Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-08-09
THE
WIRE
DEVILS
FRANK L. PACKARD
Author Of 1.-THE Adventures Of
Jimmy Dale" 1.-THE Miracle
Man," Greater Love
Hath No Man,"
Etc, Etc.

Of abandoned fury from the Butcher
then q headlong lush--a flash. the
roar Of the report, as the Butcher
fired-another. as tho Hawks auto
matte answered-and the spat Of q
bullet splitting the panel OF the for
ward door.
The Hawk, stopped low behind the
packing case now, still edged back
ward the door, still dragging the
case after him. A smile that was
deadly grim and far removed from
mirth curved his lips downward in
hard, merciless lines. He had, ut
least attained his object! There was
no doubt concerning their recogni-
ton Of him as the Hawk! Well. he
had weighed tho chances. They
would be on him now, but only one
ut time; there was not room for
more, with the packing case blocking
tho way--and 1t would be the Butch
er first. After that--well, after that,
he counted on MacVightie creating q
diversion from the rear. and
The. Butcher had flung himself
against the packing case. It toppled
to one side, and the Hawk. like a
crouched tiger. sprang and closed.
making OF the Butchers body. as q
Substitute for the packing case now.
shield from the onrush behind.
There was furious oath from the
Butcher; a lurch, q stagger, as the
train jerked and jerked again-and
both men, gripped and locked to-
gether. went to the floor.
For an instant they rolled over and
over. the Butcher snarling like a
mad beast, wrenching and twisting
for an opening at the Hawks throat
and then suddenly the car was in
an inferno. A voice, MacVightte's
rang out sternly from the rear door.
1t was echoed by yell from one OF
the Hawks companions, then shot,
another. fusiIlade OF them-and
then voice above the uproar:
TITS MacVightie. an de bulls!''
There was scurrying of feet, a
stampede for cover behind trunks
and boxes by the Butchers men--and
the Butchers grip was tense upon
the Hawk.
S'Cut It QUIT" he whispered hoarse-
ly. my God. we're trapped--the lot
Of US! Make a break for the door
get me! Crawl-that's the only
chance!"
Blue eddies Of smoke hung in
queer. wavering. hesitant suspension
up ap6 down the length OF the car:
ths-Air was full of the acrid smell of
powder. The firing broke out again.
The Butcher released his hold.
"All right" he painted. TIM with
you!" f.
The Butcher was right. it was the
only chance-and o chance that was
theirs alone, for. as they lay on the
floor, the packing case hid them. and
1T was barely two yards to the door.
The train was almost at a standstill
now. MacVightie's men had gained
an entrance and a position for them
selves behind the trunks at the low
er end, firing as they crept forward.
while back on the smokers platform,
thru the baggage cars open door.
others commanded the sweep down
the center Of the car.
The Hawk snatched at the pack
age OF bank notes, Struggled it under
his coat, and, with the Butcher be-
side him. began to wriggle toward
the door.
MacVightie's voice rang out again
from the rear OF the car:
"Marston. take item men, and sur
round the car! And" His voice
rose suddenly in bull-like roar.
THE forward door. there-two of
them! Watch which way they jump
not q man Of them gets away to-
night! Quick!" ID.
The Hawk had wrenched the door
open, and, with the Butcher behind
him. flung himself out, and leaped
to the ground. With the Hawk lead
Ing. running like hales, the two men
dashed down the embankment, and
hurled themselves over the barbed-
wire fence that enclosed the right OF
way. Shouts, the crackle of shots,
echoed from behind them-the short.
vicious tongue flames of the reyolv-
ers, a myriad Of them, it seemed.
stabbed yellow thru the blackness.
The Hawk glanced back over his
shoulder. He could just make cut
perhaps a half dozen dark forms in
pursuit-and perhaps fifty yards
away. The darkness and the dis
lance made the shooting at best I'M
certain. 1t was only chance shot
that would get either the Butcher or
himself. and ahead, unless he was
mistaken, for the train must have
come to a stop at just about that
distance from Conmore, must be the
wooded tract of land that surround
ed the old farm house. Yes-there 1t
was! The old daredevil set clamped
his jaws again. Yes, and SO was the
LadybirdIthere! Well, 1t was OBJ
vious enough that there was no other
cover! He glanced at the Butchers
face that he could just discern in the
darkness. The Butcher might decide
against it, but the Butcher evidently
had not recognized his SURROUNDINGS.
The mans lips were working, and he
was cursing in abandon as he ran.
The Hawk spoke in short, saspinR
breaths:
There's some trees over thereto
the risht-a lttle-make for them
covert"
The Butcher swerved automatical-
ly in the direction indicated.
Curse you'll" he wheezed out.
This, is all your Internal, nosey
work! What did you want to butt
IN for tonight-you fool-you couldn't
have got that gold, anyway"
SYOu close vollr facAin .r,nn>S
back the Hawk. Tn running my
own show! There was little cash
forty thousand bucks along with
that gold, that maybe you didn't
know about. That's what I was
after-see? And that's what I got
see?"