The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1906-12-27
DUKE OF
DEVIL
MAY-CARE
cHAPTER Xlv.-contInued.
BY HARRIS DICKSON
krfhor Of
The Black Woh-s Breed &c


round: his back was toward the
other. Agile as a panther. Duke
sprang upon him and caught the
wrist that held the weapon. They
grappled. wavered. struggled against
the wall. among the tables and chairs,
but Duke held that surly weapon and
kept It pointing toward the ceiling.
His own pistol dropped from his
pocket. A table crashed beneath their
double weight.
"Sancta Maria" shouted Pedro,
running IN from the back room, and
lodging back again even more quick
". From his position Of safety be
mind the door he screamed his fran
tic suggestions to Miguel and fanny,
who were trying 70 get behind each
Other-and succeeding alternately.
In bis turnings and tWistings Duke
caught sight OF the walters
Here. Miguel" be called, breath
ing very hard. take this pistol
The walters closed In at once. and
between the three they made quick
work OF Vance.
Miguel Wrenched the pistol out Of
Vanee's hand and bore 1t back into
their labyrinth OF a kitchen where no
human sagacity could have found it.
Pedro. the valiant reserve. rushed
in, Eat and garrulous. and exceeding
wrOth. The three Spaniards forced
Vance backward into a chair and left
Duke standing free in the center OF
tho roou-free to breathe. free to
think.
During the melee when his own PTS
tol had fallen to the floor. Duke strug
gied all the more desperately to re-
tain control OF Vance's. Now he
stopped aud picked up his horn-han-
died Colts whose very touch
sured him. like the grasp Of a trusted
friend It fitted his hand so easily.
with such a calm reliance. that he
smiled. AS master of the situation he
could do what he chose.
With the hot blood Of combat ting
ling in his face. with the nesh-born.
madness OF the fighting male surging
through his brain. tautening his NUS
eies with the world-old desire to slay
Noel Duke controlled himself
Il could only have been a second or
Two that Vance watched him-that
undecided man lingering a heavy
Colts. Then Vance saw him smile.
quietly pick up his hat. step out Of
the back door and disappear.
Ali Of this happened before Baker
could run from the coSneT. or Hip
volyte could hobbie across the street
mi say said Baker. looking eau
tously in at the door. "had the deuce
Of a rows"
You Internal fools" vanc,
scarcely knew whether to laugh Of
swear. what ia the thunder did yot
hold me for. and let taat fellow &c.
away3'
Get away! Get away" echoed thI
fat Pedro with delicate irony. I'll
walk out like = gentleman. WI.
you come and make fight in ma.
rester-raw7"
II wanted 10 arrest him
ARREST him. For what you arres
hlm7 Are you aloaldel Are You pas
troll? Are you re poiees2 Look a
INT table; who pay me for zat
You
Vance looked up at the excite
spaniard.
4 wanted to arrest him for
Then for the life Of him Waco coul
not think why be should have wante
20 arrest this unknown man.
You catch a catamount. eh, senior
You arrest a ~tarsntula. oh. senior
You fight wid a bronco. eh. senior
Why for you dHye my customer AVA
mako fight IN my house,
Vance brushed the sand from hi
knees, pressed the dents out OF hi
hat, then he looked at the wrathfl
Pedro and burst into a laugh.
Vance laughed aud laughed again
ne was happy. He had al least don
something: that something migl
have been very useless ana very Zoo
fish, but he had done Il All the sam
and that was enough 70 relieve b
mind,
Pedro. Miguel, Hippolyte, Bake
TanRy-aii crowded around. Dointir
10 him. ~gesticulating ana telling eaC
other how It had happened
For awhile Vance lstenad 20 the
behel. then raised his hand, and th'
flushed
"Fhe drinks are GA m%e-your yel
best Come. Sit down. everybody
He iacluded proprietor waiter
strangers from the street, Ia o.
genial invitation
well / don't know who he wa
Or Whist { wantsg with him. but /
lei got him II yos fellows lad lei n
alone
While the ddnks we're bein
brought Vance very seriously regafds
A ldle 81 spllniefs ana tindling wo1
witch had once been lhe proudesi d
be "a Psdfo's Place
sepor Pedr0. he laqulred blan'