The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-07-31

bankers for a decent look from one
of them. 1 amt never had no women
folks of my oWn-never. Sometimes
! thinks it would be some scrumptious
70 know little gals Waitin for me
somewheres. They amt none. they
never will be. / amt built that way.
You treated me white tonight You re
the first woman that ever kissed me
Of her own accord
The girl heard a faint scramble,
then the soft pat Of some one landing
on his feet. Peering from the win
dow. she made out faint shadoWy
form stealing around the corner OF
the hotel. She put her hand to her
heart and listened. Her understand
inc of the strangers motives was va
que, but she had caught his confession
that her kiss had meant much TO NM
and even in her anxiety she felt an M
clination to laugh. She had bestowed
that caress as she would have kissed
the cold end of Il dogs nose.
The men below stairs, after some
discussion. had decided on bullet. This
was out Of consideration for BilIy's
Shading as a frontersmal. Besides,
he had stolen no horses. In order not
to- delay matters the execution was
fixed for the present time and place.
Billy stood with his back to the logs
bound, but his eyes uncovered. He
had never lost his nerve. In the short
respite which preparation demanded,
he told his opponents what he thought
of them.
"Proud?" he concluded a long soli-
| loQuy as if to the reflector of the lamp.
PROUD" he repeated meditatively.
| '"rhis yere Hanks jest that proud he's
all swelled up like q poisoned pup.
Amt every one kin corral a man and
! git fifty thousand dollars without turn
7; in a hair
Black Hank distributed three men
| to do the business. There We're no
| heroics. The execution of this man
was necessary to him, not because he
| was particularly angry over the escape
| o fthe messenger expected to cap
ture that individual in due time-but
in order to preserve his authority over
| his men He was in the act of moving
| back to give the shooters room when
he heard the door open and shut.
He turned. Before the door stood a
small. consumptive looking man in
a light check suit. The tenderfoot
carried two rt-barreled Colts re-
volvers, one of which he presented di-
rectly at Black Hank.
'Nds up" he commanded sharply.
Hank was directly covered, SO he
strangely restless quality. OF the other
dozen inmates of the room eleven were
firmly convinced that the weapon and
eye not directed at the leader We're
personally connected with them
| selves. The twelfth thought he saw
his chance. To the bewildered on
lockers there seemed to be a flash and
a bang instantaneous. Then things
were as before. One of the strangers
weapons still pointed at Black Hank S
| breast; the second at each one of the
others Only the twelfth man, he who
| .Dste shrdl shrdl shrdl shrdiln shrdlun
| forward to the floor. No one could as
sure himself positively that he had
| discerned the slightest motion on the
| part of the stranger.
| "Now," said the latter sharly, "one
! at a time, gentlemen. Drop your
gum this last to Black Hank. "Muzzle
down Drop it! Correct.
One of the men in the back of the
room stirred slightly ON the ball of his
! foot.
STEADY there!" said the stranger
The man stiffened.
Next gent" went on the little man,
subtly indicating another. The lat
ter obeyed without hesitation. Next!
| Now you. Now you in the corner