The San Francisco call., 1904-08-07


particularly angry over the escape OF
the messenger-he expected to capture
that individual in due tine-but in or
der 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 car
ried two short-barreled Colts revol-
ly at Black Hank
Nds up he commanded sharply.
Hank was directly covered, so he
obeyed. The newcomers eye had a
strangely restless quality. OF the other
dozen inmates of the room eleven we're
firmly convinced that the weapon and
eye not directed at their leader were
personally concerned with themselves
The twelfth thought he saw his chance
To, the bewildered onlOOkers there
seemed TO be. a flash and bang in
stantaneOus. Then things were as be-
fore. One of the strangers weapons
still pointed at Black Hanks breast,
the second at each one of the others
Only the twelfth man. he who had seen
his chance, had collapsed forward to
the floor. No one could assure himself
positively that he had discerned the
slightest motion on the part of the
stranger.
Now" said the latter sharply. zone
at time, gentlemen. Drop your gun!'-
this last to Black Hank. ''OIuzzle
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 latter
Obeyed without hesitation. Next Now
you. Now yCu in the corner"
One after another the pistols clashed
to the floor Not for an instant could
a single inmate of the apartment.
armed or unarmed. iatter himself that
his slightest motion was overlooked.
They were like tigers on the crouch.
ready TO spring the moment the mans
guard lowered. 1t did not lower. The
huddled figure on the floor reminded
them Of what might happen. They
Obeyed.
-Step back!' commanded the stran-
ger next. In a moment he had them
standing in 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 Biny-"tha
girl"
Billy raised his voice. Nell! o.
Nell!"
In a moment she appeared in the
doorway at the foot of the stairs with
out hesitation or fear. She had slipped
on dress. When she perceived the
state of affairs, she frightened almost
mischievOusly.
would you just as soon. ma'am. if
il amt trOublin' you too much. just
sort Of naturally unite Billy2" request
ed the stranger.
She did So The hotel keeper
stretched his arms.
Now pickup them guns, please"
The two set about it,
Where's that internal old repro
bate?" howled Billy suddenly, looking
about for Charley
The patriarch had quietly slipped
away.
You can drop them arms" advised
the stranger, lowering the muZZles of
his weapons. The leader started to say
something
You shut up" said Billy. selecting
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 hit
ting the hammer smartly with the
palm of his hand. In the thrUstinS
motion Of this discharge ne 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
q
of tomato cans he took one and tossed
it into the air. Before it had fallen he
had perforated it twice, and as it rolled
along the floor he helped its progress
sion by four more bullets which left
streams of tomato juice where they
had hit. The room was full OF smoke.
The group watched. fascinated.
i Then the men against the wall grew
rigid. Out Of the film Of smoke long,
= vivid streams flashed toward them.
, steam of a locomotives pistOns. Smash,
y smashi smash, smash. hit the bullets
with regular thud. With the twelfth
- discharge the din ceased Midway be-
r tween the heads of each pair OF men
q against the wall was round hole. No
- one was touched.
i A silence fell. The smoke Hghtened
T and blew slowly through the window
n and open door. The horses, long since
{ serted by their guardian in favor OF
n the excitement within, whlnnled- Inc
: stranger dropped the smoking Colts and
n quietly reproduced his own shOrt-bar-
o relied arms from his side pockets. Billy
broke the spell at last.
: That's shootint" he observed with a
: sigh.
f The fifty thousand is outside said
n the stranger. DO you want 'em?"
There was no reply.
O II aims to pull out on one Of these
: here broncs Of yours" said he. Billy,
r he's all right. He doesn't know nOthin'
II about me-"
. He collected his six-shooters from the
n floor.
Il Just takes these with me for
n SPELL" he remarked. you finds them,
IS if you locks hard enough. along on tn
. trail-IikewiSe your brOncs."
/ He backed toward the door.
e I'm layin' for the man that sticks
! his head outen that door" he warned
s stranger" called Black Hank, as he
# neared the door.
II The little man paused.
v Might / ask your name ?"
Ie My name is Alfred, >" replied the lat
d ter.
3 Black Hank looked chagrined
i've heard tell of you" he remarked.
> The strangers eye ran over the room
is and encountered that Of the girl he