The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1913-05-06
The Siege
of the
Seven SuitOrs
By
MEREDITH NICHOLSON
Copyright. 1910. by Meredith Nlebolsos

HENDERSON rHllleu TOT undl bnOt
ut me,
"a good horsewhipping is what you
deserve" he cried, leveling his finger
mt me.
Gentlemen" began, not without In
ward quaking, "you have spoken lloyd,
naughty words to me, and In reply l
must say that your vocal efforts sug'
gest only the melodies of the braytng
jackass and that your manners, to
speak mildly. are susceptible Of oon-
siderable Improvement"
you leave this neighborhood within
an hour" doomed Ormsby. and In his
efforts to free himself from his chair
Il fell backward with a crash that
echoed through the long room.
Then summon the coroner by teie-
phone, for shall not be taken alive"
l answered quietly. Trying to recall ny
youthful delight In Porthos. Athos and
Ara
Come along. let us put him out"
Henderson was saying In an aside to
Ormsby
you were playing game here for q
stake not yours for the winning"
continued. Now | suggest that you
shuttle the pack-you three, who are 80
full of valor-shufile the pack. say.
and draw for the jack of clubs. Who
ever Is the fortunate man ! shall take
pleasure In pitching through yonder
worry charming easement"
Agreed cried Henderson, and the
three flung themselves into their chairs.
The alacrity of their consent had UNI
nerved me for n moment D'Srtugnnn.
l was sure, would have fought them
all, but | cOnsolcd myself as the cards
ratified on the bare table with the re-
Election that, considering the fact that
/ had never In my life laid violent
hands on u fellow being was con
Quoting myself with admirable assur-
ance My weight has always hung
well within 1870, and physicians have
told me that ! was incapable of taking
on flesh or muscle. Any one of these
men could easily toss me through the
their own exit.
Shallenberger caught my eye and In.
dicated with Il slight jerk of the head
that | had better run before II was too
late. The painstaking care with which
Henderson had fallen upon the cards
was dlsquieting, to put 1t mildly. Dick
nudCed mo in the ribs and offered FL
lr.t ny coat.
-. MI not he necessary" | replied
carelessIy Tender your services ia
the other gentlemen Come, gentle
men-hurry. Let us not waste time
here"
"lf Ormsby turns up the card you're
dead man." Dick was mutterinl
gloomily.
They're all alike to me-" replied
loudly. "Mr. Ormsby Is very beauti
full. l shall hope not to dishgure hin
permanently" But as spoke my
tongue was wabbly dry clapper II
my mouth.
was bending over now. watching
the three men pick up the cards. ant
once, when l misread the jack o
spades for the jack Of clubs, a shud
der passed over me- They were dow
to the last card, and Ormsby's han'
was on 1t.
Then / looked at the floor to stead
myself. and hope leaped within me
for there, by Ormsby's foot-a larg
and heavy one-lay an upturced card
the jack OF clubs, whose'Sone symbc
magnified itself enormously In m
amazed eyes.
At this moment became consciou
that something had occurred to dl'
tract the attention of the other mel
who were staring at some one VIII
had entered noiselessly.
Gentlemen, you seem immensely II
terested In the turn OF those cards.
um glad to have arrived at the critici
moment. Mr.. Ormsby, will you kindl
lift the remaining card from III
table?"
Miss Octavia stood beside me, Sh
was dressed In Il dark brown ridin
hlbit-the feather In her fedora hi
emphasized her usual brisk air.
Ormsby turned up the card, 1t wa
t,.e ten OF diamonds.
Gentlemen" cried, pointing to I'll
Clrd, what trick Is this? Can 1t /
possible that you have been trihin
with me In fashion for which me
have died the world over by sword an
plstolw
kindly explain. Arnold. the natur
of this difficulty" Miss Octavia con
manded.
simply this, Miss HOLSTER, n
must answer. | had offered TO figt
these three gentlemen In order. 1t wa
agreed that the man who drew Ii
jack Of clubs from the pack wit
which they had been playing shonl
he my first victim, They have shuttle
their own cards and have drawn Il
whole pack and there is no jack {
clubs in the pack! The only possIb
explanation Is one 10 which | hesitat
To apply the obvious plain Sake
terms"