The Huttig news., 1916-11-04

door, with a gun leveled at two other men, who stood there frightened, speechIess.
 "Git a move on, Bill" called this fellow. aud he took d hasty glance backward. A stamp of hoofs came from outside. Of course the robbers had horses waiting. The one called Bill strode across the room. and with brutal, careless haste began to prod the two men with his weapon and to search them. The rebber iu the door way called Rustic :" and disappeared
 Duane wondered where the inn keeper was. and Colonel Longstreth and the other two passengers. The bearded robbcr had wheeled once more. Duane had not moved muscle, but stood perfectly calm with his arms high The robber strode back with his blooGshot eyes fastened upon the girls. Miss Longstreth never tiinehed. But the little girl appeared about td faint
 Don't yap. there!" he said, low and hard. He thrust the gun close to Ruth. Duane had little gun in his pocket The robber had missed it. And he began to calculate chances.
 Any money jewelry, diamonds 7 ordered the ruflian. fiercely.
 Miss Ruth collapsed Then he made at Miss Longstreth. She stood ith haY. at Wi dcntly the robher took this position to mean that she had valuabIes con. cealed there. But Duane fancied she had instinetively pressed her hands against a throbbing heart.
 "Goma out with it ,a he said, harsh. ly, reaching for her.
 "Dont dare touch met she cried her eyes ablaze. She did not move She had nerve. She euded two lunees the man made at her Then his rough hand caught at her waist. and with one pull ripped it asunder. exposing her beautiful shoulder, white aS snow.
 She erred out The prospect of be. ing robbed or even killed had not shaken Miss Longstreth's nerve as had this brutal tearing off of half her waist.
 The ruiIian was only turned par. tiallY away from Duane. The gun was still held dangerously upward close to her Duane watched only that. Then below made him jerk his head. Colonel I.ongstreth stood in the door way in magnificent rage. He had no weapon. Strange how he showed no fear, He beloved something again.
 BuaHe,s shifting glance caught the robbers sudden movement He seem. ed stricken. The hand that clutched Miss LonCsfreth'S torn waist loOSened it's hold. The other hand with ifs cooked weapon slowly dropped till il pointed to the floor. That was Duane's chance.
 Swift as a flash he drew his gun and fred Then the robbers gui hoomed harmlesslY. He fell witl blood squirting over his face. Duane rushed out of the roorf. across the patio. through the bar te the yard. In the gloom stood saddled horse. fellow he had shot His comrade had escaBed Returning to the sitting room. Duane found q condition ap- preaching pandemonium.
 The innkeeper WIS shoutiag to find out what had happened Joel, the Stnge-driNer, was trying to quiet the men who had been robbed. The Wo- man. wife of one of the men, had come in. and she had Mysteries. The girls were still and white. The rob Der Bill lay where he had fallen. Like caged lion Lengstreth stalked and roarcd. There came quieter mo menl in which the inhkeeper shrilly protested
 Man, what're you ravin' aboot? Nobody's hurt, an thet's lsky. swear to God I hadn't nothin' to do with them fellers ]"
 "I ought to kill you anyhow" re- piled Longstreth. And his voice now power.
 Upon examination Duane fOund that his bullet had furrowed the rob ber's temple and had glanced. He was not seriously injured, and already showed signs of returning conscious hess.
 'Drag him out of herel' ordered Iongstreth; aud he turned to his daughter.
 Before the innkeeper reached the robher Duane had secured the money and gun taken from him and presently recovered the property of the other men. Joel helped the innkeeper carry the injured man somewhere outside.
 Miss Longstreth was sitting white hut composed upon the couch, where lay Miss Ruth. who evidently had been carried there by the Colonel. The Colonel, now that he finally re- membered his womenfolk, seemed to be gentle and kind. He talked sooth- ingly 10 Miss Ruth, made light of the adventure. said she must learn to have nerve out here where things