The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1913-08-14

Let me go. you. Let me free. |
want to fight the coward that struck
my wife. You've killed her. Who
was It? Let me get at him.
Shorty stlfened as though douche
Of Ice water had struck him. KILLED
her! Struck his wifer My Cod Not
that sweet creature of his dreams
who had talked and smiled at him
without noting his deformity.
An awful anger rose in him. and he
moved out into the light.
Hans up,''
Whatever OF weakness may have
dragged at his legs. none sounded in
the great believing command that
flooded the room. At the compelling
volume of the sound every man whirl-
ed and eight empty hands shot sky
ward. Their startled eyes beheld a
mans squat body weaving uncertainty
on the limbs of an insect. while in each
hand shone blue-black Colt that
waved and circled in maddening. err
ratio orbits.
At the command Marsh Tremper's
mind had leaped TO the fact that be-
hind him was one man. one against
five, and he took gamblers chance
As he whired he drew and fired.
None but the dwarf Of Bar X could
have lived. for he was the deadliest
hip shot in the territory. His bullet
crashed into the wall hands breadth
over Shorty's cowlick. 1t was clean
heart shot. the practiced whirl and
flip OF the finished gun fighter. but the
roar OF his explosion was echoed by
another. and the elder Tremper spun
unsteadily against the table with a
broken shoulder.
TOO high" moaned the big voice
''Dern the liquor
He swayed drunkenly. but at the
slightest shift of his quarry the aim
less wanderings of a black muzzle
stopped on the spot and the body be-
hind the guns was congested with
deadly menace.
Face the WALL he cried. Quick!
Keep 'em up higher They sullenly
obeyed. their wounded leader reach
ing with his uninjured member.
To the complacent Shorty it seemed
that things were working nicely.
though he was disturbingly conscious
of his alcoholic lack of balance and
tortured by the fear that he might
suddenly lose the iron grip of his fac
ulties.
Then, for the second time that night.
from the stairs came the voice that
threw him into the dreadful confusion
of his modesty.
ooh. Ross" it cried. I've brought
your gum And there on the steps,
disheveled. pallid and quivering, was
the bride, and grasped in one trem-
bling hand was her husbands weapon.
..Ah-hr' sighed Shorty seraphically
as the vision beat in upon his misty
conceptions ''She amt hurt.'
In his mind there was no room for
desperadoes contemporaneously witt
her. Then he became conscious of the
lady's raiment, and his brown cheeks
famed brick red. while he dropped his
eyes. In his shrinking. groveling mod
esty he made for his dark corner.
One of those at bay. familiar with
this strange abashment. seized the mo-
ment. but at his motion the sheriff
screamed, Look outr'
The quick danger in the cry brought
back with surge the men against the
wall. and Shorty swung instantly, mr.
ing at the outstretched hand Of Bailey
as it reached for Tremper's weapon.
The landlord Strengthened. gazing
affrightedly at his finger tips
TOO lowr' and Shorty's voice held
aching tears "I'll never touch another
drop. It's plumb ruined my AIM"
cut these strings. grille" said the
sheriff as the little mans gaze again
wavered. threatening TO leave his pris-
oners. Quick. He's blushing again"
When they were manacIed Shorty
stood in moist emulation. trembling
and speechless. under the incoherent
thanks of the bride and the silent
of her handsome husband.
She huttered about him in tremor OF
anxiety lest he be wounded. caress-
ing him here and there with solicitous
pats till he felt his shamed and happy
spirit would surely burst from its mis-
shapen prison.
You've made good thing tonight.
said Turney, clapping him heartily on
his massive back You get the five
thousand all right We were going
to Mexico City on that for bridal
trip when | rounded up the gang, but
I'll see you get every cent OF it, old
man. II 1t wasn't for you I'd have
been heap farther south than that
by now
The open camaraderie and good fell |
Iowship that rang in the mans voice
affected Shorty strangely. accustomed
rs he was to the yelled contempt or
open compassion of his fellows. Here
was one who recognized him as man. |
an equal.
He spread his lips. but the big voice |
suueaked dismaly: then. initiating
deeply. he spoke so that the prisoners
,hained in the corral outside heard !
him plainly.
I'D rather she took II anyhow"
violently.
M. no." they cried. Its yours"
We'll. then. half of it." And for
,nce shorty betrayed the strength Of