Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-06-24

easily perceived in the darkness, the
two q NJ, grasping our rifles in readi-
ness. stole across the open space to-
ward the house. There was no sign of
life % tar - could be seen or heard,
vt II tie plAce was deserted 1t could
not have bss1 for long. a. there were
no appeaEaacss Of decay or abandon
msnt Of the premises. The log walls
were arm, The clay between resisting
the pressure Of our fingers in an at
tempt to dislodge It, and the only door
noticed was tightly closed. We hest.
ta&ed 10 open this, uncertain what
mystery might await us within, and
listening anxiously for any sound. The
stiffness was 20 profound as to be pain
ful. and. whispering to me to stand
back. with rifse poised Brady silently
lifted the strong wooden latch. The
door said hack In grooves, the sound Of
movement barely perceptible. and We
stared into the black interior, seeing
nothing except . little section Of dirt
floor. dlaly revealed BY the stars over
head.
We'll fsl II out. boy, " muttered the
scout his hand gripping my arm. mo
body 1t home, reckon, but It won't do
to risk Q light You take that side, an
ri tako this, an see what We ind"
moved forward slowly, foot by foot,
feeling bhndly with one hand, the other
graaping my rife. came to . rude
bench, home-mads without nails,
touched small table with crossed
legs, holding nothing but an empty
pewter bowl, felt the shaggy skin Of
some animal fastened against the log
wall, and then . few articles Of warm
clothing dangling from wooden pins.
These were rough garments, made Of
skins, with single coarse shirt Be-
yond them my fingers came in contact
with the latch q . door. Al touched
this tho menacing growl of some ami
NAL broke the intense stiffness.
stepped hack, startled. unnerved, and
In my recoil, came into contact with .
man. A hand like iron gripped me,
but It was BFady's voice that spoke:
from the other room," he said
shortly, = dog"
"A dog! Then Why hasn't he
harked?"
"BecauDe he II not that kind,
reckon; . big brute from his grovl.
Did you find nnything7''
told him briefly.
i fireplace ON my side, two chairs
ana an AZ IN the corner" he added
shortly. Nobody home but the dog. I
reckon. bue we VIII have to night It out
with nfm. before We take possession.
stand wnsre you are until feel out
tne ooor. Leather hinges. and opens
tins way. Here. Hayward. take hold OF
the laecn; we'll have to brain the
brute. Don't open sntal say 20. and
then only ABOUT . loot. brace yourself
TO Mold 1t nrm. and keep your gun
ready; I've got the az"
TOOK my position. but with heart
beating rapidly, and waited. The dog.
AZ though reaAsins danger, dung him
SELF with null force against the door,
ana gave one deep bark OF savage
ferocity. Brady touched my hand. To-
eating the opening. Then there was
an instant OF silence
now" he eatd.
! hfted the wooden latch. gripping
With both hands. my shoulders and
foot braced. There was fierce leap
Of the brute, 80 sudden az to cause me
to give back. the thud OF descending
II. howl OF pain and rage, the 1gly
snap Of jaws. Coarse hair swept my
hands; there was another blow. the
sound Of . falling body; then the helve
Of the AZ struck my foot. Back and
forth on the dirt door man and brute
struggled. crashing into the table. and
overturning 1t. Brady uttered one
oath: then the dog snarled, and lay
ELL. While stood with the AZ poised,
unable to tell which was which In the
darkness. Something moved. and I
took step forward.
Brady"
."All right" he said breathlessly, Il
~ had to knife the brute-he-was as
big as calf, and-and he got my
shoulder. Bid you md q window on
your side?'
NO"
There was none on mine. Well
have to risk light. l reckon. for I'm
bleedin' considerable. Try the fire.
place yonder."
felt my way along the wall, discov-
cred some finder, and, with dint and
Z - -