Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-02
! Thompson made things hot In Jim Ferris

Thompson made things hot In Jim Ferris
town." s.. :ists. y
The two deputies agreed with her YER
bally. In their hearts they did not dare
demand. Perhaps Kate realized this: at
any rate she tucked In the front OF her
shirt waist, when she started for the grand
stand. revolver that had never oeen
known to miss the bull s-eye.
A vague unrest. not lacking in An ele-
ment Of exhilaration, hung over the assem-
blage around the platform. which had been
erected at the end Of the struggling street.
and the table, wherein rested pitcher OF
water and a glass. was covered with q
brand-new flag. Music was furnished by
the Empire Quartet, consisting Of three men
and a woman. who were playing that week
at Bill Johnson's music hall. The Declara-
tion Of Independence was read by the new
ly-elected mayor and still Red thompson
maintained a respectful silence. Then arose
Hon. Alonzo Nobody heard what he said.
as Kate had predicted. but the audience
was respectful and silent, as behooved
camp. entertaining a representative OF the
law and the government. Suddenly from
voice rang forth:
LOUDER!
The Hon. Alonzo flushed, hesitated and
lost the thread of his discourse. Only
rounded the speakers stand were aware OF
this fact. and they Immediately lost inter-
est In the speech. for 1t was Red" Thomp-
son who had issued the command. The
deputies. mingling with the crowd, felt the
butts Of their revolvers, then their hands
dropped again to their sides. Kate Ferris
looked at Red" Thompson, and her lips
formed in the firm lines that were her Ia
theirs. Dick Baxter looked at her and then
whistled softly. He had not thought 1t
was in her.
The Hon. Alonzo. his voice piping more
shrilly, but with even less distinctness,
said: MY fellow-citizens and constituents,
you have honored me greatly
Wed honor We more If we could hear
malicious grin on his face. He knew that
all Deep Basin resented the insult to their
guest, but that not man dared to protest.
The Hon. Alonzo stumbled In his speech
and looked around, but none came to his
aid He cleared his throat. This glorious
LOUDER" yelled Red" Then as the
Hon. Alonzo made as If to retire from MS
raised his gun and leveled 1t at the uncom-
Portable representative of the law and the
government, shouting: 60 ahead, sonny
only speak up" ,,a
white-lipped. whispered to the speaker that
he had better try again. Red" grinned.
The Hon Alonzo cleared his throat, but his
tongue Glove to the roof or ms noun 9t, .,o
Dick Baxter looked wonderingly from the
great bully to the crowd OF terrorlzeo,
able-bodied men, then he suddenly 1org4t
the hypnotic influence Of the bad man. ne
had caught glimpse OF Kate Ferrls i &C..
BEFORE he had a chance to step to her side
there was a sharp report, and puiiet
passed through the speakers stand WYNN
three inches Of the Hon. AlonZo 8 tremohng
foot. An angry murmur OF uisapphs uaaah 20" ~
over the crowd at this shameless preach OF
hospitality, which they yet seemed power.
loss to check Then suddenly the quiet
voice of a woman fell upon the qulverlns
al !.-rhro,, ~, vour hands and apologize to
the senator ,,,u,, o,d Tho
girl, gun pointing to gun. o,.
Red Thompson laughed. an ugly mock
Ing laugh.
For kiss from your lips, yes"
1t was all over in the flash of an eye. Big
"Red" Thompson lay UNCONSCIOUS on tle
ground. his weapon knocked out or ms
neryeless hand and Dick Baxter straight
ened up calmly brushing the dust OH ms
khaki suit Deep Basin caught us pre .ss.!
and then cheered The deputy sherlHs'
with a flush that was not of triumph, push
ed their way through the crowd searched
and disarmed the PROSTATE "Red, ana the
Hon. Alonzo finished his speech. II was
the greatest celebration in Deep BASIN
history. {.
Jim Ferris walked into the office of the
Puritan mines. Dick Baxter saw him conf
ing and saved the older man the embarrass-
ment of putting his thanks into words.
Don't say a word, sheriff. That was
little rush We always used on the Harvard
eleven. 1t gets EN- every time. L haVent
been up to that sort of thing because W
pho:d rather knocked me out, but its funny
how a fellows old tricks come back to him
when he strikes an ugly customer.
The sheriff clasped his hands tightly be-
hind his back, as if he did not want the
young fellow to see the emotion he felt.
1T wasn't laying out Red you know,
though that's no joke of job. 1t was
Kate"
The man stopped suddenly. Dick Baxter
picked up a pen and laid it down again.
With elaborate care he Strengthened pad
of writing paper on his desk Then he
looked up into Ferris face, his own flushing
warmly.
Funny thing, isn't 1t. that chap doesn't
always know when he loves girl? 1t just
took Red Thompson to open my eyes.
Jim Ferris leaned heavily on the desk.
DO you mean that?"
Il do" said Dick, raising his eyes, fair
and square"
The sheriff drew a long breath. well. I
don't pretend to be much, but the girls
mother comes from the best stock you can
trace in Kentucky"
Does Kate know this" Dick laughed
an old, happy, little chuckle.
"Well. ] rather think she understood
ba II lai ont