Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1912-02-16
.ialect was not that of those noun

1 dialect was not tn9I OF those WOuu-
tains.
Even as he uttered these last words,
throwing into them a threat more In
| the tone than the language, l became
aware Of a thin ray Of light pene-
trating the seemingly solid wall Just
In front Of mo, and bending silently
forward could dimly distinguish the
| elliptical head OF Bungay as he applied
one eye to q small opening he had
industriously made between the logs.
Grasping Mrs. Brennan firmly BY the
| hand SO that we Should not become
separated, I crept across the interven-
ing blacknesss and reached his side.
Holy smoke. Cap" the little man
muttered in suppressed excitement, as
he realized my presence, Its a goin'
ter be bilin' hot in thar mighty 500
Mariar's steam ia 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 tho scene
within the cabin.
Mrs. Bungay stood with her back
to the fireplace, an iron skillet firmly
gripped in n hand. Her face was
red with Indignation, and there was
Z look in her eyes, together with .
defiant set Il her chin. which prom
Used trouble. In front Of her, care
lessly resting on the table, his feet
dangling in the air, was q sturdy
looking fellow Of forty or 50, with
rod. struggling beard covering all the
lower half Of his face. and a weather
worn black hat pulled 80 low a. Al
most to conceal his eyes. His attire
was nondescript, a. though he had
patronixsd the junkshop Of both
armies. In his belt were thrust = r.
volver and q knife. while within easy
reach Of his hand q musket leaned
against . chair. Two others of the
party, younger men. but sven more
roughly dressed than their leader,
were lounxinE between him and the
door.
Bungay chuckled expectantly.
20 Lordl II they only git the OF
gal Just q little more riled," he whis-
pered h~oarsely, jumping up and down
on foot in his excitement. they'll
hev thor fight Of their life."
DO you know the fellows1' I asked.
''Is that Red Lowrie?"
He shook his head.
Never laid eyes on any Of 'em
afors. but 70 bet they're nc good.
Reckon they're a part o. his crowd"
The man who posed a. the leader Of
the party picked up the empty cot
fss-pot beside him and shook it.
'Come. now, Mr.. Bungay," he com
handed, II tell you we're hungry, %
trot out some hoecake and III up this
POT, unless you want t. reckon with
Red Lowrfs."
The woman stood facing him, yet
never moved. I could see . red spot
BEGIN 70 glow In either chsek. II !
had evor doubted It, ! knew now that
Maria possessed . temper Of her own.
you Amt nc RoC L0wr1s.s she ~
torted.
The fellow laughed easily.
mo more I Amt, old woman, but
I reckon We Amt 10 durn far apart
when IL ONE to getting what We 90
After. Come. honest now, where II
the little white-lfversL n hat runs
this shebangf"
Whatever Maria misht venture to
call her lord and master in the
privacy Of home. It evidently did not
sootho her spirit to hear him thus
spoken Of BY another.
IF Jed Bungay wus hum" shs an
swersd fiercsly. her eyss fairly blas-
ing. II reckon you would MT be sprawl
In on tibet thar table fer long"
Wouldn't l. now Well. old hon,
we've fooled here with you about ~
long q J care to. Bill. 20 over there
and put some Of that bacon on to fry
II she doesn't get out of the way I'll
give her something to jump for" And
he patted the stock Of his gun.
Instinctively l drew my revolver.
and pushed it, black muzxls into the
light under Jsd's nose.
Shall I give him . dosef" l asked
eagerly.
Not UT: o Lord. not yiti" he sx-
claimed. dancing from one foot to the
other In excitement "TAt ther OIL
gal hev q show. I reckon she's good
fer ther whole three of EN-. less they
shoot"
Bill came up grinning. He evident
" anticipated some fun, and - he
reached out . grimy hand for the slab
of bacon. took occasion to make some
remark. What It wal I could moi hear,
but / noted the quick responsive flash
In the woman's eyes. and the next
instant with . crash abe brought the
iron skillet down with all her strength
on top Of the fellows head. Without
wen Z groan he went plunging down,
lace foremost, In front Of the fire. In
another moment she was battling IKE
a Wild fury with the other two.
Il was . quick. intense struggle. Ths
man near the door Glanced TO b thl
first In. and he received . blow from
the skillet that most assuredly would
have crushed his skull had he not
lodged; ~ It was It landed upon hia
shoulder and 10 rseled back sick and
helpaoas. BY this time the fellow with
The red beard had closed upon her
ana wrested the skillet from her hand
Struggling fierosly back and forth
acruas the floor. Maria trippsd ovel
de body Of the dead dog and fell
|lbuE = abe aid 70 her fingers grasped
|.tho rod beard Of her antagonist. II
yielded 70 her hand. and bare Of face
save for . dark moustache. the man
stood there. painting for breath. above
her. Then suddenly, almost at my
w. ~, . voice Dried,
sIfankl TfAnkl / nm here!