The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1885-08-08

looms. You will loaf along, fifty
yards in the rear, with your car
bincs. III let you know when !
want you. Now drive on"
Arrived at Sanford, these direC-
tions were carried out to the letter.
A small, but hard looking crowd
gathered around the ambulance.
"Hcllo, lieutenant! said Smith
the town shyster, coming out.
"What is it?
"Tolcgraph," replied Parker, for
all to hear. 81 have come to see
what you can put up for it."
Good" said Smith, while
murmur of appreciation went
through the crowd. "I'll take you
round to see the people. Have the
man put up the rig"
"Can't stop long enough. I'm
going on to Florence to get their
ideas. Driver keep the team here.
You men can go where you please,
but be back in TIME to start"
The ruse having succeeded so far,
Parker and Smith walked across
the plaza to the saloon, while the
men followed aimlessly along, car
rying their carbincs on their hips.
"Come in and have something"
said the hospitable Smith, when
they crossed the square "help you
talk business"
Parker accepted, and they went
in. The saloon consisted of two
rooms. In the front room were two
or three loungers, but from the back
room there issued various sounds,
which gave evidence of crowded
table of gamblers. Parker gave his
order, and placed himself so that
by turning his head he could COM
mand full view of the back room
Then he looked for his men. They
were already ut the saloon door
They played their parts well, for
they seemed only waiting for their
superior before they took u turn at
the bar. Parker poured out u gem
crous glass, and turned his eyes and
glanced in the back room.
Directly in front of him at the OPP
posite side of the table sat Devine
At the word lieutenant" the con-
Wet raised his eyes and met Parker
face to face. His first instinct being
to escape recognition, he resorted to
the clumsy device of dropping his
glance and slouching forward his
sombrero. Parker looking at him
absently, turned to the front of the
saloon, and still holding up his
glass, made the signal. Then, with
out drinking, he set the glass down,
and walked directly to the door of
the gambling room. He did not
know what tragedy would follow his
words, but he said
"John Devine, | want you
A dozen pairs of eyes were turned
toward him and a dozen hands
sought for the ever-ready gums; )"
but the pistols were not drawn. Al
most Immediately the men assumed
Il look of welcome, and seemed tao
city to acknowledged that they had
mistaken the intruder.
"Hullo, lieutenant p cried two or
three, in a frantic effort to set them
selves right "Hullo! Come in,
come in. Glad to see you. Barkeep,
something for the lieutenant. Come
in."
"Thank YOU" said Parker, won
dering what deceit this greeting was
meant to cover. "I'm on business,
and business comes first. Come,
Johnny, | want you"
"Whatl want Johnny? What's
he done? they cried, in grieved sur
prise. "Now, lieutenant, you don't
want Johnny, do you?"
Parker made no answer, but kept
his eye warily on the crowd.
Devine threw down his cards, as
if in despair, saying
"All right; I've got to go. This
thing has been hanging over me for
a year, and I'm glad it has come"
"But don't be in Il rush." cried
the Others "dont be in u rush,
lieutenant. Have a drink. Come
in and sit down. We amt seen you
in years"
Parker was so dumbfOunded by
this continued politeness that he
looked about for the cause. 1t was
evident A big sergeant stood be-
hind him with two cooked revolers
aimed at the crowd, and on each
side of the door were soldiers with
pointed carbines.
The Arizona desperate under
stands the doctrine of chances as
well as the rest of us.
Devine arose 10 follow, lie look
mournfully at his big pile Of chips,
"Who's bunkrr >" asked Parker