The sun., 1903-03-22
EREEHNG OUT OF
ONE TIBBETS.
Quick Action Caused by MI. Hap
goods Pointed Fingernail
and His Revolver.

IL was late in the afternoon when Sam
the brightest colored boy among the hall
dozen who hustled TO make things COM
Portable for the guests OF the FL Dorado
Hotel in a far Western town, cautiously
opened the door OF the room occupied by
Mr.. James Hapgood. Sticking his woolly
head inside the doorway for a few inches
only. he spoke, not loudly, but decisively:
1Marse Hapgood,' was all that he said
and then he paused for a reply.
None coming, he waited a moment and
repeated the CALL then suddenly lodged
back barely in time to escape being struck
by heavy boot that few past the opening
and crashed against the wall. Without
smile. or the appearance Of any surprise,
he presently spoke again:
"Marse Hapgood, hits TO O'clock" he
said, and waited again.
A repetition Of this statement after a
further pause. ELECTED a storm Of objur-
cations in which he, Sam. was explicitly
accused Of being more kinds Of malefactor
than any single person could easily be.
Hearing this, he stepped inside carrying
a broad grin with him, and without further
remark busted himself in various ways
around the room, making considerably
more noise than seemed necessary.
Get out OF here, you Internal black
scoundrel." shouted Mr.. Hapgood. when
the noise became intolerable.
-Yes, sah," said Sam "Will / shave
you first, or will you have a cocktail"
Bring me a cocktail" said Mr.. Hap
good turning over to go TO sleep again.
Even this was unavailing. Sam had
the drink ready, and brought 1t to him
Immediately, whereupon Mr.. Hapgood sat
up in bed and, after expressing himself
with great bitterness regarding the gem
eral scheme Of the universe. tossed of his
drink.
Possibly half an hour afterward he was
completely dressed with the exception Of
his coat, and seating himself at the window.
began to pay strict attention TO his finger
nails. Mr.. Hapgood was not a remarkably
handsome man. but he made the most OF
such advantages as he had. and always
appeared well groomed. In particular, his
nails were kept in perfect condition.
Any one who had been watching him.
however, as he used his knife and file, might
have been puzzled to know why he should
have taken such pains TO leave a certain
small angle on the inner side OF the little
finger-nail on his right hand. pointed as
sharply as a needle.
While he was at work thus. Sam said,
casually. -Marse John Tibbets done 90 me
TO de hotel dis mawnin'. sah.'
who's that?" exclaimed Mr.. Hapgood,
sharply.
@Marse John Tibbets. sah an he done
brung lady wild him, sab
Mr.. Hapgood finished polishing his nails,
whis,ling softly to himself and then said;
sam. want YOU TO find out where Tibbets
came from this time, and who the lady is
IL you can't learn her name, bring me a good
description Of her. And tell me VIII ere
Tibbets is now.
.Yes, sah,' said the darky, and he started
Immediately.
When the boy had left his room Mr. Hap
good stepped over to his bed and took a
heavy revolver from under the pillow.
breaking II. he extracted all the car
tridges and examined the weapon carefully,
wiping on some almost imperceptibe dust .
whirling the chambers to see that they
revolved properly. and testing the lock by
swapping Il a dozen times or so.
When he had satisfied himself that il was
in perfect order, he loaded IL again with
great care. choosing fresh cart ridges, and
placed il in his hip pocket Then he sat
down, away from the window this time,
and facing the door. He continued whist
Sans return, and his appearance indicated
that he was thinking intently.
After a time Sam came again, and an
nounced with his customary grin much
accumulated, that the lady's name Mas
miss Tibhets, a STATE msnt which Mr.
Hapgood received with manifest scorn.
The couple had gone driving. il APP, sr,d ,
hut the description Sam furnish.d a al ,ec-
ond hand se med 10 satisfy MIR Hapgood
and he went downstairs to his brea kfast
long hop' hack ride after that meal
took his time until E,arly O'Clock. Con-
trary To his usual custom, however, he
left the road and gallopd acro,s country
for some miks before turning his hon e's
s ad for l.iEurely walk back. II might
hay. i.en thought that he ,ought sOltuCe
On HE return la tbs hotel b. mad. hiS
way To large room In which there VI, n
various talhs hEi2s-cONspd and having
tlE appearance Of being d'sigi.'d for card
playing Five OF xix mtn w,p' sittiug
around doing nothing b. l' .Lt"nd, and
they greeted him with sih M node. which hr
0, turisi IN kiLd /, foI" eating Limelf
Your gambler H. not usually much ~ a
tonv.rsat Iof Alist unl'rs hr IL moved 10
tpsch by tlr Iso'ssity of dsmonstrht 10 X
foms point Ia n man Who ls not a pruf'--
sionsl gambler. and " ~as hot Ierlap~
surpfising that ia, Oth'rs waited a. u
eNrs.c'ins Hapgpod 10 sI-ak first H.
lighted "a Cigar, hoN'Nrr, and smok, a IN
IL ~" fer roIn" minutes Thu n hsvy-
lalllt mFn with tits-N u 10 hAu ard black
mustA' ls uAid. Nul nu ApI at ~ u' kNaI,,
~ anything
sTibi,eis1s 10 town
.i.s said iiapgoud. and again iL'I- vac
sikI.,'
.Oa thni AiNood WOMAN snh HIM
asaln. said The shit'-hsu'd iuah aii,f
~ I lsani sald Haps=,d
n Nas rtill sariy. t,,Ii pi"ssntly th' Nhlis-
haif,-t uuan Nilaiu the uthsrs sailsd ia
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