The evening Republican., 1902-06-10
WHITE !.
FEATHER.
BY IRENE ROWLAND.

table, in the midst of which burned
asmelly kerosene lamp. They were
passing sentence upon Jack Farley,
the Kid Of the party, and he knew
the verdict would be Guilty.
Collin Cutler was the first to speak
Like the others, he was a College
bred man, who had had gone West
for pleasure and stayed there for
excitement He was a physical
giant.
There were vague rumors that once
when lie had caught a little Mexican
cheating at cards, and the latter had
drawn shining machete, Cutler had
held him ia his powerful arms and
bent him backward until he had
broken his spinal column. But these
were only rumors. At any rate, Cut
Ter had never shown the white feath-
er, and lie was merciless to those
who did.
The others of the group were Addie
Easton, who had been centre rush
and "strong man" of his class at
Harvard; Keen Taylor, the marksman
from South Carolina. and Hal Farley
the elder brother of the Kid, as brave
and cool fellow as ever sought his
fortune in the West.
II move" said Collin. without
glancing at the Kid, "that we send
him back East tomorrow. He's
shown the white feather. A man
who will break his guard isn't worth
the bacon he eats. He goes tomorrow
Hal s syes ran teuderly over the
figure sitting at the window.
"Wait Il mlnute,' he said slowly
You haven't found out the facts Of
the case vet. -
"Thc great fact is this: lie wasn't
here when | came back last night,
and every Internal ruster IN Ram
county might have carried Off our
goods if hadn't STAYED here"
"Iou re sore, SAID the Kid, taxi
ing his pipe out OF his mouth tor
the first time because YOU couldn't
get back 10 the dancc. You're all
sore because Elsie Wayland didn't
20 to the dauec. You want to
know where she was? She was
with me that's where!
Four faces at the table wcEt red.
Essie Wayland not at the dance
aud with The Kid. -Four men who
loved her. or thought they did, be
cause she was the only eligible
glrl IN Ram county looked at one
another sheepisbly. at length the
Kids brot her lau. he'd weakly.
The kid always was winner
With the women, he remarked IN al
attempt to iacetIous.
Thank you, Hal. said the Kid SIR
castically, removing his Pipe once
mere, IN tell you the Whole bloom.
Ing story If You want to hear it. IL
was Il contemplate trick, aud yoa
Enow il, to put me On guard tie
night Of tie dance. You fixed The
guard nights so that you could all
get of u the good time and left me
here With novel I've read eight
times ana haIl il pipetnl Of bad to,
bGcco to enjoy the pleasant solitude.
guess if you'd been in my pllce
last night alone in this hole, with
that noon overhead and dead certain
that i.Ssic Waylaud would be at the
dance and longing 10 dauce with YOU
you'd have done just as | did.
wrote Ter a note to meet ne on the
south road. told her it was nv
night on guard and that | cou dent
get o dance. but | suggested that
we take our dances out 10 u moon
light ride.
I WAS certain I'll get back before
You did, htt Culter had to come
suenliing back here to steal Une Of
my collars and Il new tie got in
Delta on, yes, you dltt-a and he
found me Z me. You can believe it
or not, as you like, but it was Es-ie
Wayland, not fear OF 'ru|tlers,' that
took mo out
That doesn't do you any good, Kid
die said Hall quietly.
Because you're all making bloom
ing idiots of yourselves over Elsie.
It's jealously." Aud the Kid pout-
ed like II spoiled girl.
Well you W got to take yourself
and your charms back East. Mats
the all Of it, cried Addie Easto1,
bringing his heavy fist down on The
table. The kerosene lamp spurter-
ed ominously, but nobody noticed
it.
Say, boys, broke in Hal Farley
pleudinyly, give the kidiie IL
chance. Try the cut of cards. And
he threw IL pack down in the midst
of them.
"lIc doesn't deserve it, 'srumbl-
ell Easton.
Bnt Hal had shulileh the cards,
cover seven he stays; under seven
he goes
The Kid leaned eagerly forward
from his aeat in the window.
Collin lifted the upper halt OF the
back slowly aud looked up at the
Kid before turning it. Suddenly
and without warning the Kerosene
lamp sput,ered and Tor second
the room was as black as night.
Collin dropped the cards with a cry.
The lamp ilickered up again, and
four white faces gazed at each other
Mortified, across the table Who J
had forgotten TO fill the lamp?
There was an OMNIBUS slzzle and |
the flame went blue. The men sat |
rooted to their chairs They knew
as they looked at each other that
they had just one moment to live
before that lamp would explode and |
pour its burning oil over them and
their tiny cabin.