The herald., 1912-10-24
TheAvenger
By REGINALD D. HAVEN

The inquirer was an elderly man past
fifty, who spoke in modulated voice
that indicated the gentleman. He was
faultlessly dressed, and everything
about him betokened responsibility and
prosperity. But in his eye was look
well, it was ii look of indescribable
melancholy.
You refer to Jim Hawkins, | spec,
SIR" replied one of group of men OF
whom the inquiry was made.
Il don't know his name. | refer TO
the man who shot and killed young
Trevor" replied the gentleman in the
same quiet voice.
You'll probably find him at the An
telope saloon. sir. He's gambler and
has picked up a scab. The Antelope is
that WALLER building right over there.
But don't excite him. Even the sher-
I if doesn't dare touch him"
Thank you. gentlemen" and the
stranger started for the saloon.
Jim Hawkins was one of those des-
peradoes who infested the wild west
! in the days of its wilderness, especial
| " mining towns. Young Trevor.
mining engineer, had gone to the place
to examine a mine, had been invited
by Hawkins to drink. had declined. and.
having persisted in declining. Haw.
kins shot him dead. Something in the
old gentleman's appearance told the
men Of whom he had made his inqui-
ries that his presence in the town had
connection with this murder. 1t did
not occur to them that the mild man
nered man had come out to avenge
Trevor's death. Indeed, they didn't
know what he had come for, but curl
osity prompted them to follow him to
the Antelope saloon.
Approaching a table where Hawkins
had been pointed out to him, he bent
down and said in that same soft voice:
Excuse me. sir, for interruptng your
game. My name is Trevor. | have
come to invite you to have something
with me at the bar"
Hawkins looked up. and it seemed
to him that the young man whose life
he had snuffed out stood before him.
only aged. 1t was as if thirty years
had gone by and young Trevor had
come back to do by him as he had
done by Trevor.
The man bending over him showed
no sign of possessing a weapon. but
there was a self satisfied look so far
as danger was concerned that was
more forceful than if he had looked
down the barrel of pistol. Hawkins
did not know whether the apparition
as he considered it-could draw a
weapon-if he had one-quicker than
himself or not Something told him
that the hour of vengeance had come.
Under the influence of that melan-
choly eye he arose from the table.
leaving there a pile Of coins he had
won, and walked side by side with
the stranger to the bar.
"Barkeeper," said the newcomer,
"set bottle of whisky before the gen.
tleman and a glass;
The barkeeper filed the order while
Hawkins said:
II don't drink with no man who
don't drink with me-"
You are to drink not with the liv-
ing. but with the dead. | am but a
messenger to do what can only be
done in the flesh"
Whose messenger"
Reginald Trevor"
"Ohw
The stranger facing Hawkins leaned
his right elbow on the bar, supporting
his cheek with his right hand facing
the man he had invited to drink. This
brought the formers hand in close
proximity to the collar of his coat at
the back Of his neck.
Twill you drink. sir?''
Hawkins looked as il he didn't know
what to do. He raised his hand to
take hold of the bottle standing on the
bar. and the hand trembled. Every
one of those looking on saw it and
knew that the stranger had deprived
Hawkins Of his nerve. They knew II
from the fact that he was obeying the
stranger as well as by the trembling
of his hand. Hawkins poured out some
liquor, spilling much of it. Then he
SLOWLY placed it to bis lips and took il
down at gulp.
Have another" said the stranger.
But the liquor had brought back
Hawkins courage.
mot by az
The gentleman's hand that had beer
supporting his cheek clutched at some
thing under his collar at the back OF
his neck. and the broad blade Of q
bowie knife glittered before Hawkins
eyes. He started to put his hand tt
his hip. whereupon the stranger low
cred the knife to within an inch Of
that part Of Hawkins neck that GOV
ers the jugular vein.
| Drink" said the stranger.
Hawkins hand instead of continuing
to his hip grasped the bottle ant
poured out another. drink.
And so the stranger forced him t.
! take one drink after another till al
power was gone out of him. when tn,
! former turned to the lockers on ant
said:
"Call the sheriff"
That official who had not befor
) dared to lay hand on Hawkins. dis
{ armed him and carried him to the jail
, "Give him the rope tomorrow morn
ing at g." said the stranger Hell b.