Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-08-13

thief down. why couldirt you nghl
me alone. IN the daylight. Ike man r
"You don't wait till rattler's coiled
before you stamp his head off,' said
the former speaker. Its either you
or US. and reckon it's you"
So these were the rrempsr boys. ehi
The worst despsradoss In the south,
west, and Bailey was their ally. The
watcher eyed them. mildly curious
and IL seemed to him that they were d
bad a quartet as rumor had painted
bad even for this country of bad
men. The sheriff was q fool for get.
ting mixed up with such people
Shorty knew enough to mind bis owl
business. anyway. II others didn't. He
was peaceful man and didn't intend
to get mixed up with outlaws. His
mellow meditations were interrupted
BY the hoarss speech OF the sheriff,
who had broken down into his rago
again and struggled madly white words
ran from him.
want to fight the coward that struck
my wife. You've killed her! Who
was It? Let me get at himr'
Shorty stiffened as though douche
Of leo water had struck him. KILLED
her! Struck his wife" My God! Not
that sweet creature Of bis dreams
who had talked and smiled at him
without noting his deformity!
An awful anger rose In him, and he
moved out into the light.
"Han's upr'
Whatever Of weakness may have
dragged at his legs, none sounded in
the great believing command that
flooded the room. At the compelling
volume of the sound every man whirl-
ed and eight empty hands shot sky
ward. Their startled eyes beheld
mans squat body weaving uncertainty
on the limbs of an insect, while in each
hand shone a blue-black Colt that
waved and circlcd In maddening. err
ratio orbits.
At the command Marsh Tremper's
mind had leaped to the fact that be-
hind him was one man. one against
five, and he took gamblers chance.
As he whirled he drew and fred.
None but the dwarf Of Bar x could
have lived. for be was the deadliest
hip shot In the territory. His bullet
crashed into the wall hands breadth
over Shorty's cowlick. 1t was clean
heart shot. the practiced whirl and
dip Of the finished gun fighter. but the
roar of his explosion was echoed by
another. and the elder Tremper spun
unsteadily against the table with a
broken shoulder.
100 high" moaned the big voice
''Dern the liquor!.''
He swayed drunkenly. but at the
slightest shift Of his quarry the aim
less wanderinss of q black muzzle
stopped on the spot and the body be-
deadly menace.
"Face the wall!" he cried. Quick!
Keep 'em up higher!" They sullenly
obeyed, their wounded leader reach
ing with bis uninjursd member.
To the complacent Shorty 1t seemed
that things were working nicely.
though he was disturbingly conscious
of his alcoholic lack Of balance and
tortured BY the fear that he might
suddenly lose the iron grip Of bis fac
ulties.
Then, for the second time that night,
from the stairs came the voice that
threw him into the dreadful confusion
of his modesty.
"Oh, Ross" 1t cried. 1--WE brought
your guny' And there on the steps.
disheveled. pallid and quivering. was
the bride, and grasped in one trem-
bling hand was her husbands weapon.
''Ah-h!' sighed Shorty seraphically
as the vision beat in upon bis misty
conceptions ''She amt hurt!"
In his mind there was no room for
desperadoes contemporaneously with
her. Then he became conscious Of the
lady's raiment, and his brown cheeks
famed brick red. while he dropped his
eyes. In his shrinking, groveling mod
esty he made for his dark corner.
One of those at bay. familiar with
this strange Adjustment, seized the mo-
ment. but at his motion the sheriff
screamed, Look out!'
The quick danger in the cry brought
back with a surge the men against the
wall. and Shorty swung instantly, FIR
Ing at the outstretched hand of Bailey
as it reached for Tremper's weapon.
The landlord Strengthened. gazing
affrishtedly at his finger tips.
''Too low! and Shorty's voice held
aching toars. ''I'll never touch another
drop. It's plumb ruined my aim"
'"Cut these strings, grille" said the
sheriff as the little mans gaze again
wavered. threatening to leave bis pris-
oners. Quick! He's blushing again."
When they were manacIed Shorty
stood In moist oxidation. trembling
and speechless, under the incoherent
thanks Of the bride and the silent
admiration Of her handsome husband.
She fiuttered about him in tremor of
anxiety lest he be wounded. caress-
ing him here and there with solicitous
pats till he felt his shamed and happy
spirit would surely burst from its mis-
shapen prison.
you've made good thing tonight"
said Turney. clapping him heartily on
his massive back. ''You get the i've
thousand all right. We were going