The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-06-11
THE EVENING STORY
Molly Wayne, Gunwoman.
(By Stacy E. Bakery

Death isn't any too good for ten
derfoot, I reckon, even if he does own
| this here ranch, but-well, it sort of
seems tough He amt done nothing to
us-except just be tenderfoot, and
allow he amt to blame for that"
| Molly Wayne, housekeeping just
around the edge of the clubhouse. was
in much the same position as all listen
ers. In this case, contrary to the
| adage, it was her husband Of whom she
| had heard no good. She peered caut-
| iously around the corner. Sure enough
there was Pete Detzel, jeff Gleason
and Tip Hotchkiss, cowpunchers three,
| as well as arch conspirators and mis-
| chiefmakers of the Ragged NJ ranch.
Molly Wayne drew her diminutive
self ever closer to the boards of the
| clubhouse, and with palpitat1ng heart
| prepared to gather more knowledge.
| She knew that her city-bred husband
Into whose possession had come the
| Wyoming property by reason of the
| death of an uncle-was unpopular, but
| this threat was awful!
Jeff Gleason laughed, a raspy throat
gurgle that sent trembly little shivers
vibrating up and down the spine of the
girl who had left a comfortable Phila-
| delphia home to attempt to acclimate
| herself to Wyoming conditions.
| Il never saw the city dude yet that
Death couldn't pull the fol-de-roll out
| Of" commented Gleason. Who'll hand
| him the dose-you Tip?"
IF you gentlemen say the word,'
agreed the hardened Hotchkiss, Pm
game for anything, / am"
| Again the convulsive little shudder
played fearsomely up and down the
| back of the Pennsylvania girl. What
cold FLOODED wretches these cowmen
were!
Sort of take the conceit out of him.
I'm thinking; but as I said before, it's
kind of tough. He amt very chummy,
that's fact, but for all we know he
may thaw out pretty soon.' he rumbled
wyoming air. Still, if we give him
what we're figuring on, he won't be in
a condition to thaw for some time"
ALLOW not" gruffiy agreed Gleason,
stroking a heavy faded mustache.
Come on, boys, let's look the city dude
up
It was then that the little eastern
lady, made desperate by what she had
heard, did very brave thing. With a
resolute grasp on the heavy stock of
the thirty-eight caliber revolver that |
her husband had jokingly given her |
that very morning, she stepped out be- |
fore the intriguing cowpunchers Nor |
was there a trace of the fear that I
pulsed in her heart visible to the as
founded trio as she spoke.
Don't be in hurry, gentlemen |
drawled Molly Wayne. wondering at
her own temerity, and cycling in |
l.
out to kill my husband I would like to |
know your grounCs for grievance. |
Where we came from, differences are !
adjusted in a simpler fashion, and are |
less likely to cause serious complica- |
tions.''
The ranchmen had, at first sight of |
the armed woman. thrown their hard |
ened hands in the air, and now all |
stood statue-like as they waited for
the girl to resume.
"YolJ 6oD't scam inclined 70 +o1I >,
again draw1ed the wife of the ranch |
owner. and then, more sharply, Come,
men, speak up. some of you, and show
cause why I shouldn't shoot YOU down
as you contemplated shooting my hus-
band" Molly was recovering her ma
tural composure
After a moment, Tip Hotchkiss
laughed in an embarrassed sort of a
way.
There wasn't no harm intended,
ma'am,' he maintained, shutting
heavy feet to punctuate the effort.
we were simply going to have some
fun with him. Didn't mean no harm,
nohow."
grim little smile played about the
corners of Mollys mouth. Suddenly she
had realized that these. men were afraid
OF her; that, in spite of her own feeling |
of helplessness, this outlaw band thought
itself at her mercy. A resolute hand was
hand. and stout heart. with a bravery
she was far from feeling the wife of the
threatened IdnCn6r SPOKE.
Your ideas of fun differ from the east
ern customs, but inasmuch as the ethics
of the occasion seem to demand murder
and as hesitate to sacrifice my husband /
believe you three are listed for the sac
rifice-" The square little jaw thrust itself
forward. Molly Wayne had suddenly re-
membered that she had once won distinc-
ton as one of her home city's best anna
teur actresses After all. this was only a
part she was playing.
At the words of the woman, three faces
blanched. The heavy mustache of Glea-
t The aG bands Of d
trembled like two grotesque leaves in the
"But-but. madam" chartered Detze1,
between cIinking teeth, surely you
wouldn't shoot US down in cold blood for
just sort of planning a little practical
joke. We was Figuring
and promise to keep entirely, to your
ideas of amusement" snapped the lady,
there,'' This to Gleason, who showed
symptoms of forgetfulness. You boys
done with you she paused ominously-
you shall have it ]
NO afraid of your own medicine are |
your" This, Sneeringly. |
But your medicine isn't ours, missis
We want allowing to hurt your husband ,
nobow we just wanted to-
AT the suggestion of your friends, you ,
Just wanted to kill him overheard your
pose to Molly found herself talking in ,
the vernacular of the section-"puii a lit
What means all this strenuous talk, lit &
tie woman
Molly turned with a half start to find
herself facing her husband. Her gun
not one inch from the discounted !
three. who wisely continued TO hold their t
hands in correct, perpendicular position.
'ewhy-why-,'' gasped the wife of the ,
ranchman, these desperadoes planned to :
thought if I could talk to them awhile I
could convince them that they shouldn't" t
Tom Wayne's humorous gray eyes APP +
summed the fl :