Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1915-10-07


and violence" he protested. "The
calls of my church compel me to min
lister to my scattered flock"
Never mind that kind of palaver,
Nichols. Now what did he send you
for?"
I waited, my eyes on his. could
not see the girl, and dare not avert
my gaze for SO much as an instant.
The man wet his lips, as if they were
parched, and could perceive the nerv-
Gus movement of his throat.
I'll don't know"
Don't know what?-this is my last
CALI"
Il don't know whether he is coming,
or not" he blurted out reluctantly.
He was hurt in the fight"
"And if he cannot come himself he
means to send others. What for?
What does he want of the girl?"
My hammer clicked, and the man
bringing back, read the stern mean
ing of my face. A terrible suspicion
surged over me, and l was ready to
kill. He knew his life hung by hair.
"To-to marry her." the words bare
ly audible. mot old Ned-his son,
Anse."
l heard the startled exclamation of
the girl behind me.
"Anse Cowan!" she cried, her voice
full of undisguised horror. Marry me
to that low brute. Did he ever imagine
I would consent, ever even look at
him."
l touched her with my hand in re-
straint, the revolver still at the preach
er's heart. The whole foul plot lay
exposed in my mind
"There was no intention Of asking
your consent, Miss Harwood," I said,
satisfied that she should know all, and
face the truth. There is a reason for
this desperate act which / do not
wholly fathom, but it has to do with
the property here and the feud be-
tween Cowan and your father. If
Major Harwood be dead, as this man
reports, you are the sole heir, and old
Ned has conceived the idea of marry
ing you by force to his son. He has
learned you are here alone, and unpro-
tected, and in this creature of his
this canting preacher-he has found
fit tool ready at hand to do his dirty
work. Is that it, Nichols?"
He muttered something inaudible.
Answer, you black-hearted cur; you
have confessed too much to hide any
thing now. How many are coming
with Anse Cowan?"
Maybe a half dozen Of the boys.
don't know; they were talking about
it when l left, and thought it was 60
ing to be great lark"
well, it is; you are finding that out
already. When were they to be here?"
l shook him to loosen his tagging
tongue.
"They were to ride out an hour after
I did,"
I threw the wretch back into the
chair before the fire, but held him still
covering before the point of my re-
volver. The dog had told us all he
knew, and there was snarl to his
thin lips, drawn back and exposing his
yellow teeth, showing that his only
thought now was revenge. Any mo-
ment that gang of ruffians might ap-
pear, and l was helpless there alone to
contend against them. I dared not
move, dared not avert my gaze from
the preacher; there was hatred and
treachery in the depths of his eyes.
"Is there a lock on the parlor door
leading into the hall?" asked.
"A bolt-yes."
please close and bolt it, and then
come back here"
heard her turn and cross the room;
caught the sound as she shot the bolt,
and her light step again on the floor.
"Now, something to tie this man
with. We must be quick-the table
cloth will do! Sweep that clutter of
dishes on to the floor. Good! Now
cut me the cord from that picture"
had no thought of glancing about;
l can scarcely conceive even now that
l did, yet my eyes must have wan
dered an instant, for Nichols had the
wrist of my pistol hand in his grip,
and the revolver went spinning across
the floor. There was a moment of
fierce, breathless struggle. The fellow
possessed no skill, but the wiry
strength of a tiger l found his eyes
with my fist and dazed, his hands re-
leased their grip, and 1 broke loose,
my throat livid from his finger marks.
The flap of a gray skirt touched my
face, and a blow fell-the man went
limp under me, his head upheld by the
angle of the wall. l struggled to my
knees, still staring at him, uncertain
as to what had actually occurred,
struggling for breath. The girl stood
over me, white-faced, her eyes wide
open with horror, the remnant of the
teapot in her hand Suddenly her
hands covered her eyes, the fragment
of crockery falling noisily to the floor.
'I-I struck him. she sobbed, un-
nerved. Il have killed him!"
"No such good luck" l answered,