Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1924-04-24
I'm right sorry t say I'm doubtin'

Doubling meI'' A tang Of hardness
slid into her well-modulated tones ;
she fared up straight in her chair.
What do you mean?"
II mean t. search this house."
The woman sprang up.
Search TIL house,"
That's what I'm amin t. 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 it a vicious jerk. 1t
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 a man dashed in at the door.
"Bill, you'll hat t. ten to 'im'-she
jerked half clenched hand toward
the woodsman-"t threatens t. raid tn
j'int FIR a gal he thinks is here"
So this was Bill-the "bouncer" He
looked the t-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 a long time before making his
next move
''The devil y'u 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 caved
in the side of 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
dangerous man.
In flash 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 snarl and curse.
He came back with whirlwind OF
jabs and swings.
Jack stepped right into the whirl-
wind, well knowing that others OF
Bills ilk might come any moment, and
spared for an opening with such be-
wildering speed and cleverness that
Bill raised his guard to cover his face.
Jack shot across vicious body blow.
Bill dropped his left Instantly Jacks
tremendous. right swung on the ex-
posed jaw. Bill grunted, tottered,
looked dazed. The right swung again
on the same spot-clean from the hip
land Bill pitched against the wall
like bundle of dirty rags.
With curse, horrible upon Wom-
ans lips, Doll Baker ran to where he
lay and bent over him.
She had hardly reached him before
the woodsman was darling about the
house and peeping into pantry and
closets. There was no basement. He
made Sure of that, and sprang to the
stairs. The woman tried to drag him
back, he flung her off and dashed up
the steps.
Every place where girl could have
been concealed was explored, but Doll
Baker had told the truth-that much
of it, at least. Texie was not there.
When he hurried down, Bill and the
woman were both gone. He was just
stepping from the stair door, wary and
alert for surprise of some sort, when
there came a clatter of feet running
across the porch.
He dashed through the house to the
door by which he had entered. Just
as he wrenched it open they rushed
into the room behind him-four Of
them. Bill in the lead.
But, his purpose accomplished, Jack
sprang outside and, with tantalizing
elaboration, took his way toward the
street. Bill thrust his battered face
out at the door, scowled and sWore,
but none Of the four ventured to fol-
low, like the alley rats they were, not
daring to chase their prey int the
open.
Through number of streets and
side-streets in the neighbOrhood of
Brickbat alley, Jack Warhope searched
for Brownie. He even made inquiries
at all the livery and feed stables in
the vicinity, but failed to find any
trace of her.
A thought suddenly came to him
he frowned hard; muttered some very
uncomplinentary things about himself
that it hadn't occurred to him before
the old tollgate keeper ten miles out
on the River road, he had been there
more years than Jack had lived and
knew everybody from the Flatwoods.
He would know if Texfe had passed.
Next moment the fleet Graylock was
racing toward the bridge.
Ten miles out on the River road he
drew rein and dismounted by the well
in front Of the diminutive house of the
tollgate keeper.
"Jist a mouthful FIR the boss, Uncle
Asbury."
Hep y'urse'f." The old man shut
fled up out of his rickety chair and
limped toward the well. Ben lettin'
i'm out, hain't y'u?''
"Some-yeS."