The Irish standard., 1908-06-06

ouAA A'e1u AOI SeL llldWeu lNe lFOSC OI
the night when a shot rang out from
Sally BIS barroom.
She caught her pistol from some
near nook ana rushed out, Esther fly.
ing after her.
Go back, child" Sally B. said stern.
ly, from the doorway.
Not unless you co." Esther re-.
turned in voice as firm.
"Foller still, then" the other whis.
pered, seeing opposition useless; and
they entered the barroom noiselessly.
A man with beetling brows and
| fierce, resentful eyes stood with his
| back to them, holding big revolver
somewhat unsteadily over Shack New.
begin, whose hands were high in air.
The intruder's clothes were soiled, his
boots dusty and cut from much walk.
ing over rock. Notwithstanding his
vicious, threatening attitude, his body
dropped as from intense fatigue.
He did not hear the women; and his
savage, low-spoken command showed
him dangerously sure of himself.
Give me ten dollars out of that
till. Do 1t quick and keep still. And
don't try shooting next time when a
man asks you for money; you might
get your wooden overcoat sooner'n
you'd like. Hurry up, there!"
Drop that gun, pardner!" Sally B.
said quietly.
She had waited barely breath on
the threshold, yet Esther had smelled
burned powder. seen Shack's pistol on
the floor, his dishevelled hair and the
bullet hole in the marauder's hat.
| Shack had had the first shot. How
had the other mastered the situation?
The man wheeled, with blazing eyes,
to meet Sally BIS pistol barrel almost
at his head. His own weapon, uncon.
sciously lowered, left him helpless,
though he made slight motion as il
to lift it.
Drop 1t. say! Let go!" Her re-.
volver touched his temple, and her
black eyes blazed message that com.
PEELED obedience.
He returned her look for an instant,
lowered his eyes sullenly, glanced
covertly about, and, STOPPING, laid the
pistol on the floor.
"Now, git inter that cheer!"
Again he looked at her resentfully;
but only for breath, when he bent
stifhy, and dropped heavily down.
'"Tie him, Shack, to the cheer; an
his hands behind him, an his feet to.
gether. How'd he git the drop on ye?
l see ye got the first shot,"
"Yes. But reckoned he was only
drunk, an wasn't lookin' fur him to
fight. only shot to skeer; but he
Jumped me like creased lightnin'."
He looks holler; low grub amt
ben plenty. Had anything to eat late
ly?" she asked her prisoner. !.
He shook his head sulkily.
Il thought so. Watch him, Shack"
she ordered, and after the tying was
done to her satisfaction, the two WON.
, en- went out.
They returned shortly, Sally B. with
q generous breakfast; Esther, who re.
fused to let her come alone, carrying
the coffee. They arranged the food on
a chair, and Sally B. took up her re.
volver again.
unite his hands, Shack"
you're the beatin'est," Shack he.
gan, obeying her order reluctantly,
''to go an feed a man that's tried to
rob ye."
mo matter. He's hungry. I
wouldn't turn hungry dog off without
q bone. Get to work, now" she said
gruf1y to the bandit. "An' while yo're
busy, tell what you wanted of ten dol.
lars. Why didn't ye ask fur the hull
till?"
Because I wanted to be white an
take only enough to get out Of the
country with" Esther thought his
face softened trife.
why don't ye work for it? The
Boss wants choppers; an everybody's
f]yin' west like ole Nick was after
'em"
That's my business. I want to leave
the country, not chop wood" The sui.
len look deepened.
If yo're that particular, you git that
grub out O sight, an git! earn my
money workin', an you can yourn."
He scowled at her; and no one saw
the CLEAN in his wicked eye as he
caught the flash from Esther's soil.
taire
1t was the only ornament of value
she wore in this rude place. She had
bought it for protection, and it had
served its purpose well. Most people
supposed it an engagement ring, q
supposition she tacitly encouraged.
The man ate hungrily, and finished
with surly Thank YOU"
Which way are you going?"
"West."
"Well take yo' weepon, an watch ye
piece out on the track. Shack, you
keep an eye an gun on him till he
gifts to the turn. Ye needn't come
back fur another meal o. victuals," she
continued to the fellow. "If ye do,
yell find more'n one gun pinted yore
way. Skedaddle!"