Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-01-25
'You'll make her marry me?"
"No. No." replied Longstreth, his
voice still cold, lOw-pitched.

"No. No." replied Longstreth, his
voice still cold. low-pitched.
"All right. Then I'll make her."
Evidently Longstreth understood
the man before him so we'll that he
wasted no more words. Duane knew
what Lawson never dreamed of, and
that was that Longstreth had gun
somewhere within reach and meant
to use it. Then heavy footsteps
sounded outside tramping upon the
porch. Duane believed those foot.
steps saved Lawson's life.
''Thcre. they are" said Lawson, and
he opened the door.
Five masked men entered. They
all wore coats hiding 'any weapons.
A big man with burly shoulders
shook hands with Longstreth, and the
others stood bnck.
The atmosphere Of the room had
changed. Lawson might have been a
nonentity for all he counted. Long
streth was another mnn--a stranger
to Duane. If he had entertained a
hope of freeing himself from this
band, Of getting away to a safer
country. he abandoned it at the very
sight of these men. There was power
here, and he was bound.
The big man spoke in low. hoarse
whispers, and ut this all the others
gathered around him close to the
table There We're evidently some
signs of membership not plain to
Duane. Then all the heads were
bent over the table. Low voices
spoke, queried, answered, argued.
BY straining his ears Duane caught a
word here and there. They were
planning and they were brief. Duane
gathered they We're to have rendez-
vOus at or near Ord.
Then the big man, who evidently
was the leader of the present con-
vention, got up to depart. He went
as swiftly as he had come, and was
followed by his comrades. Longstreth
prepared for quiet smoke. Lawson,
seemed uncommunicative and I'M
sociable. He smoked f1ercely and
drank continually All at once he
Strengthened up as if listening.
"What's that?" he called suddenly.
Duane's strained ears were pervad'
ed by slight rustling sound.
'Must be rat" replied Longstreth.
The rustic became a rattle.
Sounds like rattlesnake to me-"
said Lawson.
Longstreth got up from the table
and peered round the room.
Just at that moment Duane felt
an almost inappreciable movement OF
the adobe wall which supported him.
He could scarcely credit his senses.
But the rattle inside Longstreth's
room was mingling with little dull
thuds of falling dirt. The adobe wall,
merely dried mud, was crumbling.
Duane distinctly felt a tremor pass
through it. Then the blood gushed
back to his heart.
"What In the HE'LL" exclaimed
Longstreth. ..... ...
II smell dust" said Lawson, sharp
~.
That was q signal for Duane to
drop down from his perch, yet de-
spite his care he made noise.
Ibid you hear step?" queried
Longstreth.
No one answered. But heavy
piece of the adobe wall fell with n
thud. Duane heard it crack, felt 1t
shake.
"There's somebody between the
WALSH Numbered Longstreth.
Then section of the wall fell in
ward with a crash. Duane began to
squeeze his body through the narrow
passage toward the patio.
Hear him." yelled Lawson. "This
sidew
"No, he's going that way" yelled
Longstreth.
The tramp Of heavy boots lent
Duane the strength Of desperation.
He was not Sinking fight, but to
be cornered like trapped coyote was
another matter. He almost tore his
clothes off in that passage. The dust
nearly stifled him. When he burst in
to the patio it was not an instant too
soon. But one deep gasp Of breath
revived him and he was up, gun in
hand, running for the outlet into the
court. Humping footsteps turned him
back. While there was chance to
get away he did not want to fight.
He thought he heard someone run
ming into the patio from the other end.
He stole along and coming to door.
without any idea Of where it might
lead, he softly pushed it open a little
way and slipped in.