The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1912-12-14
The Coming of the Law
~THE TWO-CUN MAN 81 Cvsofssf
By Charles Alden Settler

began packing things which she oook
from shelves and racks. IL was an en-
crossing taslt and she was much inter
ested In II. so much SO that she did not
hear a slight sound az the door that
led out TO tho front porch.
But when abe saw n shadow darken
the doorway of tho room In which she
was working she stood suddenly erect
and with rapidly beating heart stole
softly forward and peered around the
door jamb. OF course It could be no
one but Hoflis. He had taken the Coy
ots tran tonight He would b sur
prised 20 SEQ her.
Bu. IL was she who was surprised.
Yuma stood near the table In the ceh-
tire OF ths Kitchen, looking straight at
her. his insolent. evil taco drawn into
n forsbodlng annie.
After the frat gasp OF horror and sur-
priae a righteous anger stlrened her.
What are you doing here?" she de-
manded.
Yumas evil smile grew. she had seen
him often. usually At a distance. for she
had abhorred him. with his olive skin.
Ina thin. cruel lips and small. giittering
eyes. lie had always seemed IKE an
animal 70 her. though she could not
have told why. she thought II must DO
something In his attitude. I'm the stoop
which was almost a crouch. IN the
stealthy, cat-lihs manner in which ne
walked.
She had spoken TO Ed about him more
than once. conveying 10 him her abhor-
rencc OF the man. and he had told her
that ho felt tho Same about him. She
shuddered now. thinking OF what her
brother had told her Of the mans
cruelty. Duniavey had often boasted
that Yuma was tho most venomous and
bloodthirsty of his crew Of out.throats.
What are you doing here?' she re-
peated. her anger growing.
Yuma laughed softly. II saw you
ridin tho Razor Back the other day"
he said. showing his teeth as tho words
csme-even. smooth. burdenod with
subtle mockery. "t saw you again
thees afternoon-but YOU not see mo
Ike the other day. watch you thees
long"
lie held up three fingers to denote
that he had watched her three hours
She shuddered. suddenly realizing the
sisnihcancc OF his attitude that day she
had seen him from the Razor Back. :,
Ed gone" lie continued. watching her
narrowly: nobody here; come. like
you much" lie grinned. his eyes brtkht-
enlng. Il reckon you know-you &c.
that understsn'r'
Shs drew slow. deep breath. Curl
ousiy enough, next to the horror and
doubt that shs felt over Yuma's pres
ence al tho cabin was a wonder for the
tdioms OF cowboy speech that were In
terJected with his own. lie had caught
them from association, she supposed
Leave this caoin"' she commanded
sharply.
Yuma 90 not change his position.
Leave heemT' he laughed. 81 theenk
not Dunlavey says me come here
make UNI iove Inc same as tenderfoot
noospaper man." lie laughed again
sxutantly. 'Dunlavey say you spark
t.ndcrfoot--you spark me-"
she trembled. realizing tina. q crisis
was at hand and that she must meet IL
boldly. She thought OF the ivory-handled
weapon in tho holster at her hip and
involuntarily her right hand dropped
70 It's butt. She had learned 10 shoot,
hut she had never yet shot a man and
sae drew her hand away from the butt
OF the weapon with shudder Yuma
rad been watching her closely, his evil
little eyes glitterlng. and when he saw
her hand drop away ne laughed de-
rlsively.
"ion no shoo, heegnr' he said: ''Yc~
fral1. bunlavey say he reckon YOU No
shoot--say. YOU make love to um right
away'"
10 smiled sign icintly and took
stop backward and her right hand again
sought the butt OF the revolver. the left
closing on the edge OF tho door that
opened into her room. Terror had given
her courage and as Yuma continued to
advance with "a soft, cautious. cat-llks
sliding movement. she drew the revolver
and presented q. though her hand wav-
cred little.
~ YOU take another step toward me,
Yuma, viii Kill you'll" she declared.
, cro BE Continued