Marion Marlowe in Omaha, or, Held up by Accident — page 25: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

The thing had been badly planned, or it was novices who were doing it; and in the brief minute at the beginning of the on- slaught the commodore gained the advantage. Marion’s hand still grasped both the lines and the whip, so the old fellow was free to deiend himself, and he was doing it with a vengeance that astonished the ruffians. The remaining mustang was plunging and rearing now, and the masked giant who was trying vainly to catch its head was an easy target for the ranchman’s bullet. He dropped from his horse with a yell of pain. There was a gush of red blood through Another bullet whizzed over Marion’s head, but she the black mask over his features. did not make a sound. The brave gitl was trying to be calm, but her wits seemed de- serting. her. Then followed what seemed to her to be a perfect fusillade of bullets, although, in real- ity, not a dozen shots were exchanged. The highwaymen had not intended to make such a racket, but the commodore hoped with all his heart that the report of his pistol might bring some one to their assistance. Suddenly, sharp groan of agony, and his left arm the brave old fellow gave a dropped at his side in a helpless manner, But he did not flinch, and his voice was like a lion’s as he roared out a word of defi- oes. A bullet or two If the miscreants ance at the desperadoes. did not matter to him. went through his pockets, it would be when he was dead or dying. The second mustang fell in the snow, his jugular vein pierced by atball that was 1n- shot for his master. Then another and the commodore had emptied tended rang out, his weapon. Were they waiting for this? Marion glanced behind her involuntarily. The sieht that she beheld thrilled her soul with horror, _ ton, excitedly. ° MY QUEEN. , ¥ The commodore had disabled the two ruffi- ans ahead of him, but behind his back there was another, whose weapon had not spoken yet, but it was covering the sanchinag with deadly precision. ‘ “Throw up your hands!” ve Marion heard the words, enter minted with a volley of oaths. The commodore was facing his enemy now with a look of indecision upon his features. : “Oh, do it, sir! Quick!” murmured Mar- “He will shoot you dead! Please do as he tells you!” The commodore still waited—he even glanced behind him. There was nothing to be feared from the fellow’s two companions, “Now, you to blazes!” said the robber, coarsely, 2s don’t move a muscle, or I'll blow he urged his horse a little nearer to the sleigh. Marion clenched the whip tighter and set — her teeth fiercely. -Every drop of blood in her body was seething with indignation. The old commodore slowly raised his uninjured arm above his hea®; the other was dripping with blood—he could not move it. He had seen something in Marion’s face that set him to thinking, and the bluff ranchman was always ready to use precaution with valor. ‘Now, miss, I'll trouble you to go through his pockets and hand out his wad—and_ be quick about it!” waa the next sullen, order. “He’s killed my friends, and I’m entitled to something!» Quick! give me his watch and the wad, and I won't trouble vou any longer.” — He had not moved his glance as he spoke, and for a second the young girl hesitated. It was not her nature to yield readily to such orders. “You are wasting time! Do as I tell you!” roared the fellow again, at the same time heaping hideous curses upon her, Marion half-rose in the sleigh, and turned upon him scornfully, but, at the same time, EComichbooks:com