The daily morning journal and courier., 1905-04-20

rlor corn juice Wnlcn he nad III Ine sideboard. They were also responsive to the suggestion of a little draw, but difficulty presented itself. Nine were too many to play at one table, and hardly enough for two games. Cunniff, however. was vaguely unea-, sy, and making a pretense of busying himself about the boat managed to get Partland and sperry playing at differ ent tables, each with. three of the strangers, while he went outside the ! cabin. as ,.:s.-. s-ss. ;e-
 The dusk was deepening as he peered out over the river, and seeing two more skiffs coming toward him he called up the mate of the Sally and gave aam a sharp order. 3s35t. +..4* .455s ;.
 Hoist anchor as quick an as quiet as you can, an cut these skiffs all loose. Let .hor drift an we'll take chances. When these two slxiffs come up, don't let 'em alongside. If there's any trouble I'll be out here quick enough" Then, knowing that the mate was to be relied upon. he re- l turned to the cabin, outwardly as pla- cid as usual. Inside all was quiet. The two games were in full progress, and he watched, first one and then the other. as if in Apparently he had not yet decided when there was the noise of voices out l side.
 It did not escape his notice that the six strangers looked at one another as if they had been expecting the arrival of others. They played on, stohdly, however, and he turned without a word and went on deck-4aH .s
 Here he found the two sktffs along side, with the mate ordering them of, and a tall. husky looking countryman demanding peremptorily to be allowed on board. tz lSA8
 \ I'm the sherir Of this county, Jim Baisley,' he said, "ans I p'pose to come aboard forcible if aint let come peaceable."
 Come right a5oard, Sheriff. said Cunniff. II reckon we ain't strong enough to keep you off if we wanted Ito, seein, you've got six o' your men here now."' s...s #J
 Well, that's right, I reckon said the sheriff. "They m leetle ahead O time, but they was to come" Then, when he had steppedJ aboard. he said: lt4What do you mean by driftin' down stream like this? D you know your anchor was up?"
 Yes, knew it. I kind O reckoned on gettin' out of the county afore you'd get here" said Cunniff, qquietly. 4
 Well, you didn't Now I want to know about Clay Pearsall, a citizen O Cape Girardeau that's quite some thought of. He started for your boat this noon. Leastways he WAS seen paddlin' this way, an he hadn't been seen since. His skiff was picked up be. low here an his hat was found in the river. You know him. He was playin cards here last night" ~4
 There was gentleman was playin' here last night. that called here to , aboard sort O sneaky like an there .l day. said Cunniff quietly He come was a little conversation, an he went |, away" s3
 was there a fight?" demanded the sheriff. '' s.s.-33 well, no, you wouldn't call it a fight There was ony one shot fired an no. body hit. He just went away" ,I MT. Cunniff's habitual deliberatior , served him well as he talked, for ht . delayed matters until Partland ant , sperry had ranged themselves beside him. They and the six strangers llat , left the card tables and come on deck ) scenting trouble. Behind the three stood the mate and two deckhands, al . silent, but alert and evidently ready tt 3 receive orders. well, reckon you'll have to come with me, Cunniff," said the sheriff : "Tain't altogether clear about Clay Pearsall, an you'd better make youl
 explanations in court"
 . Maybe you've got another reckon conin','' said Cunniff. We're on tht county line by this time, an you're nc more'n any other man here. [ don'i p'pose to leave my boat"
 "Well, we're strong enough to make you" said the sheriff, drawing his re-
 volver, motion which was initiated or i, the instant by all the men in his party MT. Partland's most prominent char acteristic was his promptness. It had it's advantages as well as its disadvan
 tages, but one of his maxims was that y if a mans going to shoot he'd ought tc shoot first. Accordingly he fired point blank at the sheriff, who thereupor ceased to take notice.
 The inevitable result was a volley di. rected at Partland, but Cunniff with { leap sprang directly in front of hi. friend, saying, "Oh! Jim, Jim"
 Then, as he fell, riddled with bullets he said, T told you wouldn't forget owed you one, old man. But more I than this he could not say.
 MT. Partland's grief was great and sincere.
 T told you the hoodoo would work Ed,'' he exclaimed as he bent over his friend. But neither he nor any of the others offered further resistance as they were placed under arrest by the sheriff's posse.
 l And the next day Clay Pearsall ,ap. peared in Cape .Girardeau, having swan ashore in safety, wherefore the