The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1911-10-05
The DEVILS HALF 81.
WILL LEXINGTON COMFORT .~..~..

Which remark netted Ddsey, who likes
to feel he's carrying the crowd when on the
floor. "Oh, don't know, enough truth
ought to seep into efsn MdriboSd over night
to spoil that.
An ominous ieer went up from the crowd.
Twin brother" had a shop-worn sound to
me. | spoke to the big fellow whom they
called Ping Deor.
III you hit Discord, being sent for, we
wouldn' keepyou standing out here all even
ing, picked in sweat on the edge OF nothing.
We generally listen to people we don't know
--at least let EN- buy a drink.
"All to the good for nerve" said Delor.
"Come on, men, we can't do nothin till we
hear from the French Drip Cave delegation
an you say you want to drag the woman
into this dirty mess2"
Only on the grounds that it amt, re-
marked Didsey.
What do you do with woman-beaters
over'n your white mans town.
| felt the shock Of the words as they
passed through poor Martin
"We don't feature em SOS to make 'em
popular said Didsey, "bein' what you
might call not strong on women-folks over
home"
Big Ping stepped into the doorway Of the
bar-room, and faced the crowd outside
Only for second or two at time did his
eyes leave Martin, but he appeared to ad-
dress Didsey:
Supposin' you'd shut, up shop of an
evenin over n your home-hamlet, when you
sudden hears the screams Of whipped wo-
manhears the voice and the blows OF the
man who broke into her house? Supposin
when you an others ran to help, you got
shot at by this man-.so's your townsmen
and neighbors are perforated and on sick
report unprecedented, an your pore old
Doc buzzin' perturbedfrom sore to sore"
"And you-all let this female -punisher--
this shootin' gent get away?" Didsey in
quired.
"Not aig-sactly, drawled Delor cooling,
his eye on Martin, that is, we did have him
herded up solitaire in French Drip Cave
awhile ago. Returns from tharll be in
shortly. 81. Only Lattrice wasn't dressed
like this here-when we drove him into the
dark yonder; in fact, he wasn't dressed
much to speak of.
"Why don't you go in the cave and get
him2" Didsey asked
There haint no one died from the
shootin' incidents yit," Delor replied con-
cisely. "Deekin Deevy is hoverin', so t
speak. II Deekin dies, we go in an get
him at any price, allus providin' he's there
an not here, which would simplify con-
siderable This here town is slow t anger,
AN doesn't care to rush through zone Of
light in the range of a man in the dark with
two guns. And then, Lattrice has made
some promises about usin' up all his am
munition. All in all, we've been content to
starve him for day or two"
Nails were driven into Martin Flint this
hour Literally he withered under the
words Of Big Ping
What of the woman?" I asked.
"She's changin' back to proper color as
well as could be expected"
The thought was queer to me, queer and
unpalatable- that Mary Gives soft, white
skin should be blackened by mans hand
"You say this Lattrice broke into the
womans house2"I went on, after a min
ute.
That's the idea" Delor replied, making
clear that she had not lied in the letter.
might came, when she wouldn't let him in.
Maybe we're soft an ol'-fashioned here in
Mariposie, but we low fur a womans natu-
raj institution Of Judgment. We told Lat
trice to sleep out that night, offcrin him
accommodations various, suggestin' he turn
up next mornin' with shave an shine an
try agin. Std O. that, he goes on drinkin'
Finally, two nights ago, he gives US the slip,
breaks in, an aforesaid screams starts the ]
town. Oh, he amt pretty nor respect |
able inside, this Lattrice Yet, I've seen
him look just as innercent and ready-to- I
burst-into-tears as this a-ledged twin O.
his'n." -, :
1t was now that Martin spoke up. His
face was gray-white in the broken light from a
the saloon, and there was something in his
voice hadn't heard for long. i
Men of Mariposa," he said, clumsiy. t
'it'smy brother in the cave, an myprisoner Il
by rights. He run off with the woman | h
was going to marry, and took the money
had saved. His life belongs to me-
"Go and get it," voices cried. Go to t
the cave an get your mani" {,
"That's what I'm askin'," Martin said. Il
ooking straight at Delor. O
Didsey and | broke in, but a quick, i'm n
,loring look from Martins eyes made us N
ilent. Delor, who seemed SO slow in all e
hings, missed nothing. ft
"Do you mean to kill him in there-or Il
,ring him out?"
DO you mean to kill him bring him 5.
ut2' Martin shot back. e,
Delor waved his huge hand over the crowd IL
Ehich was loudly signifying the affirmative. h