The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1912-07-05
ospyrisht, isli, ~ n. Z ny O.


was: "A soldier doesn't have to be a
jackass. I 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: He's the
bravest man in the world. You say q
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"
s"Thanks," Mallory said, and put out
his hand: "Wir you return the brace
lett"
81 never return such things" said
Kathleen.
The scene was SO painful and such
an anachronism that DIR. Temple tried
to renew a more pressing subject:
ITS your opinion then that we'd best
surrender"
"Of scourse-since we can't run"
Wedgewood broke in impatiently:
'Well, consider 1t dastardly out
rage. I'll not submit to 1t. I'm q
subject of His Majesty the"
You're q subject OF His Majesty
the Man Behind the Cum" said Nal.
lory. @.' -
81 shall protest, none the less"
Wedgewood insisted.
Mallory grinned little. "Have you
any last message to send home to
your mothers" 30
Wedgewood was q tribe chilled at
this. "D-don't talk Of such things" he
said. @A
And by this time the train.robbers
had hastily worked their way through
the other passengers, and reached the
frantic inhabitants OF the sleeper.
"Snewdrop."
"Hands up! Higher!! Hands up"
With a true sense Of the dramatic,
the robbers sent ahead of them the
most hairraising yells. They arrived
simultaneously at each end OF the
aisle, and with few short sharp COM
mands, Strengthened the disorderly
rabble into beautiful line, with all
palms aloft and all eyes wide and
wild. a..,
One robber drove ahead of him the
conductor and the other drove In Mr..
Manning, whom he had found trying
to crawl between the shelves of the
linen-closet. 'fe ''r
The marauders were apparently
cattlemen. from their general get-up.
Their hats were pulled low, and just
beneath their eyes they had drawn
big black silk handkerchief, tied be-
hind the ears and hanging to the
breast.
Over their shoulders they had slung
the feed-bags Of their horses, to serve
as receptacles for their swag. Their
shirts were chalky with alkali dust.
Their legs were encased In heavy
chaparejos, and they carried each a
pair of well-used Colts revolvers that
looked as big as artillery.
When the passengers had showed
and jostled into line. one OF the men
jabbed the conductor in the back with
the muzzle Of his gun, and snarled:
Nov speak your little piece, like l
learned It to YOU"
The conductor, like an awkward
schoolboy, grinned sheepishly, and
spoke, his hands in the air the while:
Ladies and gents, these here par
ties in the black tides says they want
everybody to hold his or her hands
as high as possible till you git per-
mission to lower 'em; they advise you
not to resist, because they hate the
sight of blood, but prefer It to argu-
ment."
The impatient robbers, themselves
the prey of fearful anxietSes, broke in,
barking like pair of coyotes In a
tumble OF commands: Now, line I'D
with your backs that way, and no
back talk. These guns shoot awful
easy. And remember, as each party
is finished with, they are to turn
round and keep their hands I'D. on
penalty of gittin' 'em shot Off. Line
up! Hands up! Give over there!"
Mrs. Jimmie Wellington took her
time about moving into position, and
her elaboration brought a howl of
wrath from the robber: Get into that
line, you'll"
Mrs. Wellington whirled on him:
How dare you, you brute" And she
turned up her nose at the gun.
The anxious conductor interviewed:
Better obey, madame; he's an ugly
lad"
II don't mind being robbed" said
Mrs. Jimmie, "but / won't endure
rudeness."
The robber shook his head in de-
spair, and he tried to wither her with
sarcasm: "Pardong, mamselly, would
you be so kind and condescendin' as
to step into that there car before 1
blow your husbands gol-blame head
off,"
This brought her to terms. She
fastened to her place, but put out a
restraining hand on Jimmie, who need
ed no restraint. Certainly, to save
my dear husband. Don't strike him,
Jimmie!"
Then each man stuck one revolver
Unto its convenient holster, and, GOV.
the noooanoarc NTH tho otbor