The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1912-01-11

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Holy smoke. Cap" the little mar
mritered In suppressed excitement. a.
he realized my presence. ITS a goin
ter be b'Ilin hot In thar mighty soon
Mnriar's steam In a risin'."
He silently made room for me. and
bending down so as to bring my eye
upon level with his. | managed 70
gain some slight glimpse of the scene
within the cabin
Mrs. Bungay stood with her back
10 the fireplace, an iron skillet firmly
grpped in one hand Her face was
Ted with Indignation, and there was
| look in her eyes together with 4
defiant set 10 her chin. which prom
Ised trouble In front Of her, care.
Iessly resting on the table, his feet
dangling In the air. was sturdy.
| looking fellow Of forty or so, with
| red, struggling beard covering all the
lower half Of his face. and weather
worn black hat pulled so low as al.
n ost to conceal his eyes His attire
was nondcscript, as though he had
patrcni2ed the junkshop Of both
armies. In his belt we're thrust a re.
yolvcr and knife, while within easy
reach OF his hand musket leaned
against a chair Two others of the
party, younger men, but even more
roughly dressed than their leader.
were lounging between him and the
door
Rungay chuckled expectantiy.
20 Lord! II they only cit the OF
gal Just little more riled." he whis.
pered noarsely. jumping up and down
on one foot In bis excitement. they'll
hev Their fight Of their life"
DO you know the fellows?" I asked
rs that Red Lowrie?"
He shook his head
Never laid eyes on any OF EN-
afOre, but ye bet they're no good
Reckon they're q part o. lis crowd"
The man who posed as the leader OF
the party picked up the empty COT.
fee-pot beside him and shook t.
Come. now. Mrs Bungay," he com.
anded, 81 tell you were hungry. so
trot out some hoecdke and III UP this
pot unless you want T. reckon with
Red lHwrie,"
The woman stood facing him. yot
never moved. could see a red spot
begin TO glow in either cheek. II II
had ever doubted II, ! knew now that
Maria possessed a temper Of her own.
you amt no Re- Lowrie." she re. /
torted
The fellow laughed easily
NO more ain. old woman but
| reckon we Amt so durn far apart
when 1t comes TO getting what we go
after. Come. honest now. where ia
the little white.livereL cur that runs
his shebang?"
Whatever Maria mi~ht venture 10
call her lord and master In the
privacy Of home. 1t evidently did not
soothe her spirit 10 hear him thus
spoken Of by another.
II Jed Bungny wus hum" she an.
swered fle:ceiy, her eyes fairly bldz.
Ing, II reckon YOU would MT be sprawl.
In on tibet thar table fer long"
Wouldn't l. nov Well. old hen.
we've fooled here with you about as
ong ms ! care TO. Bill. go over there
md put some Of that bacon Oh TO fry
Il she doesn't get out OF the way III
rive her something to Jump for" And
he patted the stock of his gun.
lnstinctively | drew my revolver.
md pushed its black muzzle into the
light under Jeds nose.
Shall ! give him n dose7" asked
eagerly.
Not yit; o Lord. not yit'" he ex.
laimed. dancing from one foot to the
'ther In excitement Let Their OIL
raj hev show. reckon she's good
or Their whole three of EN-. less they
boot"
Bill came up grinning II. evident.
anticipated some fun. and as he
cached out grimy hand for the slab
I bacon, took occasion to make some
emark What II was could not hear,
ut | noted the quick responsive flash
the woman's eyes, and the next
Instant with crash she brought the
ron skillet down with all her strength
n top of the fellows head Without
ven groan be went plunging down.
ace foremost. In front Of the fire. In
mother moment she was battling like
Wild fury with the other two.
1t was a quick, intense struggle. The
ian near the door CHANGED 20 be the {
rst In. and he received a blow from 9
he skillet that most assuredly would O
ave crushed his skull had he not
edged; as II was Il landed upon bis G
boulder and he reeled back sick and T
elpless. By this time the fellow with B
lie red beard had closed upon her, Q
nd wrested the skillet from her hand. 4
florcely back and forth A
ross the floor. Maria trIpped over d
70 body Of the dead dog and fell, b
1t as she did so her fingers grasped v
e red beard of her antagonist II
elded to her hand. and bare OF face, !
We for dark moustache, the man c
pod there. painting for breath. above
IT. Then suddenly. almost at my !,
ry ear. voice cried, h
Frank! Frank am here!"
CHAPTER TX. al
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