The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1916-10-05

faint.
'Don't zap, there" he said, low
and hard. He thrust the gun close t.
Ruth. Duane had a little gun in hi
pocket. The robber had missed II
And he began to calculate chances
"Any money, jewelry, diamonds !!
ordered the ruffian, fiercely.
Miss Ruth collapsed. Then h.
made at Miss Longstreth. She stool
with her hands at her breast. Evi
IDENTIFY the robber took this position
to mean that she had valuables con
cealed there. But Duane fancied sh'
had instinctively pressed her hand:
against a throbbing 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. Their
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 off of hall
her waist.
The ruffian was only turned par
TALLY away from Duane. The gun was
still held dangerously upward close
to her. Duane watched only that
Then a 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
10 esar! He beloved something
again.
Duane's shifting glance caught the
robbers sudden movement. He seem
ed stricken. The hand that clutched
Miss Longstreth's torn waist loosened
it's hold. The other hand with its
cooked weapon slowly dropped till ii
pointed to the floor. That was
Duane's chance.
Swift as a flash he drew his gun
and fired. Then the robbers gun
doomed harmlessly. He fell with
blood squirting over his face. Duane
rushed out of the room, across the
patio, through the bar to the yard
In the gloom stood saddled horse
probably the one belonging to the
fellow he had shot. His cOmrade hao
escaped. Returning to the s1ttlng-
room, Duane found a condition ap'
preaching pandemonium.
The innkeeper was shouting to IND
out what had happened. Joel, the
stage-driver, 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
a Gagged lion Longstreth stalked and
roared. There came a quieter mo-
ment in which the innkeeper shrilly
protested:
"Man, what're you ravin' ABBOTT
Nobody's hurt, an thet's lucky.
swear to God I hadn't nothin' to do
WITH CQ0u l0lleES!
II ought to kill you anyhow re-
piled Longstreth. And his voice now
astounded Duane, it was so full OF
power.
Upon examination Duane found
that his bullet had furrowed the rob-
bers temple and had glanced. He was
not seriously injured, and already
showed signs of returning conscious
ness.
drag him out of here!" ordered
Longstreth; and he turned to his
daughter.
Before the innkeeper reached the
robber 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
but 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 to Miss Ruth, made light of the
adventure, said she must learn to
have nerve out here where things
happened.
Can I be of any service?" asked
Duane, solicitously.
Thanks; 1 guess there's nothing
do TolIy fn fhncn rich 0nQ0
girls while 1 go see what's to be done
with that thick-skulled robber," he
replied, and, telling the girls that
there was no more danger, he went
out.
Miss Longstreth sat with one HAND
holding her torn waist in place: the
other she extended to Duane. he
took it awkwardly, and he felt 6
strange thrill.
"You saved my life" she said, il
grave, sweet seriousness.
mo, no." Duane exclaimed. "He
might have struck you, hurt you, but
no more"
did you kill him?" asked Miss
Ruth, who lay listening.
"Oh, no. He's not badly hurt"
I'm very glad he's alive" sale
Miss Longstreth, shuddering.
'Tell me all about it?" asked Miss
Ruth, who was fast recovering.
Rather embarrassed, Duane briefly
told the incident from his point Of
view.
Cousin" said Miss Longstreth
thoughtfully, sit was fortunate for d!
that this gentleman happened to b'