The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1909-05-16

to saw WltN cle'u anu - -
'l ,..hor no was being led. at which a
,4don reckless disregard for conse
'.anoos seized him. He. felt a blind
f.,r-. ot bping pulled and hauled ard
l ,-;,.or bv this creature and also an un.
la.opinc anger at Gales detection
49, # was the thought of Necia and
10 horrible net Of evil in which this
man had ensnared them both that
lid him most. He determined tc
f.isb this thing here and now.
Meade went to his bureau, took his
u,r,1ror from the belt where he had
b,nr if and came cut into the other
room Stark. seeing the weapon, ex,
claimed:
Won don't need that. He won't re-
sist you" >,
.I.re decided not to take him." said
Burrell.
~Docided not to take him. shouted
the other Have you weakened
Don't YOU intend to arrest that man?
"vor' cried the soldier. ''I've lis
tened to your lies long enough. Now
I'm going to step them once for all
you'rp too dangerous to have around
They faced each other silently a mo-
mem. then Stark spoke in a very quiet
voice though his eyes were glittering.
"Vbats the meaning of this? Are
you crazy:"
"Gale was here just before you came
snd ted me who killed your wife.
know
"Well?"
ats pretty late. This place is lonely
This is the simplest way
The gambler fell to studying his an
tagonist, and when he did not speak
Burrell continued:
Come, brace up! I'm giving you 6
chance"
But Stark shook his head.
Don't be afraid" insisted the lieu
tenant. There are no Witnesses. II
you get me, nobody will know, and
your word is good. If not. it's much
simpler than the other" Then when
the gambler still made no move he In
sisted. You wouldn't have me kill
you like 4 rattleSnake"'
you couldn't" said the cider man.
you're not that kind. and I'm not the
kind to be cheated either. I.i-ten. I've
lived over forty years. and l never
took less than was coming to me.
won't begin tonight"
You'll get your share"
bah. You don't know what I mean
| don't want you. It's him I'm after,
and when I'm done with him III take
care Of you, but | won't run any risk
right now. You might put me away
there's the possibility. and l won't let
you or any other man-or woman eli
Their, not even my girl-cheat me out
Of Gale. Put up your gun"
The soldier hesitated, then did as he
was hidden. for this man knew him
better than he knew himselef.
Il ought to treat you like a mad dog
but can't do it while your hands are
up. I'm going to fight for John Gale
however, and you can't take him."
I'll have his carcass hung to my
rldgepole before daylight"
Stark turned to go, but paused al
the door And you think you'll mar
ry Necia, do youT'
Il know it,"
rs that so? Suppose you find hel
first"
What do you mean? Watt
But his visitor was gone, leaving be
hind him lover already sorely vexeG
and now harasSed by a new and sud
den apprehension. What venom the
man distilled. Could it be that he hat
sent Necia away?
Stark traced his way back to hi:
cabin in ten times fiercer mood thar
ne had come. reviling, cursing, hating
back past the dark trading post ht
went, pauSing to shake his clinche(
nSt and grind out an oath between hi
Ieeth; past the door Of his own saloon
winch was alight and whence came
Tue sound Of revelry, through the scat
Tered houses. where he went more b.
Ieei than By sight, up to the door O.
Ills own shack. He closed the dool
oehlnd him now and locked it. for b.
uad some thinking to do. then fel
through his pockets for a match. and
striking it, bent over his lamp to ad
JUST the wick. 1t flared up steady ant
SIrong at last, flooding the narrow
pace with its illumination. Then b
Strengthened up and turned towar,
'he bed to throw off his coat. whel
suddenly every muscle of his bod.
Ieaped with an uncomfortable spasm
as If he had uncovered a deadly ser
pent coiled and ready to spring.
John Gale was sitting at his table
barely an arms length away, his era,
Oiue eyes fixed upon him and the dee,
seams Of his heavy face set as i
s'@Nen III stone. His huge, knotte.
nanuS were upon the table. and be
tween them lay a naked knife.