The evening world., 1912-01-30

ln III was not fne Wehtners
~ over the huddled shanties Of
La Junta swan the pure light OF a per-
feet August morning. and there we're no
indications OF a barometrical disturb
ancc. Hut Lanky knew there was a
storm brewing. He knew II because he
saw heads sticking out OF Windows.
saw men lounging near convenient
d~oorways-knew II because over ths
street settled a scpulchral calm.
lie knew also that no was to be the
storm centre. suddenly alert over the
knowledge that his intuition brought
him. he halted abruptly. smiled mirth-
lessly. and placed his back against the
rough board front Of the Arhambra Sa-
loon. Then he loosed his pistols. folded
his arms over his chest. n CARED
abou, him meditativeiy.
This was an Indication that he ~
ready for the Storm
II was not the fret time fAnky Q
played heroics for the edincation Of La
Junta's citizens. He was La Junta's
only "two-gun" man. and In Junta had
n decent respect for his ability In dl.
recting tho leaden messengers " n
forty-nve. Lanky knew that this was
why furtlvc eyes regarded him from
many windows. Hut II he suspected LA
JuUtt = tliiL'ns oI IN tiiu NtVWb~
edgc of the present distressing calm he
gave no sign.
His eyes-nnrrowed 10 s~Nts-kAfnksd
Complementary at a little group OF
men who convsrsed together . little
way down the street. LAnky knew this
group for La Junta's vigilance commit.
tee. Among them was Bob Hitler. the
town marshal.
i.anky could not have protested limo.
cence OF Ia Junta's unesrthly auietness.
Rumor had thrown q choice morsei to
her regiment OF tongues. II was known
that the vigilance committee was after"
Lanky. and when the vigilance commit
tee went after anyone they generally
got him.
Tradition said n n defeat had been
written into the records OF the committee
only once. and that was when n suspect
had cor'rived 20 get twenty-four hours
start-after killing Q man unlawfully.
Individually and collectively. the com
mlttee had thereafter Iabored heroica1ly
to remove this blot. And so Ianky
knew exactly what MS chances were.
= But Lanky had a reputation 10 sus-
taln. His GOODNESS in the face OF danger
was not mere bravado: he was known
To DO the nerviest. SIMPLEST. siowest
lightning Hash Of "A man In Colorado.
For this reason whom the vigilance COM
mittee. headed by Bob Hitler. came
slowly toward Lanky. La Junta's tim
orous citizens watched fearfuiiy from
their comparative security.
1t was Hitler who broke the silence as
The committee came within speaking DIS
lance OF Lanky.
I'VE want to talk" said Hitler. speak
ing gently. as though he and his fell
lo~w-vigilantes sought q favor. IAN we
amt hankcrins after any gun play"
Lanky smiled-his hands resting on
his hps Immediately above the holsters
OF his pistols. The smile was satiricai.
Then don't come any closer" he
said.
The committee halted su~ddenly-ia-
boring with indcclsIon. To the last man
It's Members had their hands folded over
their chests. This position was sug-
gestlve Of the committees peaceful tn
tentions.
This here committee resumsd fflii-
or. lis a legally authorised fimt Of the
law. II knows that for the last two
months you've been rustlins cattle. II
knows that for the last two months
you and some person or persons I'M
known have stolen cattle and shipped
them over the Santa Pc at Trinidad.
And II knows. also. that three. nights
aTo you and another rustler Killed Col.
Daniel OF Bar X. when he caught you
cutting out a bunch Of his stock. Dan
iel's foreman says M was near enough
to see that you was one OF the men.
and he says he followed you almost TO
Purgatory Crossing before you shook
him. You've been long enough around
this country to know what happens to
cattle thieves when they're caught.
We're expecting you TO act the gentle
man"
This was n long speech for the town
marshall, not In ten years had he So
spared the feelings of a cuiprit. And
every one OF the Ave other men who
composed the committee knew why he
had shown the virtue OF for bearance
In this Instance.
They all know the significance OF
Lanky's cold. gllttering glance and the
contemptuOus, sneering curl OF his lips:
once they had seen this expression on
his face when he had stood In the
card room OF the Alhambra deliberate
" shooting the lie out OF a gambler
who had cheated him. And now they
waited breathlessly. though with ex-
prcsslonless faces, for Lanky to make
his choice.
They knew that In case Lanky chose
TO night, several Of them must die
before they could get their weapons
was their courage that Lanky. sweeping
a glance over them. saw no sign OF
the death-fear IN their faces.
~ reckon on acting the gentleman
said I.anky quietly, There's no use
being obstinate"
lie hes't,ted, looking from one TO the
other with a glance of amusement.
(ro lie Continued