The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1924-04-30

slid into her well-modulated tones ;
she nared up straight In her chair.
What do you meanT
II mean Z search this house"
The woman sprang IN.
search tn houser
That's what I'm aimin' Z do" the
woodsman went On evenly, rising and
glancing about him.
The woman caught small cord that
dangled behind the door In reach Of
her hand and gave 1t q vicious jerk. II
must have been bell cord that led to
somewhere outside, for Immediately
heavy steps sounded along the porch
that connected the house with the sa-
loon and man dashed in at the door.
"Bill, you'll hat t. ten to 'im"-she
jerked a half clenched hand toward
the woodsman-"threatens L raid IT,
tint FIR gal he thinks is here"
So this was Bill-the 'bouncer." he
looked the part-broad-backed, thick
set, heavy jowled, little pig eyes and
short cropped, reddish hair. He raised
his arm, pointed stubby forefnger to
the door and uttered the one word:
"Git."
But had Bill only known what man.
ner Of man it was standing there and
coolly measuring him through mar
rowed eyes, he probably would have
studied long time before making his
next move.
1.-The devil yu won't" he snarled.
crouching and beginning to creep and
circle.
Don't hurt EN-" the woman eau
toned, 'he amt nothin' but jist raw
country jake"
Almost with the word Bill sprang.
aiming a blow that would have cayed
in the side Of a house-only it didn't
land.
The fact was instantly apparent
that he was not a resourceful fighter,
but placed his main reliance In his
ponderous strength-even so, he was
a dangerous man.
In a fash he wheeled and struck
again. This time Jack parted the
blow, instead of side-stepping, and shot
across one in return-a light uppercut
to the chin that Jared Bills head back
and drew from him a snarl and a curse.
He came back with a whirlwind Of
jabs and swings.
Jack stepped right into the whirl-
wind, well knowing that others Of
Bits Tx might come any moment, and
spared for an opening with such be- |
speed and cleyerness that 1
Bill raised his guard to cover his face
Jack shot across a vicious body blow. /
Bill dropped his left. Instantly Jacks
right swung on the ex- /
posed jaw. Bill grunted, tottered. /
looked dazed. The right swung again
On the same spOt-clean from the hip |
and Bill pitched against the wall
ike bundle Of dirty rags.
With a curse, horrible upon a wom-
ans lips, Doll Baker ran to where he
ay and bent over him.
She had hardly reached him before
he woodsman was darling about the
house and peeping into pantry and
.losets. There was no basement He
made sure of that, and sprang to the
tairs. The woman tried to drag him
Jack, he flung her off and dashed up
he steps.
Every place where a girl could have
cen concealed was explored, but Doll
,aker had told the truth-that much
f it, at least. Texie was not there.
When he hurried down, Bill and the
oman were both gone. He was just
topping from the stair door, wary and
lert for surprise of some sort. when
here came a clatter of feet running
cross the porch.
He dashed through the house TO the
cor by which he had entered. Just
S he wrenched it open they rushed
Ito the room behind him-four of
lem. Bill in the lead.
But. his purpose accomplished. Jack
1rang outside and, with tantalizing
took his way toward the
reel. Bill thrust his battered face
Ut at the door, scowled and swore,
Ut none of the four ventured to fol-
w. like the alley rats they were. not
airing TO chase their prey into the
zen.
Through a number of streets and
de-streets in the neighborhooS OF
rickbat alley. Jack Warhope searched
" Brownie. He even made inquiries
all the livery and feed stables in {
lie vicinity, but failed to find any
ace of her G
a thought suddenly came TO him {
, frowned hard; muttered some very I
things about himself L
at it hadn't occurred TO him before
e old tollgate keeper tel miles out {
the River road. he had been there
ore years than Jack had lived and
lew everybody from the Flatwoods
g would know if Texie had passed.
Next moment the fleet Graylock was :,
cling toward the bridge. 9
Ten miles out on the River road he !,
ew rein and dismounted by the well r,
front of the diminutive house OF the q
lgate keeper. W
list a mouthful fr the boss. Uncle r.