Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-02

the recoil tharfrop threw him back three
lot from yo recoil. Mr. Ryan"
II guess" he said in his harsh Yankee
twang. " that you're a low-doWn coward
torturing me because you know I'm help
less"
THAT daws," says 1. lis acting sort of
queer -eh2 As 10 my being a coward. Mr..
Ryan. you'll remember the last time we
met l came buttin' along TO yo' hotel il
Grave City commenting on yo' proceedings
with straight tongue, and guns to back
the same
Come TO the point" says he.
Now this we're is what I'm trailin's up
10, sch, that | bears neither guns nor
malice. calls no names, brides my tongue
severe, treats YOU with plenty and gentle
inquiries, whar do you keep 70 manners?
where YOU keep your honesty" says he,
sort of sarcastic. You know l can't es-
cape. I've got TO listen. Talk, my good
man, and when you're through you can
60"
The town scou, still had his Office man
ners, lot con,emp;uous. He climbed up
on top OF his vanty-l!ke frog on a
ladder-to call me my good man" And
Vet had tanned him enough for business
II take notice says |, that on the shelf
above yo' hald there's a tin of rough-on-
rats. This cOndiment is maybe unusual in
meat balls and * seems to affect yo dawg
some piquant with wiggles and froth
on the jaws. He's swelling up, too. / like
wise remarks that thar's enough of these
high -fsvored meat balls to go through Nc
Calmont and all his riders May l politely
ask how long you been cook for this
ranche?"
Mind your own business"
which is to further test these same
delicacles by trying a meat ball on you"
lie grabbed long butcherknife from the
table.
Try IT," says he
Maybe I'd better call In Capt. Mccall
mont. Shall l shout for him?"
Ryan dropped the knife.
What do you want 10 know
How long you have been cook?''
Since yesterday. Eve been helping a
man named Preface"
why did he quite
Got a note by carrier pigeon. He was
In charge of McCalmonts pigeons"
You found the note after he left?'
Yes"
Hand It over"
lie said bad words.
IT notice" says l. that the meat balls
has finished with yo' dawg."
He took slip OF paper from his hip
pocket.
Were the boys warned?'
No"
The news made you sort of desperate?'
They'll XIII me when they know
so you took precautions f1rst?'
why do you torture me?"
Prefer a meat ball?'
Go, on, sir
II might be induced TO hide away these
del1CacieS. Also TINS klcked the ;
carcass-''in fact, TO help you some. You
could bury the past and resign 20 post as
cock
THE news will come out and III be muir
dered anyway What's the good?"
'"There being no ransom, says /. the
use for YOU here amt much conspicuous.
As a cook you're precarious, too Suppose
get you turned loosen"
I'll pay one hundred thousand dollars
tho day you set me free in the nearest
town"
How could ! tell the poor brute that he
had not dollar left in the whole worlds?
Two hundred thousand" says he, 'and
that's my last word"
man came to the door behind me- which
opened on the yard. There hung a long
iron crowbar. bent up in the form of a tri-
angle. The man began to beat this with
a horseshoe. and the sound would carry
maybe quarter-mile.
Name your own terms. says Ryan.
Come, name your price!"
You does me too much honor" says /.
for how could l tell him the facts?
What do care for your honor?" Ryan
had played like q sneaking coyote before
but now he talked out like man. I've
bought better men than you with a hun
bred dollars and now I'm going to insult
you with hard cash. Your price. you theft
The sound OF the gong must have been a
( gathering signal. for men were strayIns
In from the corrals, and there was soon q