The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1912-12-23
The Coming of the Law
By Charles Alden Settler

changed siances with Hollis anA Ailsa.
Dunlavcy grinned widely.
Something's coming" remarted ~
len grlmiy.
Duniavey's grin grew Aertsivs 'rt
should bust up thu peace meeting" he
snecrcd.
"rhere WON'T BE- notAsn' aeensl."
syimly assured Aiien. But hs drew Ais
other stx-shootsr
The sounds outside Grsv In voonuse
AZ they swept toward the Shsrin's o.
nco They broke presently 81 ne door
and an ominous siisnes sucosaded
Then voice reached the intsrter-harsh.
authoritatve--Tsn spots veios.
open up. you shorthornsr' u sald.
Norton looked at Allen. The attsr's
face was pale.
"Thcy come in," ne directed. 'sihs
tho othms-one at . time"
Norton carefully withdrew the ar
with which the door was fastened.
swtnginx II open slightly. ~ ne "a -
there was a sudden rush Of bodies: Ner-
ton tried to Jam the door shut. fadled.
and was fun9 hack several steps ~
the sursing. yelling crowd that paisd
tumultuousiy into the room.
There were psrhaps twenty - then.
ohu ~ s0Oy Out0vo UuvO ne bs
shouting snd oursin9 and AugAing.
Hollis rscognissd amoas them my
mon that ne had ooms 70 hA0W BY
sight. They we're OF ne rsollles2 Nv.
less element upon which Dunlavsy had
relied for HE suopoSt-men Of Ten
Spots character. They hAA been Ar1uk.
Ing. but In spite Of their laughter and
loud talking u Wa plain TO - sesn
that thSy he'd dstsrmined not b -
baked In the purpose whteh had
brought thsrn into the ONCE.
There wss now no nsel - Gnard the
door; the damage had besn wrought,
and Norton backed away. leaving che
door sjar. pais. srim eyed. alert. fssAy
to take an aottvs part In the treuess
which he felt certain was sure 70 De-
vsiop. Something ~ the faoes q a.
men who had como IN With Ten 0Det
proclaimed tro,Ible.
Allen had not moved. ne stkal seped
behind Duniavsy. but hh wea0oas no
longer menacsd the Circle Crooo 0an-
ager; their mussIss. level and foebA-
ding. were covering the other msu.
Standing quietly beside tho rear deer.
his face pale. his eyes bright, his itps
In straight lines. Hollis watched closeiy
as tho visitors. having gained sntrancs,
gathered toGethsr IN the centre a ne
room.
They we're not svsd ~ Anso's wsap-
ons: they grinnsd hugely At him. One
man. young man OF abouA H6na1p's
age, bronxed. lean, rsclSisas Of ~ ana
Enthusiastically under the influence OF lo-
uor. lunsed forward to Allen and stood
within arms length Of him. 0v4nn1ng
at him
Two gums" he said With q la.,~A
why. l reckon you'd anake 4 =
Of = sheriff"
A chorus Of laughter srsstsA H.
young cowboys words. DunanWU
grinned widely.
You boys are Just IN time" As sass.
There was another roar Of isusA1sv.
Many OF tho men seemed only NV %
have become aware OF Duniavsys
presence and they snrGsd fssvard
around him. disregariinG Aliens gunu.
The latter seemed TO realize that ~
situation had passed beyond his con.
troll. for. catching Hoiiis's eye. ne auileh
grimly and sheathod his Weapons, -.
ing Hollls's side.
IT'S no use" ne said shortly to Roa-
lis ms he came nssr: 'thcy'u run ttings
10 suit themselves now. I wasn't Az
pectin' Ten Spot 10 butt into the game"
II reckon they've got us.''
Norton had also sought HoIliSs $40
and tho three stood near the rear door.
watching the crowd around punisvsy.
Hollis tried TO catch Ten Spot's eass
but fahsd-the latter seemed studleun1y
to avoid him.
A wave Of dull anger gursed thrusyh
Hollis's veins. Unul now the contest
had been conducted fairly; they had
given Dunlavey and Watkins an honsst
election. even though they had found
Il necessary to eliminate them - active
participants. From now on he was
assured the contest would be . joke
though a grim one. He had dspendud
upon Aliens guocess-it meant much "
him.
The thought of failure 5ust when w.
tory was within his grasp aroused h1m,
and In spite OF Norton's low word Of
caution he stepped forward and stood
besMe the table on which reposeA Sos
hat into which the ballots had been
placed by tho men who had previously
voted lie intended to take personal
charge OF tho hat. determined upoa &C.
curing "a fair deal In spite of the greg
odds
As he stepped forward he saw 0rea1v
grin maliciOusly and try to snatch y
gun from the holster of q cowboy Who
stood near him, This attempt was fr,A-
uated by tina puncher. who suddsuly
dropped his hand to his holster. where
II closed upon Greasy's. The punche-
snarled. muttered profoundly, and struck
furiously at Greasy. shocking him down
In n corner.
Other men moved. There were cnrses:
the flashing of metal as guns came out.
Hollis felt rather than saw Norton and
Allen advance toward the table and
stand beside him. A grim sustje
wreathed his face over the knowledge
that In the crowd there were at lssst
two men upon whom no might depsnA
to the end-whafsver the end wighS -
(To Be Contluued.l