Smyrna times., 1901-10-30

AAAL hO4NA u Il
was most fierce, bloodthirsty and wick
ed even in that wicked and bloodthirsty
little community.
Denver Peter he unused. 80 he is
going to do me up because I'm trying |
to win that poor child from her horri- |
BILE life and save her for something bet |
ter. 1 fear me, Edward, you're in no
end of bad scrape.
III not be bullied," he added and !
frowned and shut close his mouth and |
clinched his hands.
Herries stalked back to the brilliant |
ly lighted barroom. Among those pres !
ent 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 visible-nOt even
the belt, which nearly every man wore.
He had small, keen, hungry looking,
gray eye, and as he looked at Herries
he met the latter's gloomy glance, smil-
ed and turned to his friends with the
remark:
''The kid seems worried about some
thing. l wonder if by any chance he
has overheard u.s."
Guess not; he jest come in a min
ute ago"
Perhaps. perhaps" muttered Pete;
"but we will soon know"
Events moved quickly in frontier
towns. AS Herries went out Pete arose
from his seat.
His friends also sprang up, but he
made a gesture of dissent.
"No, boys. Leave this to me. If
can't deal with one tenderfoot, 1 cer-
tainly won't call in aid"
"But he might get the drap on ye,"
persisted one.
Pete shrugged his shoulders and
deigned no reply. He 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 a long
loud "Hurra-a-hv'
Then all was silent.
AS one man they sprang to their feet
and rushed for the door, but ere the
foremost man among them could reacl
it it was burst violently open, and ole
Ramon rushed in, followed by Pete
from Denver, who, swaying and stag
gering like a drunken man, called fO
brandy and then came to the floor will
q crash that shook the windows.
\ babel of voices prevented an eX
planatiOn for long time, and whel
Pete had somewhat revived he tOl'
them what had happened.
"Where's Chiquita?" some one asked
A spasm of wrath cOnvulsed the fea
lures of the dying man.
"GOne" he gasped; 'gone with tina
| cursed tenderfOOt."
"How did it all happen. Pete"
"IIe was there when | got there
Chiquita was all dressed and ready
go off with him-wOmanlike curse hel
! He saw me coming. His horse wa
there He waited for me. Oh, the fe
low was game enough. l said nothin:
but opened on him. The girl bein
( there must have made me nervous, fC
) 1 missed my man for the first time"
> And thenY'
/ "Why, he pumped me full of lea
u before 1 could pull trigger. Hit m
i five times. Then he mounted an
j swung the girl up in front of him. Oh
* Ramon came up and opened on hiI
Il got up and followed suit. He g
i back at us Once-his last cartridge
Is and caught Ramon, for | heard hi
st groan. Then the tenderfoot yelled an
'e rode off. Boys, give me a big drin
u I'm done for
u And when they brought the drink
~ fast chilling corpse was all that W;
III left of Pete from Denver to drink it
&c &c And Chiquita?
~ ChiQuita went to a convent in S
IT, Louis. and left there four years lat
Is Il cultured and magnificent beautif
= woman.
u She will be pleased to receive any
Mr.. Herries' friends at her love
= home, and if you succeed in pleasil
10 her she will tell you of that awf
VI night at Picture Canyon when a te
~ derfOot showed how tenderfeet c.
~ fight when sweetheart is at stake.
~ And old Ramon?
;" When they looked for him, he W
'ih gone. Nor was he or Edward Herri
ever seen again in Picture Canyon.
nS Imagination In Life.
1t seems probable that a little ina