The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1908-02-21
TheSpoilers.
NJ REX 3. BRAchy
Copyright 1909 by Rsx n Beach.
(Continued from last issue.)

He took her rain wet face between
his hands and kissed her upon the lips
as he would have saluted little maid
As he did 50. unseen by both Of them,
a face was pressed for an instant
against the pane OF glass In the stable
wall.
you're brave girl and may God
bless you" he said. extinguisbing the
light. He flung the door wide and
she rode out into the storm. Locking
the portal. he plunged back toward the
house to write his hurried note. for
there was much 10 do and scant time
| for its accomplishment. despite the
helping hand of the hun ricane. He
heard the voice of Boring as It thun.
dered on the golden sands, and knew
that the first great storm of the fall
had come. Henceforth he saw that
the violence of men would rival the
rising clements, for the deeds of this
night would stir their passions as
Aeolus was rousing the hate of the
sea.
| lie neglected to bolt the house door
as he entered. but flung OFF his dripping
coat and, seizing pad and pencil,
scrawled his message. The wind
screamed about the cabin. the lamp
nared smokily and Glenlster felt a
draft suck past him as though from an
open door at his back as he wrote:
l can't do anything more The end has
come and It has brought the hatred and
bloodshed that have been trying to pre-
vent | played the game according TO
your rules but they forced ne back TO
| frst principles in spite Of myself and now
| | don't know what the finish will be. To-
morrow will tell. Take care OF your UNI
| Gle. and II you should wish to communi-
| cate with me, go to Cherry Malotte. She
is a friend to both Of AS. Always your
servant. ROY GLENlsrER.
AS he sealed this lac paused, while he
felt the hair on his neck rise and bris-
tie and chill race up his spine. His
heart tluttered. then pounded onward
till the blood thumped audibly at his
ear drums and he found himself sway
ing i'm rhythm to its beat The muscles
Of his back cringed and rippled ut the
proximity of some lowering peril, and
yet an Irresistible feeling forbade him
to turn A sound came from close be-
hind his chair-the drip. drip, drip Of
water Ii was not from the caves, nor
yet from faulty shingle His back
was TO the kitchen door, through which
he had come, and, although there were
no mirrors before him. he felt men
acing presence as surely as though IL
had touched him. His ears were tuned
to the finest pin pricks of sound SO
that be heard the faint signing
"squish" OF sodden snoe upon which
weight had shifted Still something
chained him TO his seat. II was as
though his soul laid a restraining hand
upon his body, waiting for the instant.
He let his hand seek his hip careless
", but remembered where his gun was.
Mechanically he addressed the note in
shaking characters. while behind him
sounded the constant drip, drip, drip
that he knew came from saturated
garments. For long moment he sat,
till he heard the stealthy click of gun
lock muffled by finger pressure. Then
he set his face and slowly turned to
find the Bronco Kid standing behind
him as though risen from the sea, his
light clothes wet and clinglng. his feet
centered In spreading puddle. The
dim light showed the convulsiye fury
of his features above the leveled
weapon, whose hammer was curled
back like the head of striking adder.
bis eyes cleaning with frenzy. Glen
lster's mouth was powder dry, but his
mind was leaplng riotously like dust
before a gale, for he OWNED himself to
be In the deadliest peril of his life.
When he spoke the calmness Of his
voice surprised himself.
whats the matter. BroncoT The
Kid made no reply, and Roy repeated,
what do you wantr'
That's he'll of question" the
gambler said hoarsely. II want you.
Of course, and I've got you"
Hold up! am unarmed. This Is
your third try, and want to know
what's back OF IT,"
Damn the talk!' cried the faro deal
er, moving closer till the light shone ON
his features, which commenced C
twitch. He raised the revolver he had
half lowered. There's reason enough.
and you know IT,"
Glenister looked him fairly between
the eyes, gripping himself with firm
hands to stop the tremor he felt in hi"
bones. you can't kill me-" he said.
II am too good a man to murder. You
might shoot a crook, but you can't kill