Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1912-01-11
was not that of those noun

the tone than the language. became
aware of a thin ray Of light pene-
trating the seemingly solid wall Just
in front of me. and bending silently
forward could dimly distinguish the
eIiiptical head of Bungay as he applied
one eye to a small opening he had
indu~striously made between the logs.
| Grasping Mrs. Brennan firmly by the
hand so that we should rot become
separated, l crept across the interven-
ing blackEess, and reached his side.
Holy smoke. Cap" the little man
mrttered in suppressed excitement. as
he realized my presence. Its a goin'
ter be bilin' hot in thar mighty soon.
Mariar's steam is a risin'."
He silently made room for me, and
bending down so as to bring my eye
upon a level with his, | managed to
gain some slight glimpse Of the scene
within the cabin.
Mrs. Bungay stood with her back
to the fireplace, an iron skillet firmly
gripped in one hand. Her face was
red with indignation, and there was
a look in her eyes, together with a
defiant set to her chin, which prom
ised trouble. In front of her. care
lessly resting on the table, his feet
dangling in the air, was a 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
most to conceal his eyes. His attire
was nondescript, as though he had
p~atronized the junkshop of both
armies. In his belt were thrust a re-
volver and a knife, while within easy
reach of his hand a musket leaned
against a chair. Two others OF the
party, OUNCE men, but even more
roughly dressed than their leader,
: were lounging between him and the
, door.
Bungay chuckled expectantly.
20 Lord! if they only git the oil
gal just a little more riled." he whis
pered hoarsely, jumping up and down
on one foot in his excitement, they'll
? hev Their fight of their life"
do you know the fellows?" | asked
"ls that Red Lowrie?"
I He shook his head.
Never laid eyes on any of ZEN
afore. but We bet they're no good
:! Reckon they're a part O. his crowd"
The man who posed as the leader o.
the party picked UP the empty cot
fee-pot beside him and shook it.
Come, now, Mrs. Bungay," he com
handed, 81 tell you we're hungry, 81
trot out some hoecake and fill up thii
pot, unless you want t, reckon will
Red Lowrie."
g The woman stood facing him. yc
never moved. / could see a red spo
9 begin to glow in either cheek. II
had ever doubted it, | knew now tina
Maria possessed a temper Of her owr
d "You amt no Rec Lowrie," she re
torted.
n The fellow laughed easily.
s. "No more l ain't, old woman, blu
9 l reckon we amt so durn far apar
II when 1t comes to getting what we G
D, after. Come, honest now, where
g the little white-livereL cur that run
this shebang?"
l Whatever Maria MIGHT venture t
6 call her lord and master in tn
privacy of home, it evidently did NO
soothe her spirit to hear him thu
II spoken of by another.
IF Jed Bungay wus hum" she al
e swered fiercely, her eyes fairly blal
e. ing, Il reckon you would MT be spraw
'r in on tibet thar table fer long"
a Wouldn't l, now Well, old hel
t. we've fooled here with you about a
long as ! care to. Bill. go we ther
and put some Of that bacon on to fr,
J; If she doesn't get out Of the way +
ID give her something to jump for" An
a he patted the stock Of his gun.
70 Instinctively / drew my revolve
and pushed its black muzzle into th
light under Jed's nose.
n Shall l give him a dose?" l aske
eagerly.
Not yit; 0 Lord, not yit!" he g
claimed, dancing from one foot to II
4 other in excitement. Let Their {
gal hev a show. / reckon she's goc
fer Their whole three of 'em, less the
shoot"
Bill came up grinning. He eYider
ly anticipated some fun, and as |
reached out a grimy hand for the slt
of bacon, took occasion to make son
remark. What it was | could not hea
but | noted the quick responsive flal
\ in the woman's eyes, and the ne
instant with a crash she brought Il
\ iron skillet down with all her streng
\ on top OF the fellows head. Witho
even a groan he went plunging dow
face foremost, in front Of the fire.
another moment she was battling III
a wild fury with the other two.
1t was a quick, intense struggle. II
man near the door CHANGED to be t
first In, and he received a blow fro
the skillet that most assuredly won
have crushed his skull had he D
~ lodged; as 1t was 1t landed upon
shoulder and he reeled back sick a
helpless. BY this time the fellow wi
~ the red beard had closed upon h,
and wrested the skillet from her ha1
u Struggling fiercely back and for
across the floor. Maria tripped oy
!, the body Of the dead dog and f
~ but as she did SO her fingers grasp
the red beard of her antagonist.
~ yielded to her hand, and bare Of IA
save for a dark moustache, the m
stood there. painting for breath, abe
NV her, Then suddenly, almost at
,ee very ear, a voice cried.
Frank! Frank ! am here!s
CHAPTER TX.
It
me Ii the Hands Of the Enemy.