The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1917-12-29

men, VINO stood there frightened
speechlesS
"Git a move on, BILL" called this
fellow; and be took a hasty glance
backward. A stamp of hoofs came
from outside. OF course the robbers
had horses waiting. The one called
BIZ 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 a muscle,
but stood perfectly calm with his arms.
high. The robber strobe back with
his bloodshot eyes fastened upon the
girls. Miss Longstreth never fiinched,
but the little girl appeared about to
faint.
Don't zap, therer" he said, low
and hard. He thrust the gun close to
Ruth. Duane had a little gun In his
PONhCl- In iODDCl luhcoCu -
And he began to calculate chances,
"Any money. jewelry, diamonds !"
ordered the ruffian. fiercely.
Miss Ruth collapsed. Then he
made at Miss Longstreth. She stood
with her hands at her breast. Evi.
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 a throbbing heart.
"Come out with itl' he said, harsh
ly, reaching for her.
"Don't dare touch me !" 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 1t asunder,
exposing her beautiful shoulder, white
as snow.
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 a magnificent rage. He had
no weapon. Strange how he showed
no feari He beloved something
again.
Duane's shifting glance caught the
robbers sudden movement. He SEEM
ed stricken. The hand that clutched
Miss Longstreth's torn waist loosened
it's hold. The other hand with its
pointed to the floor. That was
Duane's chance.
Swift as a flash he drew his gun
and fired. Then the robbers gun
doomed harmlessly. He fell 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 a saddled horse,
probably the one belonging to the
fellow he had shot. His comrade had
escaped. Returning to the sitting
room, Duane found a condition ap-
preaching pandemonium.
The %innkeeper was shouting to find
out what had happened. Joel, IN
stage-driver, was trying to quiet the
men who had been robbed. The wo-
man, wife of one of the men, had
come in, and she had Mysteries. The
girls were still and white. The rob-
Der Bill lay where he had fallen. Like
a Gagged lion Longstreth stalked and
roared. There came a quieter mo-
ment in which the innkeeper shrilly
protested:
Man., what're you ravin' abootf
Nobody's hurt, an thets lucky. l
swear to God l hadn't nothin' to do
with them fellersl"
II ought to kill you anyhow" re-
piled Longstreth. And his voice now
astounded Duane, 1t was so full of
power.
Upon examination Duane found
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 herer" 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.
Miss Longstreth was sitting white
but composed upon the couch, where
lay Miss Ruth, who evidently had
been carried there by the Colonel.
The Colonel, now that he finally re-
membered his ~womenfolk, seemed to
be gentle and kind. He talked sooth-
ingly to Miss Ruth. made light of the
adventure, said she must learn TO
have nerve out here where things