Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1917-01-24

to use It. Then heavy footsteps
sounded outside tramping upon the
porch. Duane believed those foot
steps saved Lawson's life.
'1There they are" said Lawson, and
he opened the door.
Five masked men entered. They
oil wore coats hiding any weapons.
A big man with burly shoulders
shook hands with Longstreth, and the
others stood back.
The atmosphere of the room had
changed. Lawson might have been q
nonentity for all he counted. Long
streth was another mana stranger
to Duane. If he had entertained a
hope Of freeing himself from this
band, of getting away to 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 at this all the others
gathered around him close to the
table. There were 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 Q
word here and there. They were
planning, and they were brief. Duane
gathered they were to have a 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 fiercely and
drank continually. All at once ne
Strengthened up as If listening.
whats that?" he called suddenly.
Duane's strained ears were pervad'
ed by slight rustling sound.
"Must be rat" replied Longstreth.
The rustic became rattle.
sounds like q rattlesnake to me"
said Lawson.
Longstreth got up from the table
and peered round the room.
Just at that moment Duane felt
an almost inappredable movement OF
the adobe wall which supported him.
He could scarcely credit his senses.
But the rattle inside Longstreth's
room was mfngling with little dull
thuds Of falling dirt. The adobe wall,
merely dried mud, was crumbling.
Duane distinctly felt tremor pass
through it. Then the blood gushed
back to his heart.
"What in the, hell!" exclaimed
Longstreth.
Il smell dust" said Lawson, sharp
". s.
That was signal for Duane to
drop down from his perch, yet de-
spite his care he made noise.
did you hear a step" queried
Longstreth.
No one answered. But heavy
piece Of the adobe wall fell with a
thud. Duane heard 1t crack, felt 1t
shake.
"There's somebody between the
walls!" Numbered Longstreth.
Then section of the wall fell In
ward with crash. Duane began to
squeeze his body through the narrow
passage toward the patio.
"Hear him!" yelled Lawson. ''This
side!' e
mo, he's going that way" yelled
Lungstreth.
The tramp of heavy boots lent
Duane the strength Of desperation
He was not Sinking fight, but to
be cornered like Q 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 a 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 1t might
lead, he softly pushed 1t open little
way and slipped in.