Los Angeles herald., 1910-10-23

inclination to laugh. She had bestowed
that caress as she would have kissed
the cold end of a dogs nose.
The men below stairs had after som
discussion, decided on bullet. This
was out of consideration for Billy's
standing as a frontiersman Besides,
he had stolen no horses In order not
to delay matters, the execution was
fixed for the present time and place.
Billy stood with his back to the lo3s
of his own hotel, his hands and feet
bound, but his eyes uncovered. He
had never lost his nerve. In the short
respite which preparation demanded,
he told his opponents what he Thought
of them.
"Proud?" he concluded a long solil-
oduy as if to the reflector of the lamp.
"Proud?" he repeated reAectively.
This yere Hanks jest that proud
he's all swelled up like poisoned pup.
Amt every one kin corral MAJ
sleepin and git fifty thousand withf ut
turnin hair"
Black Hank distributed three men
to do the business. There were no
heroics. The execution of this man
was necessary to him, not because he
was particularly angry over the es-
cape of the meSSenger-he expected 10
capture that Individual in due time
over his men. He was in the act of
moving back to give the shooters room,
when he heard behind him the door
open and shut.
He turned. Before the door stood
a small, consumptive looking man in
a light check suit. The tenderfoot car
ried two short barreled Colts revolv-
ers. one of which he presented direct
ly at Black Hank.
"'Nds up!" he commanded. sharIlT.
Hank was directly covered, SO he
obeyed The newcomers
strangely restless quality OF the
other dozen innates % the room eleven
were firmly convinced that the Weap-
on and eye not directly leveled at their
leader were personally concerned with
themselves. The twelfth thouTht be
saw his chance. To the Devil 'ere1
onlookers there seemed to be flash
and a bang Instantaneous then th'n0s
were as before. One of the strangers
weapons still pointed at Black Hank s
breast; the other at each of the rest.
Only the twelfth man, he who had
seen his chance, had collapsed forward
to the floor. No one could "s"''"e rim
self positively that he had discerned
the slightest motion on the part o. the
stranger.
Nov" said the latter, sharply, zone
at a time gentlemen. Drop yore gu",'
this last to Black Hank, "muzzle
down. Drop it! Correct"
One of the men in the back Of the
room stirred slightly on the ball of
his foot.
"Steady, there" warned the stran-
ger. The man stiffened.
Next gent" went on the little man,
subtly Indicating another. The latter
obeyed without hesitation. Next.
Now you Now you in tn corner"
One after another the pistols clat-
tered to the floor. Not for an instant
could a single inmate of the apartment
armed or unarmed. flatter himself that
his slightest motion was unobserved.
They were like tigers on the crouch,
ready to spring the moment the mans
guard lowered. 1t did not lower. The
huddled figures on the floor reminded
them of what might happen. They
obeved.
"Step back" commanded the stranger
next In a moment he had them stand
ing in a row against the wall, rigid,
upright their hands over their heads.
Then for the first time the stranger
moved from his position by the door.
"Call her." he said to Billy, 1.-THE
girl"
Rillv raised his voice. Nell! oh,
Nell!"
In a moment she appeared in the
doorway at the foot of the stairs, with
out hesitation or fear When she per-
ceived the state of affairs she bright
ened almost mischlevously.
"Would you Jest as soon, am. If
it amt troubling you too much, jest
naturally sort of unite Billy?" request
I,n tVa04a