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

One after another the pistols clash
ed to the floor. Not for an instant
could q single inmate of the apart
ment armed or unarmed, fiatter him
self that his slightest motion was
overlooked They were like tigers on
the crouch, ready to spring the mo-
ment the mans guard lowered. 1t
did not lower. The huddled figure on
the floor reminded them of what
might happen. They obeyed.
step backf commanded the
stranger next. In moment he had
| them standing in a row against the
wall, rigid, upright their hands over
| their heads. Then for the first time
the stranger moved from his position
| by the door.
call her." he said to Billy-"the
girl"
Billy raised his voice. ''Neln o.
In a moment she appeared in the
! doorway at tho foot of the stairs,
without hesitation or fear. She had
| slipped on a dress. When she per-
ceived the state of affairs, she fright
| ened almost mischievously.
would you just as soon, ma am, If
| it amt troublin' you too much. just
| sort of naturally. unite Billy 2'f% re-
auested the stranger
She did so. The hotelkeeper
stretched his arms.
NOW DICK up l06I1 gums Please.
| he two set about it.
where's that internal old, repro
! bate?" howled Billy suddenly, look
! ing about for Charley.
The patriarch had quietly slipped
away.
you can drop them arms" adj
vised the stranger lowering the muz-
| zles of his weapons. The header
started to say something.
"You shut up." said Billy, select
ling his own revolvers from the heap.
! The stranger suddenly picked up
one of the Colts single-action re-
volvers which lay on the floor, and,
holding the trigger back against the
guard exploded the six charges by
i hitting the hammer smartly with the
| palm OF his hand. In the thrusting
motion of this discharge he evidently
/ had design, for the first six wine-
/ glasses on Billy's bar were shivered.
/ 1t was wonderful work rafting fire,
quicker than a self-cocker even. He
selected another weapon. From
pile of tomato cans he took one and
tossed it into the air. Before it had
! fallen he had performed it vice, and
as it rolled along the floor he helped
| it's progression by four more bullets
which they had hit. The room was
! full of smoke. The grSuD watched,
fascinated.
|
rigid. Out of the film of smoke long,
vivid streams flashed toward them.
right and left, like the alternating
steam of a locomotives pistons.
Smash, smash! smash smash! hit the
bullets with regular thud. With the
! twelfth discharge the din ceased.
! Midway between the heads of each
| pair Of men against the wall was
round hole. No one was touched.
A silence fell. The smoke likhten-
ed and blew slowly through the win
dow and open door. The horses, long
! since deserted by their guardian in
favor of the excitement within, whin-
MED. The stranger dropped the
smoking colts and quietly reproduced
his own short barreIed arms from his
side pockets, Billy broke the spell
at last.
That's shootin'!' he observed with
a sigh.
"The fifty thousand is outside" said
the stranger. "Do you want emp"
There was no reply.
81 aims to pull out on one of these
here broncs Of yours" said he. BILLY
he's all right. He doesn't know moth
in about me-
Continued on Eighth Page)