The Ozark spectator., 1916-11-08

The big, dark stranger, the bearded | one who had whispered to his com 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 1 against him, and with his other hand dived into his inside pocket and tore | out his roll of bills. Then he reached low at Duanes hip, felt his gun. and 1 took it. His comrade stood in the door with gun leyeled at two other men, who stood there frightened, ! specchless.
 "Git move on, Bill" called this fellow; and he took nasty glance backward. A stamp of hoofs came from outside. Of course the robbers had horses waiting. The one called 1 Bill strode across the room. and with brutal, careless haste began to prod the two men with his weapon and to | search them. The robber in the door, way called "Rustle!" 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. there!" he said, low and hard. He thrust the gun close to Ruth. Duane had little gun in his pocket. The robber had missed it. And he began to calculate chances.
 Any money, jewelry, diamonds :" ordered the ru.fian, fiercely.
 Miss Ruth collapsed. Then he made at Miss Longstreth. She stood with her hands at her breast Eyi- 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 throbbing heart.
 Come out with it!" he said, harsh ly. reaching Tor her.
 Don't dare touch me" she cried. her eyes ahlaze. She did not move. 1 She had nerve. She eluded two l 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 1 as snow.
 She cried out. The prospect of be- | l-iI shaken Miss Longstreth's nerve as 1 had this brutal tearing off of half her waist.
 The ruffian was only turned par tially away from Duane. The gun was 1 still held dangerously upward close to her Duane watched only that l Then below made him jerk his head. Colonel Longstreth stood in the door way in magnificent rage. He had no weapon. Strange how he showed no fear! He believed something again.
 Duanes shifting glance caught the | robbers sudden movement. He seem ed stricken. The hand that clutched Miss Longstreth's torn waist loosened 1 its hold. The other hand with its cooked weapon slowly dropped till 1t pointed to the floor. That was Duane's chance.
 Swift as flash he drew his gun 1 and fired. Then the robbers gun l boomed harmlessly. He feH 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 l fellow he had shot. His comrade had escaped Returning to the sltuhs room. Duane found condition ap- preaching pandemonium.
 The innkeeper was shouting to ma 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, hau come in, and she had mysteries. Ihe girls were still and white. The rob Der Bill lay where he had fallen. Like n caged lion Longstreth stalked ana roared. There came Quieter mo ment in which the innkeeper shrilly protested:
 Man. what're you ravin' abootF Nobody's hurt, an thet's lucky. swear to God hadn't nothin' to do with them fellers!"
 Il ought to kill you anyhow!' re- piled Longstreth. And his voice now astounded Duane, it was so full of l power.
 Upon examination Duane found 1 that his bullet had furrowed the rob ber's 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.