"Git a move on, Bill," called this
fellow and he took a hasty glance
backward. A stamp of hoofs came
from outside. Of course the robbers
had horses waiting. The one called
Bill strode across.the room, and with
brutal, careless haste began to prod
the two men with his weapon and to
search them.. The robber in the door
way called "Rustle!" and disappeared.
Duane wondered where the inn
keeper was, and Colonel Longstreth
and the other two passengers. The
bearded robber had wheeled once
more. Duane had not moved a muscle,
but stood perfectly calm with his arms
high. The robber strode back with
his bloodshot eyes fastened upon the
girls. Miss Longstreth never flinched,
but the little girl appeared about to
faint.
"Don't yap, there!" he said, low
and hard. He thrust the gun close to
Ruth. Duane had a little gun In his
pocket. The robber had missed it.
And he began to calculate chances.
"Any money, jewelry, diamonds!"
ordered the ruffian, fiercely.
Miss Ruth collapsed. Then he
made at Miss Longstreth. She stood
with her hands at her breast. Evi
dently the robber took this position
to mean that she had valuables con
cealed there. But Duane fancied she
had instinctively pressed her hands
against a throbbing heart.
"Come out with it!" he said, harsh
ly, reaching for her.
"Don't dare touch me!" she cried,
her eyes ablaze. She did not move
She had nerve. She eluded two
lunges the man made at her. Then
his rough hand caught at her waist,
and with xone pull ripped It asunder,
exposing her beautiful shoulder, white
as snow.
She cried out. The prospect of be
ing robbed or even killed had not
shaken Miss Longstreth's nerve as
had this brutal tearing off of half
her waist.
