Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1916-02-03

"Not-not IN their deeds Of blood
and violence, he protested. The
calls Of my church compel me to min
lister to my scattered flock"
Never mind that kind Of palaver,
Nichols. Now what did he send you
for?"
waited my eyes On his. ] could
not see the girl, and dare not avert
my gaze for so much as an instant.
The man wet his lips, as If they were
parched, and could perceive the nerv-
GUS movement of his throat.
I'll don't know
Don't know what?-this is my last
CALI"
Il don't know whether he is coming,
or not" he blurted out reluctantly.
He was hurt in the fight"
And II he cannot come himself he
means to send others What for?
What does he want of the girl?"
My hammer clicked, and the man
cringing back, read the stern mean
ing of my face. A terrible suspicion
surged over me. and was ready to
kill. He knew his life hung by a hair.
Toto marry her. the words bare
ly audible. Not old Ned-his son,
Anse"
heard the startled exclamation of
the girl behind me.
"Anse Cowan!" she cried, her voice
full of undisguised horror. Marry me
to that low brute. Did he ever imagine
would consent, ever even look at
him?"
touched her with my hand in re-
straint, the revolver still at the preach
er's heart. The whole foul plot lay
exposed in my mind
"There was no intention of asking
your consent, Miss HARDWOOD said,
satisfied that she should know all, and
face the truth. There is a reason for
this desperate act which do not
wholly fathom, but it has to do with
the property here, and the feud be-
tween Cowan and your father. II
Major Harwood be dead, as this man
reports, you are the sole heir, and old
Ned has conceived the idea OF, marry
ing you by force to his son. He has
learned you are here alone. and unpro-
tected, and In this creature of his
this cantfng preacher The has found q
fit tool readysat hand to do his dirty
work. ls that 1t, Nichols 2"
He muttered something inaudiblot
Answer. you black-hearted cur; you
have confessed too much to hide any
thing now. How many are coming
with Anse Cowan?"
Maybe half dozen Of the boys.
don't Know; they were talking about
1t when left. and thought 1t was go
ing to be great lark"
We'll. it is; you are finding that out
already. When were they to be here 2"
shook him to loosen his tagging
tongue.
They we're to ride out an hour after
L did"
threw the wretch back into the
chair before the fire. but held him still
covering before the point Of my re-
volver. The dog had told US all he
knew, and there was a snarl to his
thin lips. drawn back and exposing his
yellow teeth, showing that his only
thought now was revenge Any mo-
ment that gang of rufilans might APP
pear, and was helpless there alone to
contend against them. dared not
move, dared not avert my gaze from
the preacher; there was hatred and
treachery in the depths OF his eyes.
lis there a lock ON the parlor door
leading into the hall?" asked.
"A bolt-yes."
please close and bolt 1t, and then
come back here
heard her turn and cross the room;
caught the sound as she shot the bolt,
and her light step again on the floor.
Now. something to tie this man
with. We must be quick-the table
cloth will do! Sweep that clutter OF
dishes ON to the floor. Good! Now
cut me the cord from that picture"
had no thought Of glancing about;
! can scarcely conceive even now that
did, yet my eyes must have wan
dered an instant, for Nichols had the
wrist of my pistol hand in his grip.
and the revolver went spinning across
the floor. There was moment of
fierce, 5reathless struggle. The fellow
possessed no skill, hut the wiry
strength of tiger. found his eyes
with my fist, and dazed, his hands re-
leased their grip, and / broke loose.
my threat liyid freN his finger marks.
The flap Of a gray skirt touched my
face, and blow fell-the man went
limp under me, his head upheld by thu
angle of the wall. 1 struggled to my
knees, still staring at him, uncertain
as to what had actually occurred,
/ struggling for breath. The girl stood
over me. white-faced, her eyes wide
open with horror, the remnant Of the
teapot in her hand. Suddenly her
hands covered her eyes, the fragment
of crockery falling noisily to the floor.
4 III struck him." she sobbed, I'M
neryed. IL have killed him!"
mo such good luck" answered,
recovering myself, and grasping her
! hands, SO that + could look into her
| eyes. The man is not dead only
stunned by the blow He will be con.
scious in minute. Do not become
frightened; you did right. and we have
no time to lose. You have a horse
somewhere"
She hesitated. her hands still held
in mine unconsciously.
"You--you mean am to ride FOL
I.awisburg- and and you?"
"Oh. must do the best I can on
foot. Well keep together as long as
possible. Go, and hurry. Get wrap