Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1873-07-31

lie stopped and stared. He had not
observed the movements of Darrell
during the last few seconds, and just as
he was upon the point of clipping off
Haynes ear in the polished manner he
had descanted upon, he found the muz-
zle of rifle thrust almost into his
face. 4E .-. ...,5 ..'
1t was a loaded rifle which, luckily,
a friend of Darrell's had left in his
keeping that very morning, while he
went out to make some purchases.
1t stood in q corner of the room near
his table, and Darrell had seized it,
cooked it and leveled it with such
dexterity that he had Wolf covered
before he had observed his movements;
and he stood motionless as a statue
his cool eye glancing over the sights,
aud steady finger on the trigger.
"You great bully he said, "drop
that knife instantly. Mind | come
from a country where they shoot
squawels only through the eye. [ can
Lit any hair of your big head that you
will mention at a hundred yards.
Drop that knife y . .....
The rufian was fairly paralyzed.
He released his grip on poor Haynes,
who sank fainting upon the floor, and
his murderous knife fell on the coun-
ter. So Unexpectedly was this bold
attitude of Darrell that Wolf was
more startled than he would have been
if a dozen Of the toughest men in Cali
fornia had assailed him.
There stood the boyish editor, mo-
tionless as the wall, and the muzzle of
the rifle did not move the breadth of
hair. Darrell held the desperado's
life in his hands. ... ...
"You cowardly bully!" he repeated
contemptuously, 'Don't you dare to
move; I can send a bullet through
your eye-ball without touching the
white. Don't move an eighth Of an
inch or I'll do it, and throw your fill
thy carcass out of the window
Wolf glanced at his revolver, lying
upon the counter within two feet of
his eyes, but he did not venture to
reach for it.
"Dare to touch that revolver, or so
much as look at it again. said Dar-
rell sand I'll make red picture upon
the wall behind you. You buster
ing, Dragging knave! you are COW
ard at heart-a despicable cur! You
came up here to murder two boys, be-
cause you thought it an easy task,
and now you are pale and trembling
with fear. | would kill you in your
tracks, but that I don't want your
dirty blood on my hands. Go now.
Turn instantly. Leave your knife and
revolver where they are, I'll keep
them. Go down to your friends on
the street and tell them that a boy
whipped you-disarmed you, and then
kicked you dow stairs. Do as | tell
you. Ifyou hesitate you will never
see the set. ....
Wolf, trembling from head to foot,
glanced once more at his revolver, but
did not dare raise his hand. His face
was pale and his lips were dry.
"Do you hear me?" demanded Oar
rel, sternly.
eyes, yes, don't shoot" said WOLF
turning about, as commanded. He
was thoroughly cowed.
"Do not turn your ugly face this
way again" said Darrell, ''or you will
pay for it with you life. Novel,
Tanner than a whipped cur, the
ruffian walked towards the door, and
Darrell, springing over the counter,
was at his heels in an instant.
"Don't look back or I'll kill you" Pc
Meekly obeying the. imperative ord
ers of the youth, Wolf moved slowly
out of the room into the corridor.
abe careful don't-don't let that
gun 90 off," Wolf stammered, as he
reached the head of the stairs.
AT this moment the clamors of the
impatient crowd below arose with ter
rible distinctness, and one shrill voice
was heard to say:
"Iuny up, WOLF why don't you
throw the fellers out?"
Exasperated beyond measure, he
was on thepoint of turning back, at
the risk of his life; for after all his
braggadocio how could he face those
below, disarmed and chased out of the
building by one Of the puny boys he
had intended so terribly to chastise
But Darrell was after him, and with
one vigorous kick sent him bounding