The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1916-06-02
"Rut You're strangerS!"

III ! Y
question a dozen times, trying to pump
mo all the time"
"]Strangers:' | said to the woman
"Of course we are tourists. Don't
know a soul for many a mile about
here, and not a soul knows us. But
YOU needn't he afraid. We can pay
you.' And / took cut a handful OF
money and tossed a gold piece across
to her.
1t was worth the money to sec the
greedy. avaricious light that leaped In
her eyes. Blu Nolna looked puzzled
and a little alarmed at this act OF
mine.
"W'llat a time that man is getting
the c"ffcc:" the woman said. II sup
pose he can't find it," And she went
out of the room.
"Why did you do that!' asked Volna.
"Why not: 1t was h answer she
wanted. and it's quite a relief to be
able to tell the truth"
"lDo you suspect anything"
81 think the man is a long time find
ing such IL thing as coffee. and ! o
der they don't keep it here with the
rest of their catablcs." And Nolna
showed that she understood me.
The two came back wrangling. she
scolding him for his delay, he protest
ing he didn't know where she kept
things. They were clumsy actors,
however.
The woman made some coffee then
and set it on the table. I'm thinking
where III put you to sleep" she said.
''You can have our bed and welcome
she added to Nolna. but for your
brother, LII have to make one up
somehow. You see, we're only poor
folks. But We'll manage. Come,
IVAN
was stirring my coffee and put it
to my lips as they went out, and the
woman turned and saw me. This
time instead Of locking the door upon
us they left it ajar.
II was becoming as plain as print.
! set down the cup. untasted. or
course. and talked in a fairly loud tone
about the kindness Of the two and how
good the coffee tasted. and No1na, TAX
ing her cue from me. agreed.
Then We all but emptied the two
cups into a jug and hid it away and
went on talking unconcernedly. Pres
entity stole to the door and listened.
The two were in the upper part OF the
house.
Nolna. I could see now, was begin
ming TO grow nervous.
Its all right. We can act much
better than they, and there isn't a
thing to fear
Her brow wrinkled. 81 think Peggy
doesn't want to be left alone, Bob,'
she said.
you'll have to make shift with that
wooden settle. but you may go TO sleep
without a thought
What do you think they mean
to- du:'
"Thcy'vc half done what they meant,
and VIC shall soon know the rest. The
coffee is druggcd. of course, and they
think we've drunk il. Now. lie down
and Just 60 off to sleep. I've dried my
last three cigars and am going to
smoke one of them
settled her on tho wooden bench
and. having lighted my cigar, rum
mayed about and found an oily rag.
with which ] cleaned my revolver very
carefully, reloaded it and kept it at
hand.
| then sat down by the fire, smoking
and thinking and waiting. 1t was owl
dent enough that VIC had got into the
! hands of some very ugly customers. |
recalled several strange tales OF dark
deeds done in these wild and lonely
a parts of tho country. and the circum'
stances now lent themselves readily tc
4 villainy.
I did not feel the least alarmed. how.
ever. I felt myself more than a match
for the two in my rough and tumble
that was to come. | was thoroughly
ON my guard and had Il weapon and
t knew we'll enough how to use it. AS a
matter of fact. it was we rather thar
they who were laying the snare.
Somewhere between half an hour anC
an hour passed without a sound i'll tho
house. l had finished my cigar anG
| tossed it away and was gazing into
). the pickering cmbcrs of the fire Whcr
> | heard the stairs creak slightly. \
glance showed me that Nolna wa
L asleep. a tribute this, indeed, to hel
trust i'm me.
| dropped my head as though !, too
u were asleep and brcathed heavily.
) was very curious to know what was tt
happen.
Z In a short while the door was pushcl
Y open noiSclcssly. and the woman pu
her head in. | had already set he
I down for the head "f the firm. as the
: moro courageous of the pair of rasrals
: She looked at us both for some mo
mcnts and then entered and crept to
= ward Nolna. Not daring to lot her g
too near, I shifted my position AM
~ %.runted. as if uneasy in my sleep
This drew her attention TO mo. as | in