Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1907-05-15


Guilford Berton.
Now" he said. deliberately as be-
fore I'VE are on all tours, and
fancy my weapon is rather a better
one than that horse affair of yours.
Shake your finger on that trigger, and
you are a dead man"
Guilford Berton lowered his pistol,
and confronted his adversary with a
white face
What are you doing here?'
Mr.. Furlong kept his revolver
pointed with deadly precision.
Put that thing down and keep
quiet, and I'll tell you"
Almost mechanically the pistol was
laid on the table
Still keeping the revolver pointed,
Furlong took up the pistol and thrust
it into his pocket. then he laid his re-
volver on the table within the reach
of his hand. and looked at Guilford
Berton steadily
CHAPTER XXI.
The two men faced each other
Guiford Berton quivering with rage
intensified by its impotence, the man
Furlcng calm and coolly watchful
Guilford Berton would have liked to
spring upon him, but there was some
thing in the eyes shining from under
the bushy brows which warned him
that at his first movement its owner
would without hesitation put a bullet
into him.
What are you doing here?" he
asked, finding his voice at last.
Furiong smiled grimly, and nodded
to the desk.
That's rather an unnecessary ques-
ton, isn't it? | was looking for
curiosities. when you came in and in
teerupted me.
You are an impudent seoundre.
and If YOU think because am unarm-
ed you will get off scot-free you are
mistaken
Tall talk won't count for much,
seeing how matters ale fixed between
us. It's waste of time to threaten
me. Mr.. Berton. Come, you're a sen
lsible man; just face the music and
take things easy. Just try aud think
I'm a friendly visitor dropped in uney.
pectedly; it's rather late. it's true.
Take yourself OFF,"
THAT you may follow me an
raise a hullabaloo?"
If you think am going to permit
VOu 10 aucara yor, aro ,,fs4ol,o,,
Whether you go now, or wait til day
light, and are taken here red-handei.
will make little difference; you APP
pear to have forgotten that, notwith-
standing your cool impotence, / have
got you as surely as if you were al
ready in the hands Of the police. 1
know YOU; before you can get out OF
reach the police will have an exact de-
scriDtion of you and--I think the ia.
bles will be turned, my friend
The man eyed him though fully.
After all. you've got some pluck, e"
he said, quietly. You're drawer
man than | took you to be, Mr.. Ber-
ton. Many a man in my position
would take you at your word, and re-
Numbering that dead men tell no
tales. would put it out of your power
to supply the police with a descrip-
tion," and he glanced meaningly at
the revolver But don't think we
need waste any time Ia bullying each
other After all, there's not much
harm done"
What! | find you here, having
broken into my house
Excuse me. Let's have it right
and square In the first place you're
wrong | didn't break into your
house found the little gate in that
high wall open. and | just stepped in, .
And, being in, lost no time in
breaking into my property. I'm
afraid you're excuse won't weigh much
with the judge and jury when you are
tried for burglary, which you will be.
You scoundrel
Il dare say 1t wouldn't. But I'm
not being tried yet. Look here
hadn't We better set comfortable?
You don't ask me to take a seat, so
I'll help myself and ii you'll take my
advice you'll follow my example"
As he spoke he dropped into the
armchair, and in leisurely fashion
took out his pipe and pouch.
The master of the cottage glanced
toward the door. Should he make u
rush for It. and en- 'eavor to reach the
garden and raise an alarm? He was
'sorely tempted, but he saw that the
revolver was lNng wilhin reach of
the mans hand and felt that the gilt
tering eye was watching him in cat
like fashion, and stood still.
May trouble you for a light?%
asked Furlong, blandly MOI Well
- He craned forward and lit his
pipe at the lantern Now. then, M
Berton I'm ready to hear anything
and everything you've got to say
Chin-music is not much in my line
but I'll allow that you feel anxious TO
abuse me. and don't like disap-
pointing you Just blow on the
steam with some of the hardest words
you know"
Guilford Berton caught up a chair
with a strong impulse to fling it at
mans head but instead he planted il