Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1916-02-10

3isnt 70 I could not even conjecture,
bnt this night raid was, beyond Ill
aoubt. part Of that same foul plot
Which had involved the cowardly muir.
nef Of the father. That had been the
work 81 the elder Cowan, and now had
come the turn OF the SON. Here was
the elimination Of tho sfeud between
the two families. the blood-anger which
ShAd smoldered for years, finally to md
nt ession In this outrage under
The guise Of war. With the major
dead. and his only child married to
Anse Cowan-whether by force. or
otherwise the account would be
closed. Once legally this villains wife
eA. her NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. be in his
control. Death, even, was far preSsr-
able to falling alive into their hands.
q felt instinctively that II would bs
1 her choice. She had uttered no sopnd,
no cry after that first startled exela.
nation. Suddenly her hands grasp4d
mine In which gripped the revolver.
DO not shoot-not yeti" she wills
pered. the sound Of her words barely
audible. wait; there IL one chance
still that we may deceive them
~ way leading out? You mean
secret passage?''
NO, but q spot where We might
hide. and be overlooked. am sure
none Of these men know this house;
Anse Cowan has never been inside OF
u. and most of the ruflans with him
are from beyond the mountains. II
they do not find us hero when they
search they will believe we have es.
capsd."
They will discover the preacher"
protested. yet Will, faint throb OF
hope. He will be heard from pres
emily. and they will learn the truth
from him."
All he knows-yes; but that 10 not
much. He cannot be sure that We have
not had time in which to get safely
away
She drew me back, and l yielded to
the grasp Of her hand. The darkness
was intense, but she moved swiftly
md surely. as though knowing inti-
niately every inch of the way; her fin
gers touching mine we're warm and
arm, no longer trembling. The door
IN front crashed, and an oath rumbleu
upward; to the rear light flashed, It's
reelection reddening the stair. Aided
By It's distant flicker we raced back
8 &fvyn the ,vppnr I,ola - ~~H,n~n a.
tOwed. A ladder stood there leading
upward to small scuttle above. In.
stantly my mind grasped her plan
the attic! II we could attain the attic
unseen, drawing the ladder up after 10
and lowering the cover over the hole.
our presence In the house might re-.
main unsupported.
see what you mean, !" I said swift
~ Go up frst. Miss Noreen-hurry."
She crept through the narrow scut.
tlehOle. her supple. slender body md.
Ing easy passage. With two blows Of
my boot | loosened the supports, free
! Ing them from tho Aoor, and mounted.
recklessly. Already men were on the
stairs, the CLEAN Of an approaehing
light rejecting along the sidewalks.
There was light flooring above, ~.
SBufdcient space In which to move free.
~. although Iscould see nothing, not
even the breathless girl at my side.
Together we grasped the upper rungs,
and drew up the ladder, sliding It In.
behind US on the floor. The scuttle
cover was on hinges, and It slipped
over the edge Of the hole noiselessly.
We lay there pressed closely together
IN silent suspense. We could dtstin.
Euish the opening and closing OF
doors, and the sound Of voices calling
to others on the floor below. Once
some fellow, apparently just beneath
as, ripped out an oath.
Well, by God, Jack. do you suppose
Nichols has dared play such burned
trick on me and squealed to the girl?"
Hanged IL know" was the sullsn
reply. "But 1t don't look like thar was
4 soul In the house."
felt her hand touch mine seftly.
and bent my head until her lips were
1t my ear
THAT was Anse Cowan," she whis.
pered. Il recognize that voice. What
Z do you suppose they will do now"
My fingers frightened their grip; the
men below had moved on, their voices
yrumbling along the hall.
They will discover the preacher
! presently" / said, endeavoring to make
my words as reassuring as possible. Il
pnly wonder they have overlooked him
10 long: supposed he would make an
Dutcry."
She drew In her breath sharply, and
sat up The movement was noiseless,
but In the instant of intense silence
which followed, we heard below US the
sudden sound Of struggle. muflsd
voice calling for mercy, the stunning
of . body being hauled forward across
the door. Then someone ran along tho
hall. passing just beneath US.
What have you found. Kally?" It
was Anse's voice roaring out the quas-
ton. "Ah! the old fox dug out Of his
hole. hey! Now see here. you cantinS
old Baptist hypocrite, what kind Of .
trick is It you are playing on me7
Stand him up there boys, against that
rail. Stop your bowling. or Ill smash
you one In the face. Where did you
and the fool, Jack?"
n Locked in closet yonder; looks
like 1t might be the girls room. The
darn fool is too skeered ter talk yet
Well, I'll make him, er else thar'll
be dead preacher in bout q minute.
reckon as how I'll do a. much skser.