Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1916-02-24
CHAPTER XII.

We f5,ii
CHAPTER XII.
I'M 4 Marriage by Dursos. 4
Daylight was coming; the gang
meant to search the house again, per-
n haps fire II as they mad the stable.
and then ride away before the Federal
garrison at Lewisburg could receive
the alarm. turned away from the
window to perceive Nichols sitting up
On the edge of the bed.
What's afire?" he asked.
The stable" answered, crossing
1 the room. Get down in the corner.
where you cannot be seen from the
windows. Oh, yes you can; you are
not SO badly hurt. Miss Noreen, is
there any other place better than this
,nswhich to. hide 2"
She shook her head.
Well, then we must fight 1T out
here IL they come; you have your re-
vOlver-ah! the squad is already be-
low; listen!"
We stood side by side, scarcely
breathing, close to the bolted door.
The flames Of the burning stable were
dying down, yet there was sufficient
light to render every object in the
room plainly visible. Intent as / was
on every slightosound below and with.
aout. kept my eyes on Nichols. seated
dejectedly in one corner. Feet tramped
nOisily back and forth in the lower
hall, and the sound of voices reached
us, the words indistinguishable. There
was an echo of splintered wood, the
crash OF dishes. and loud laugh The
fellows seemed to be footing the kitch-
EN- and pantry, destroying whatever
they could not use. Suddenly there
arose a sound of smashing glass at the.
front of the house. and the tinkling Of
9 piano as If some rough hand swept
across the keys. Noreen. pressed
closer, lifting her eyes in appeal.
They they are searching the.
house," she whispered, her voice shak-
ing. "and-looting it. Do you near
that? They are even tearing the car
pet from the floor. Some Of them will
come up here
Il am afraid so--but you must not
lose your nerve. We shall have to
ight!',
Fight? yes; but what use? p and
she grasped MY arm with both hands.
I'll would not be SO afraid, only for
that man. cannot fall into his power.
/ will kill myself first! You do not
know Anse Cowan; but / do. would
rather die than have his hands touch;
me- 4 hate and despise him; he IL IN
incarnate brute and and he is here
after mel"
Hush" urged, holding her tightly,
her slight form trembling do not let
go yet: they may not even come up
the stairs"
But they will" she insisted. Il tell
you know the man. He he swore
he would marry me two years ago; he
told me SO, and laughed at him. He
stopped my father on the road, held q
rifle to his head, and boosted that some
day he would make me pay his debts.
This is no mere incident Of warit is
revenge! I'll would not be frightened
but for that-that awful alternative.
s Tell me-tell me what to dol"
She stared pleadingly into my face,
but. reading no answer there to her,
wild appeal, sank to her knees, and
buried her face in her hands. All that
was strong about the girl seemed
swept away by sudden uncontrollable
terror-by dread Of Anse Cowan. A
hoarse, strange voice roared out an
order. seemingly from the very foot Of
the stairs.
That's enough Of that, Samuels!
Here. take your men up shove. Be
lively now. and don't let rat get
away.
The girl lifted her head; then got to
her feet, clinging to the bedpOst. /
could see the glitter of a pistol Id her
hand. "A thought swept through my
brainso daring, SO reckless. gasped
at the mere witness Of the sugges-
s-tion. Yet 1t might answer; It might
succeed! But would she consent; even
In her desperation, In the extreme of
her, terror. would she grasp at such 81
straw? There was nothing else-not
another chance. This might not be
oneyet it would surely ser{e to de-.
lay; it would place me In between
her and Anse Cowan. She could not
legally marry him, II she were once my
wife! Only the girl whose eyes Just
then met mine
I'll have thought OF one way. /
said eagerly. the words coming forth
almost incoherent. That is II you will
listen to what / propose. There is
nothing else feasible so far rs / can
ace. They they are In the front
rooms now hear them! We haven't
moment to lose. Will youwill you
consent to marry met"
She shrank back step, staring at
me with wide-opened eyes, breathing
heavily.
Marry! marry your she faltered
\ wildly. Why what can you mean! 4
II do not understand
aOf course not the conception IL
wild. Impractical, perhaps. It must
seem 80 to you yet listen. It u the
Dne way left open to save You from
Anse Cowan. You can trust moi You
do trust me. do you not r
Ye-es but =
This is no time TO question. Thay
are coming heeA now. thosa faalnwnS