Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1907-01-31
CHAPTER NII.-(Continued.) J

CHAPTER -(Continued.)
The room was filled with the scum OF
sea going humanity; foul smoke from fou
pipes tloated in choking clouds to the dirt
hegrimed ceiling. Now and again, be
twixt the shouting and the singing,
young girl whose presence in such com
pany turned my heart sick, played upon
harp, and there was mahogany-faced
nag whom the men addressed as Mother
Catch She seemed to have the eye of
hawk; nor did l escape her glance. She
shutfled up to me and stood glaring with
her shining eyes for a moment or two. the
very presentment of an old-time witch.
The glass door again swung dhen; three
men entered through it, and | recognized
the three of them in a moment. The first
was the Irishman. "Four-Eyes :" the sec
ond was the lantern jawed Scotsman. who
had been addressed in Paris as Dick the
Ranter;' the third was Roaring John,
into whose face Dan had emptied the con-
tents Of his duck gun three days before.
The ruthan had his mouth all bound in
bloody rag, but he was in nowiSe depreSs
ed; and. although the gun had stopped
his speech, he Smacked Paolo on the back
when he greeted him.
One of the men started a wild dance. 1t
was an extraordinary exhibition, and it
pleased the men about 50 that they roared
with delight. | was watching it, but my
attention was suddenly diverted by the
sense that something under a near table
was pulling at my leg. | looked down
quickly and saw a strange sight; 1t was
the black face of the lad SplnterS, who
had been treated so brutaly in Paris. He,
crouching under the table, was making
signs to me, earnest. meaning signs, so
that without any betrayal | leaned my
head down as though upon my hands, and
spoke to HIM:
What is it. lad?' l asked in a whis-
per. What do you want to say?'
Don't stop here, sir :" he answered in
a state of great agitation. They know
you. and are going to kill you"
He said no more, crawling away At
once; but he left me hot with fear. !
left my seat, and pushed amongst the
men, passing nearer and nearer to the
street, until at last | was at the very por-
tai itself. Then | saw that change |
had been made while had been sitting
The doors Of glass were wide open, bui |
the way to the street without was nc |
longer clear-an iron curtain had been
drawn across the entrance.
This was terrible discovery 1t seem
ed to me that the iron door had been clos
ed for an especial purpose. | knew. how
ever. that when the dance was over som"
of the audience would wish to 60 out. anC
60 I waited by he curtain. The men Were
then about to push their tables to the cen
ter again. but the hag raised her voice
and cried:
''-As you are. my pretty gentlemen: rs
only the first party we've been treated to
No. no; We don't have the door drawn yet
awhile. Good boys all of We, there's work
tc do ho no. work to do
Somehow. all the men Immediately
around me skunk away. and | found my
self standing quite alone. with many star,
5ng at me. The four men whom most !
feared had turned their backs. but the
rest of the assembly had eyes only for the
terrible woman and for myself. Presently |
the discordant music began again. The |
nag moved with hobble and a jig to the !
far end of the room. and began to come |
Straight down to the door whereby |
stood. | know not what presentiment
forewarnpd me to beware as the creature
drew near. | had my revolver in my |
pocket. b had shown it twenty barrels |
would have answered the folly. There |
was nothing to 90 but to face the screech- |
ing woman: and this did.
At the last. the old witch, who had |
danced for some moments at a distance OF |
zen PAGES from he spot where | stood |
became as on possessed. She uttered q
piercing shiek. and hurled herself almOst
on me. In that instant | remember see !
ing the three men with Paolo suddenly |
rise to their feet. while the other in the
room called out in their excitement. But |
the hag herself drew from her breast |
something that she had concealed there 4;
and as she stood within a yard of me-
she brought it crash upon my head, and |
all my senses left me.