Tombstone epitaph., 1916-11-05

| NtlNt.
 The big. dark stranger. the bearded
 one who had whispered to his com. l rade in the bar-room and asked
 Duane to drink, had him covered with
 cooked gun. He strode forward,
 his eyes gleaming. pressed the gun
 against him. and with his other hand dived into his inside pocket and tore
 out his roll of bills. Then he reached low at Duane's hip. felt his gun. and took 1t. His comrade stood in the | door with a gun leveled at two other
 men. who stood there frightened. speechless-
 "Git a move on, Bill" called this
 fellow; and he took a nasty 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 10 prod
 the two men with his weapon and to
 search them. The robber in the door
 way called Rustic" '" and disappeared.
 Duane wondered where the inn keeper was. and Colonel Longstreth and the other two passengers. The bearded robber had wheeled once more. Duane had not moved a muscle. but stood perfectly calm with his arms high. The robber strode back with his bloodshot eyes fastened upon the girls. Miss Longstreth never fiinched. but the little girl appeared about to faint
 Don't yap, therel' he said. low Ruth. Duane had q little gun in his pocket. The robber had missed it. And he began to calculate chances.
 Any money. jewelry. diamondsw w ordered the ruffian. fiercely.
 Miss Ruth collapsed. Then he made at Miss Longstreth. She stood with her hands at her breast Evi- dently the rObber took this position to mean that she had valuables con cealed there. But Duane fancied she had instinctively pressed her hands against a throbhing heart.
 Come out with it." he said, harsh. ly. reaching for her.
 Don't dare touch mel" she cried. her eyes ablaze. She did not move. She had nerve. She eluded two lunges 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 cried out. The prospect of be ing robbed or even killed had not shaken Miss Longstreth's nerve as had this brutal tearing of of half her waist.
 The ruffian was only turned par tialiy away from Duane. The gun was still held dangerously upward close 10 her. Duane watched only that. Then below made him jerk his head. Colonel Longstreth stood in the door way in a magnificent rage. He had no weapon. Strange how he showed no fear! He beloved something again.
 Duane's shifting glance caught the |. robbers sudden movement. He seem- l ed stricken. The hand that ciutched 1. Miss Longstreth's torn waist loosened 1 Its hold. The other hand with its | cooked weapon slowly dropped till it pointed to the floor. That was | Duane's chance.
 Swift as a flash he drew his gun l and fired. Then the robbers gun l boomed harmlessly. He fell with l blood squirting over his face. Duane 1 rushed out of the room, across the | patio, through the bar to the yard. l In the gloom stood a saddled horse. | probably the one belonging to the l fellow he had shot. His comrade had | escaped. Returning to the sitting | room. Duane found a condition ap- | preaching pandemonium.
 The innkeeper was shouting to find | put what had happened Joel, the was trying to quiet the ] nen who had been robbed The wo- nan, wife of one of the men, had come in, and she had mysteries. The girls were still and white. The rob per Bill lay where he had fallen. Like , caged lion Longstreth stalked and There came a quieter mo- htht bh "hhSh thc AhAAecpti shhhy protested:
 Man, what're you ravin' abooti Sobody's hurt, an thet's lucky. wear to God I hadn't nothin' to do with them fellersw
 "I ought to kill you anyhoww re- ,lied Longstreth. And his voice now lstounded Duane, 1t was so full of bower.
 Upon examination Duane found hat his bullet had furrowed the rob ,er's temple and had glanced. He was lot seriously injured, and already howed signs of returning conscious less.
 Drag him out of here!" ordered and he turned to his laughter.
 Before the innkeeper reached the obber Duane had secured the money nd gun taken from him and presently ecovered the property of the other nen. Joel helped the innkeeper carry he injured man somewhere outside.
 Miss Longstreth was sitting white ut composed upon the couch. where ay Miss Ruth. who evidently had cen carried there by the Colonel. he Colonel, now that he finally re-