Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1913-05-01


Can he win our phonograph?"
"Surest thing you know!"
"Then you vouch for him, do your"
WiIlie's eyes were bent upon the fat
MAJ with look of searching gravity
that warned Glass not to temporize.
with my life!" exclaimed the train
er.
you're on!" said the cowboy, with
unexpected grimness.
What d you mean?
But before the other could explain.
Berkeley Fresno, who had sunk weak
ly into a chair at Larry's extravaganza
praise of his rival afforded a diver
sion. The tenor had leaned back, con-
vulsed with enjoyment when, losing
his balance, he came to the floor with
crash. The sudden sound brought
a terrifying result for with startled
cry the understood cowman leaped as
IL touched by a living flame. Like a
fash of light he whirled and poised On
his toes his long, evil-looking revolver
drawn and cooked, his tense face vul.
turelike and fierce. His eyes glared
through his spectacles, his livid fea.
lures worked as If at the sound OF hia
own death-call. His whole frame was
tense; a galvanic current had trans.
formed him. His weapon darted to-
ward the spot whence the noise had
come, and he would have fired blindly
had not Slower yelled:
Don't shoot"
Willie paused, and the breath crept
audibly into his lungs.
"Who done that?' he asked, harshly.
Still Bill brought his lanky frame up
above the level of the table.
God 'lmighty! don't be so sudden.
Willie!" he cried. ut was acct
dent"
But the gun man seemed uncon.
vinced. With cat-like tread he stole
cautiously to the door, and stared out
into the sunlight; then, seeing nobody
in sight, he replaced his weapon in its
resting place and sighed with relief.
81 thought it was the marshal from
Waco" he said He'll never git me
alive"
Slower addressed himself to Fresno,
who had gone pale, and was still pros
trate where he had fallen.
Get up, Mr. Berkeley, but don't
make no more moves like that behind
a mans back He most got you"
Fresno arose in a daze and mopped
his brow, mumuring, weakly: Il
didn't mean to-"
Carara and Mr.. Cloudy came out
from cover whittier they had fed at
Wille's first movement.
81 dreamed about that Teller agin
last night" apologized the little man,
I'm sort of nervous, and any sudden
noise sets me off"
AS for Glass, that corpulent indi
vidual had disappeared as if into thin
air; only a stir in one of the hunks
betrayed his hiding place. At the
first sight Of Willie's revolver he had
dived for refuge and was now fat
tened against the wall, pillow
pressed over his head to deaden the
expected report.
"Hey!" called the foreman, but
Glass did not hear him.
Seems to be gun-shy," observed
Willie, gently.
Slower crossed to the bunk and laid
a hand upon the occupant, at which
CONFUSION ran through the trainers
soft body, and it became as rigid az
If locked In death. Come out, MI
Glass, it's all over
Larry muttered in a stifed voice
go 'way!"
ut was a mistake
l.; ;-l,4 ~, Ie
over, and thrust forth a round, pallid
face. He saw Slower laughing, and
beheld the white teeth of Carara, the
Mexican, who said:
Perhaps the Senior is sleepy"
Finding himself the object of what
seemed to him particularly senseless
joke, the New Yorker crept forth, his
face suffused with anger Strangely
enough, he still retained the pipe in
his fingers.
Say, are youse guys tryin' to kid
me?" he demanded, roughly. Now
that no firearm was in sight, he was
master of himself again; and seeing
the cause of his undignlfed alarm
leaning against the table, he stepped
lONdIu ulll VII IL sOu u =
that again, young Teller, I'll chip you
on the jaw, and give you a long,
dreamy nap" He thrust a short,
square fist under Willies nose.
That scholarly gentleman straight
ened up, and edged his way to one
side, Glass following aggressively.
You're a husky, amt you?' said
the little man. squirting up at the red
face above him.
Am II" Glass snorted. "Take n
good look!" With deliberate menace
he bumped violently into the other. 1t
was with difficulty he could restrain
himself from crushing him.
Slower gasped and retreated. while
Carara crossed himself, then sided
back of a bunk. Mr.. Cloudy stepped
silently out through the open door and
held his thumbs.
You start to kid me and I'll wallop
you"
"One moment" Willie was trans
figured suddenly. An instant since he
had been a oopshouldered. short
sighted. insignificant person, more
gentle hammered than child, but in
! a fash he became palpitating fury
an evil atom surcharged with such
terrific venom that his antagonist
drew back involuntarily. Don't you
make no threat'nin moves in my d.