The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1913-04-11

lis side Mallory's left hand mean
While flung around his enemy's nech,
Ind gave him spinning fall that seat
lis left hand out for balance. 1t fell
across the back OF the seat, and NAL
DRY pinioned it with elbow and knee
before 1t could escape.
All in the same crowded moment,
his left knuckles jolted the mans chin
in the air, and so bewildered him
that his muscles relaxed enough foi
Mallory's right fingers to squirm their
way to the trigger, and aim the gun
at the other robber, and finally to get
entire control of it.
The thing had happened in such
flash that the second outlaw could |
hardly believe his eyes. The shrek
of the astounded passengers, and the
grunt Of Mallory's prisoner, as he
crashed backward, woke him to the
need for action. He caught his other
gun from its holster, and made for a
double volley, but there was nothing
to aim at. Mallory was crouched in
the seat, and almost perfectly COW
cred by human shield.
Still, from force of habit and fool
hardy pluck, Bill aimed at Mallory's
right eyebrow, just abaft Jake's right
ear, and shouted his old motto:
Hands up! you!'
Hands up yourself!" answered
Mallory, and his victim. shuddering at
the fierce look in his comrades eyes.
gasped: For Gods sake, don't shoot,
BILL"
Even then the fellow stood his
ground, and debated the issue, till
Mallory threw such ringing determine
ton into one last: Hands up, or by
| God, III fire!" that he caved in, lifted
his fingers from the triggers, turned
the guns up, and slowly raised both
hands above his head.
A profound Ali" of relief soughed
through the car, and Mallory, still
keeping his eye on Bill, got down eau.
tiously from. the seat. The moment
he released Jake's left hand. 1t darted
to the holster where his second gun
was waiting. But before he could
clutch the butt of 1t, Mallory 1abbed
the muzzle Of his own revolver in the
mans back, and growled: Put EN-
up" And the robbers left hand
Joined the right In air, while Mallory's
left hand lifted the revolver.
Mallory stood for a moment, breath
ing hard and little incredulous a
his own swift. sweet triumph. Ther
he made an effort to speak as II this
sort OF thing were quite common witt
him, as if he overpowered pair o
outlaws every morning before break
fast, but his voice cracked as he said
in drawing-room tone:t
"Dr. Temple, would you mind re
lieving that man OF those guns"
DR.. Temple was so set up by thi
distinction that he answered: mot D.
a."
"Walter!" Mrs. Temple checke
him, before he could utter the beat
tiful word, and DR.. Temple looked a
her almost reproachfully, as n
sighed: "Golly, should like to swea
lust once more"
Then he reached up and disarne
| the man who had taken his Waile
, and his wife's keepsakes.
) American children breathe In TN
desperado romance with their carries
traditions, and DR.. Temple felt all n
boyhood zest surge back, with boy
tremendous rapture in deed OF de
8 ring-do. And now nothing could cnee
d his swagger, as he said to Mallory:
Q what shall we do with tnes
Il damned sinners?"
t He felt like apologizing Tor u
/ clerical relapse into a pulpitism, b.
d Mallory answered briskly: wed De
IS ter take them into the smoking ROOF
u They scare the ladies'. But FIRST, VI
the conductor take those bags al
d. distribute the contents to their rigl
70 full owners?"
The conductor was proud TO act
ID lieutenant to this lieutenant. ana
lie quickly relieved the robbers OF the
:" loot-kits.
r Mallory smiled. Don't give al
body my things" and then ne 1aop
is his robber with one of the revolYe
and commanded: Forward, marcn!
lie The little triumphal processi
moved off, with Bill in the lead, I
at lowed by DR.. Temple, looking ike
he whole field battery. followed by Jal
nd followed by Mallory, followed by
If norter and as many OF the otner p
m. sengers as could crowd into the sm'
nd ing room.
at The rest went after those opui'
feed-bsgs.
Ike
IN CHAPTER XII.