then what the devil are you going to
do when they Gomez"
Mallory answered meekly: III they
request it, shall hold up my hands,"
And you won't resist?" Kathleen
gasped.
Not a resist"
'And he calls. himself a soldier!"
she sneered.
Mallory writhed, but all he said
was: "a soldier doesn't have to be a
jackass. l know just enough about
guns not to monkey with the wrong
end of EN-"
Coward she flung at him. He
turned white, but Marjorie red, and
made leap at her, crying: Hes the
bravest man in the world. You say a
word, and I'll scratch your eyes out"
This reheartened Mallory a little,
and he laughed nervously as he re-
strained her. Kathleen retreated out
of danger, with parting shot: Our
engagement is on
Thanks" Mallory said, and put out
his hand: "Will you return the brace
letr
II never return such things" said
Kathleen.
The scene was 80 painful and such
an anachronism that DR.. Temple tried
to renew a more pressing subject:
ITS your opinion then that we'd best
surrender?"
"Of course-since we can't rum"
Wedgewood broke in impatiently:
We'll, / consider 1t a dastardly out.
rage. I'll not submit to 1t. I'm .
subject Of His Majesty the"
You're subject Of His Majesty
the Man Behind the Gun," said NAL
lory.
II shall protest. none the leaaS
Wedgewood insisted.
Mallory grinned little. "Have 700
any last message to send homo 70
your mother?"
Wedgewood was a trifie chilled at
this. "D-dont talk OF such things" he
said.
And by this time the train-robbers
had hastily worked their way through
the other passengers, and reached the
frantic inhabitants OF the sleeper,
"Snowdrop."
Hands up! Higher!! Hands up!"
With a true sense Of the dramatic.
the robbers sent ahead of them the
most hair-raising yells. They arrived
simultaneously at each end of the
aisle. and with few short sharp COM
mands. Strengthened the disorderly
rabble into a beautiful line. with all
palms aloft and all eyes wide and
wild.
One robbar drove ahead Of him the