Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-01-15

when Duane returned to the sitting
room Colonel Longstreth was absent,
also several of the other passengers,
Miss Ruth sat In the chair he had
vacated, and across the table from
her sat Miss LongStreth. Duane went
directly to them.
Excuse me-" said Duane, address
Ing them. II want to tell You there
are couple of roughioOking men
here. I've just seen them. They
mean evil. Tell your father to be
careful. Lock your doors-bar your
windows tonight
"Oh!" cried Ruth, very low. "Ray,
do you hear?"
"Thank you; Well be careful said
Miss Longstreth, gratefully. The rich
color had faded in her cheek. II saw
those men watching you from that
door. They had such bright black
eyes. Is there really danger-here!'
81 think So" was Dnape's reply.
Soft swift steps. behind him pre-
csaed harsh voice: Islands up"
No man was quicker than Duane to
recognize the intent in those words !!
His hands shot up. Miss Ruth utter
ed little frightened cry and sank
into her chair. Miss Longstreth
turned white, her eyes .dilated.: Both
girls were staring at someone behind
Duane.
'srurn around!" ordered the harsh
voice.
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
q cooked gun. He strobe forward
his eyes cleaning, pressed the gun
against him, and with his other hand
Owed into his inside pocket and tore
out his roll of bills. Then he reached
low at Duane's hip, felt his gun, and
took it. His comrade stood in the
door with a gun leveled at two other
men, who stood there frightened,
speeches..
"Git move on, Bill" called this
fellow; and he took hasty glance
backward. A stamp Of hoofs came
from outside. OF course the robbers
had horses waiting. The one called
Bill strobe 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 Rustic ~ 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 muscle,
but stood perfectly calm with his arms
high. The robber strobe back with
his bloodshot eyes fastened upon the
girls. Miss Longstreth never tlinched.
but the little girl appeared about to
faint.
"Don't zap, 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 ruffian, fercely.
Miss Ruth collapsed. Then he
made at Miss Longstreth. She stood
with her hands at her breast. Evil
IDENTIFY the robber took this position
to mean that she had valuables con
cealed there. But Duane fancied she
had instinctively pressed her hands
against throbbing heart.
"Come out with it J" he said, harsh
4. .oo ol,ipO For hor
"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. Then
his rough hand caught at her waist,
and with one pull ripped it asunder,
exposing her beautiful shoulder, white
as snow. a
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 half
her waist.
The rufian 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 magnificent rage. He had
no weapon. Strange how he showed