The Filer record. (Filer, Idaho) 1919-1930, 1924-04-17
Il mean 4 search this house"
The woman sprans up.


THAT'S what I'm almin' do she
woodsman went on evenly. rising and
glaneing about him.
The woman caught a small cord that
dangled behind the door In reach Of
her hand and gave II vicious jerk. II
must have been bell cord that led 10
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.
"Blll, you'll haf & ten 10 lm"-she
jerked a half clenched hand toward
the woodsman-''threatens Z raid tn
flint rr a gal he thinks is here"
So this was Bill-the ''bouncer." He
looked the part-broad-b backed. thick
set. heavy Jowled. little pig eyes and
short cropped. reddish hair. lie raised
his arm. pointed a stubby forefinger 10
the door and uttered the one word;
"Git."
But had Bin only known what man
ner OF man il was standing there and
cooIly measuring him through mar
rowed eyes. he probably would hare
studied long time before making his
next move.
THE devil y'u WON'T he snarled.
crouching and beginning 10 creep and
circle.
Don't hurt EN-" the woman eau
toned. ''he amt nothin' but Jist n raw
country jake"
Almost with the word BIN sprans.
aiming blow that would have caved
IN the side OF house-oniy II didn't
land.
The fact was instantly apparent
that he was not resourceful nghter,
but placed his main reliance In his
ponderous strength-even 50. he was
a dangerous man.
In a flash he wheeled and struck
again. This time Jack parted the
blow. instead OF slde-stepping. and shot
across one in returns light uppercut
10 the chin that Jared Bills head BACK
and drew from him snari and curse.
He came back with a whirlwind OF
jabs and swings.
Jack stepped right into the whlrl.
wind. well knowing that others OF
BIn's Tx might come any moment. and
spared for an opening with such be-
wldering speed and cieverness 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. Bin grunted. tottered.
looked dazed. The right swung again
on the same spot-clean from the MP
and Bill pitched against the wall
like a bundle Of dirty rags.
With a curse, horrible upon wom-
ans los. Doll Baker ran 10 where he
lay and bent over him.
She had hardly reached him before
the woodsman was darling about the
house and peeplng into pantry ana
closets. There was no basement. He
made sure OF that. and sprang TO the
stairs. The woman tried 10 drag him
back. he flung her on 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 II, al least. Texie was not there.
When he hurried down. Bin and the
woman were both gone. He was just
stepping from the stair door, wary aud
alert for a surprise OF some sort. when
there came n clatter OF feet running
across the porch
He dashed through the house TO the
door by which he had entered Just
as he wrenched II 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. Bib thrust his battered face
out al the door, scowled and swore.
but none al the four yeniured 10 fol-
low, like he alley rats they were, not
daring TO chase their prey into the
open.
Through a number OF streets and
side-streets In the neighborhood OF
Brickbnt alley. Jack warbope searched
for Brownie. He even made inquiries
az all the livery and feed stables In
the vicinity. but failed to lind any
trace Of her.
A thought suddenly came to him
he frowned haro muttered some very
uncomplImentary things about himself
that II hadn't occurred 10 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 Flafwooda
He would know II Terie had passed
Next moment the feet 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
toIlgate keeper.
~Jrst a mouthfui fr the boss Uncle
Asbury.-
~fisp y.urref- The old man shuf- /
ned sp out OF bis rickefy chair and
llmpei toward the wall Ben iettin,
I'm c1f. hain't y'ur
~gcme--yes."
He Iooeened the saddle girth; with /
the squeaky windlass crsnked up