The Portland daily press., 1892-01-05

won't be the larst, reckon, thets got
his hide bored long O. her."
whats up, then?"
"Keep your eye skinned and don't go
nigh old Ramon's shack. I've warned
you. So long, pard."
And Black Waxy lounged away into
the gathering gloom and mist.
"Hold on" cried Herries, rushing after
him; 'stell me at least who my enemy
is"
Black Waxy turned and scanned the
young engineer closely in the twilight.
sPete-from Denverv' he jerked out
and strobe rapidly off.
Herries was brave man, but his blood
chilled at the mention of that name 1t
was the synonym of all that was most
fierce, bloodthirsty and wicked even in
that wicked and bloodthirsty little COM
munity.
"Denver Pete!" he unused. $50 he is
going to do me up because I'm trying to
win that poor child from her horrible
life and save her for something better. l
fear me, Edward, you're in no end of
bad scrape."
But the blood which had rushed so
hotly through his veins when Yale's
shouts rang triumphant over the foot
ball field as the goal was almost won,
and which nerved him to dare any odds,
take any risk, SO long as he could save
that game, now flowed again warmly
through his heart.
''I'll not be bullied," he said, and he
frowned and shut close his mouth and
clinched his hands. These were ominous
signs in Mr.. Herries, and even Denver
Pete, redoubtable knight of the green
cloth as he was, would have done well
to have needed them; had he known
young Herries better he might have
done so.
For Herries had stalked back to the
brilliantly lighted barroom and had
called for glass of whisky, the while he
regarded a knot of men near by who were
conversing in low tone. Among these
men was the gambler against whom
Herries had been warned-a handsome,
pale faced, tall, slender man, dressed
with great neatness in black and with
out single ornament visable-not even
the belt which nearly every man wore.
He had a small, keen, hungry looking,
gray eye, and as he looked at Herries he
met the latter's gloomy glance, smiled
and turned to his friends with the re-
| mark:
''The kid seems worried about some
thing. wonder if by any chance he
has overheard us?"
"Guess not-he Jest come in minute
ago."
"Perhaps-perhaps muttered Pete,
"but we will soon know"
Events moved quickly in frontier
| towns. AS Herries finished his whisky
and banged the door behind him, Pete
arose from his seat.
His friends also sprang up, but he
made gesture of dissent.
s'No, boys. Leave this to me. If I
| can't deal with one tenderfoot / certain
ly won't call in aid"
sBut he might get the drap on ye,"
persisted one.
Pete shrugged his shoulders and
deigned no reply. He walked to the bar,
called for and swallowed large glassful
of brandy, which draft did not even
bring a flush to his pale cheek, opened
the door and was lost in the darkness of
the night.
About two hours later the inmates of
the Rough Diamond were startled by
hearing shots, cries, oaths, the heavy
laundering of a horses hoofs on the
rocky soil of the mesa, and then long,
loud 'hurra-a-h."
Then all was silent.
AS one man they sprang to their feet
and rushed for the door, but ere the fore
most man among them could reach it it
was burst violently open and old Ramon
rushed in, followed by Pete, from Den
yer, who, swaying and staggering like
drunken man, called for brandy, and
then came to the floor with crash that
shook the windows.
A babel of voices prevented an expla-
nation for long time, and when Peter
had somewhat revived he told them what
had happened.
where's Chiquita~ some one asked.
A spasm of wrath convulsed the fea-
lures of the dying man.
done, ne gaspeo; gone with That
| cursed tenderfoot."
"How did it all happen, Peter"
ssHe was there when I got there.
Chiquita was all dressed and ready to go
off with him-womanlike, curse heri
He saw me coming. His horse was
there. He waited for me. Oh, the fell
low was game enough. said nothing,
but opened on him. The girl being
there must have made me nervous, for I
missed my man for the first time"
''And then?"
"Why, he pumped me full of lead be-
fore could pull trigger. Hit me five
times. Then he mounted and swung the
girl up in front of him. Old Ramon
came up and opened on him. l got up
and followed suit. He got back at us
once-his last cartridge-and caught
Ramon, for | heard him groan. Then
the tenderfoot yelled and rode off. Boys,
give me big drink. I'm done for"
And when they brought the drink
fast chilling corpse was all that was left