Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1916-02-24

40 you wish to marry me: hHt do you
trust me more than you do Anse Cow.
m? Listen! twill be form only 4
am not conceited enough to believe you
desire me Tor your husband. But you
know who ] am: you have confidence
- my honor. He cannot marry you
X you are already my wife
HE he could kill you
Yes. there are enough Of thems
but that might happen anyway No
doubt It would. for otherwise ] should
fight to the end. do not think being
your husband will add In the least to
my danger and It will possibly. le:
gally, protect you.
But how can II Wilt be legal?"
"Noreen. don't stop to argue. or
doubt" l urged. grasping her hand in
eagerness. 1--WE haven't time. Listen
to those voices in the hall! OF course
Il will be legal Nichols is an ordained
minister, and no license is required. I
shall never attempt to hold you.
Noreen. and any court will set you
free the moment you tell the story.
The one. the only thing, for you to con-
slider now, ID escape from Anse Cow
an"
you do this toto save me?
ITO keep you from falling helpless
ly into the clutches OF q beast-tell me
res! My God. girl, there they are now
trying the door. Answer--will your"
..Yes-yes. Tom Wyatt"
With one leap past her had Mich
I OILS by the collar, the nluzzle Of my re-
volver at his head. A heavy foot
crashed against the locked door, and a
voice without gave utterance to an
oath.
Marry me to this girl" command.
ed sternly. Come now, not word;
don't wait to ask a question. Noreen,
take my hand =
open up in there or we'll break
down the door," came hoarsely from
the hallway.
My eyes never left Nichols face
What he read Of threat I know not,
but his lips began to stumble through
the form, though could scarcely dis
tinguish a word. His face was gray
with terror, and dared not look aside
at the silent girl-only | vaguely
realized that the hand held in mine
tremhled, and once, when she had to
speak, the two words uttered were al
most sob.
Never surely was there stranger
marriage in all the world. The dying
embers Of the stable fire shot red
CLEANS of flame over us through the
unshaded windows, giving Nichols q
ghastly look. and glowing on the steel
barrel Of the revolver held poised at
his head His voice faltered and broke,
and clotted blood rendered hideous one
side Of his face, while his hands shook
as il with palsy. All the sneaking
coward in him was manifest. Outside
a dozen voices roared, one rising gruf
above the others shouting orders. Once
q single shot crashed through the up
per panel Of the door and broke the
glass Of . window opposite. The girl,
startled, reeled against me. and the
preacher stopped. gasping for breath.
mo firing. you fool" roared q deep
voice angrily. Eve don't want any dead
ones-beat down the door,"
go on" / ordered grimly, and
thrust the black muzzle hard against
his cheek. The preacher choked, but
the usual words Of the ritual-sound-
ing almost like mockery dropped me-
chemically from his tongue.
"And now pronounce you man and
wife, and whom God hath Joined to-
gether, let not man put asunder.
Amen"
She gave vent to a little sobbing
cry. half stified in her throat, and
shrank away from me. knew that
her face was buried in her hands, yet
had no time to look that way, or utter
word. Rifle butts were crashing in
the panels OF the. door; could per-
ceiyes already dim figures revealed
through the Jagged openings made in
the light wood, vista OF faces, q
CLEAN Of weapons.
slit lower down." yelled the same
gruf voice of command. There is a
bolt that holds fast--reach In, Saun-
ders!''
"Get back--heyond the bed" I
called. pushing her behind me, and
bracing myself for the first shock
The door gave, sagging aside on It's
hinges, and half falling inward. and
through the Opening men tumbled for
ward, carbines gripped in their hands.
The red light cleaned CHASTITY across
their faces and revealed--the blue uni
form Of Federal cavalry.