The Yale expositor., 1904-02-26


window yehomontiy bec'oncd am %
pause.
Ike Anderson stepped into a salOra
and took a straw from a glass stand
ing on thu bar, exercising an exac.
and critical taste I'm its selection. I'm
very thirsty" he remarked plaintiye-
H. Saying which. he shot hole IN a
barrel Of whisky inserted the straw.
and drank lingerinsly.
Thank YOU" he said softly. and
shot the glass Of straws on the coun-
ter Thank you. Not after mo"
The whisky ran ont over the floor. out
OF the door. over the path and into
the road bet no one raised a voice IN
rebukc.
The blue flame burned t-ifle higher
in Ike Andorson's brain. He was
growing very much intoxicated, and
Therefore very quiet and very sober
looking. lie did not yell and flourish
his revolvers, but walked alcng d.
Gently. engaged in thought He passed
by the front OF the Cottage Hotel. A
negro hoy. who worked about the
place. was sweeping idly at tho porch
door. shuliing lazily about AZ his en-.
ploymcnt. Ike paused and looked
amiably at him for some moments.
Good morning. colored SCION" he
said pleasantly.
"Mawnin'. boss" said tho negro.
grinning widely.
"Colorcd scion" said Ike. hereafter
to obligc me-woud you mind
whoopn' il up with yoro broom a
leetle fastor?'
The negro scowled and muttered.
and tho next moment sprang sprawl
ing forward with n scream. Ike had
shot on the heel OF his shoe. in tho
process not sraring all Of the foot.
The negro swept as he had never
swept before Twice a bullet cut tho
floor AZ his feet. and at last the stick
ot the broom was shattered in his
hand. "Colored scion" said Ike An
derson. as though in surprise. "yore
broom Is damaged Kneel down ard
pray for another. The negro kneit
ard surely prayed.
On all sides swept tho Wide anI
empty streets. II was Ike Andetson's
town. A red film seemed to his gazo
- como over tho face OF things. lie
slipped his revolver back into Ito
scabbard and paused again 90 think.
quick footstcp sounded on the walk
behind him. and he wheeled. still puz-
lied with the red film and the mental
problem.
The sheriff stood quietly facing him.
with his thumbs resting lightly In his
belt. lie had not drawn his own r..
yolver. lie was chewing a splinter.
Ike. said he. throw up your hands
The nerves OF some men act mo.o
quickly than those of others. and
such men make the most dangerous
pistol shots, when they have good IL
ccstlon and long practice al the rapid
drawing OF the revolver. an art az
that time much cultivated. Ike An
dCrsun's mind and nerves and mus
Giles were always lightning like in tho
instantaneous rapidity Of their action.
The ego could scarce have followed
the movement by which the revolver
,capcd 20 level from his right-hand
scabJard. lie had forEottca. "a his
moment oil study that with his six
shooter he had fred once az the Will.
IS barrel. once az the glass OF stravs.
once 40 the ucgro's heel, twice ut to
Eoor. and once no tho hrnomstiCk. the
click ON the empty shell was heard
clearly az the hotel bar. distinctly
ahead OF the double report that FOL.
lowed. For such was the sharpness
Il this mans mental and muscullr
action hc had dropped tho empty 10.
yolycr from his right hand and drawn
tan other with his left hand In tlLo
to meet the FIRE Of the sheriff.
Ito be continuedD