Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-03-17

~ ni6ss ~ = 800. vltk eaIiIEs
tr0aa - SliDoed Int - 111s0tAs.
Quaxtsfs, rstlGniAs - 0o0sot NitA
revolver. he stafeA THANKFULLY at
tho wsapon-better this than dishencr.
why didn't I think of It before3
ltb perfectly simple. IN scoide1tally
shoot myself-in the foot!"
But even - he sased st the gun he
saw that the mussle vas % large .
. gopher-hole. A bullet Of that sise'
would sink . ship. 10 msditated n .
panic, and 40 for his foot-whAt fright.
full execution 1t would work! Butt
were better to loes foot than foot.
race, under present conditions. 20 he
began to unlace his shoe. Then real
ixing the value Of circumstantial evi.
denoe. he paused. No! His disability
must bear all the earmarls Of IN acci.
dent. He must guess the location o.
his smallest and least important toe.
and trust the rest to his marksman-
ship. Visions Of blood-poisoning De-
set him, and when he pressed the
muxsle against the point Of his shoe
his hand shook with such . palsy that
he feared he might miss. He steeled
himself with the thought that other
men had snufIed out life itself II this
manner. then sat down upon the door
and cooked the weapon . second time.
He wondered IL the shock might, by
any chance, numb him into uucon.
sciousness.- II 20, he might bleed to.
death before assistance arrived. But
he had nothing to do with that. The
only question was. which foot. He re-
garded them both tenderly. They
were nice feet. and had done him
many favors. He loved every toe:
they were almost like innocent chill.
dren. It was dastsrdly deed 10 take
advantage Of them thus, but-hs adj
vanced tho revolver until Il pressed
firmly against the outside Of his left
foot. then closed his eyes. and called
upon his courage. There cane .
great roaring In his ears.
How long no sat thus waiting for
the explosion he did not know. but
he opened his eyes at lensth to ind
the foot still Intact, and the muscle
Of tho weapon pointing directly It his
instep. He altered HE Elm hur1tedly.
when. without warning Of any eort, .
mans nguro appeared silhousstsA
against the window.
The figure dropped noisslsssly to
the door inside the room. and cried. IN
q strange voice: ~
Lock those doors! ouickl"
Finding that 1t vas no hsllucinat3oo.
Speed rose. calling out:
Who are you?"
"Sh-h.h!" The stranger darted
across the room and bolted both
doors. while the other felt chin Of
apprehension 1t thess sinister pescau-
lions. He srasped his revolver firmly
while his heart thumpsd. Tho fellows
appearance was anything but feassurs
Ing: he was swarthy and sun-bsovDed.
his clothes wsre ragged. Ais ovsealls
were patched: instead e opak hs
wore . loosely Tapping vest Over =
black sateen shirt. long since rusted
out to q nondescript brown.
i've been trying to get 10 you for Z
week." announced tho mysterious viz
itor hoarsely.
"w.vhat Do you vantf Who ars
you?"
-1.m Skinner, cook for the Can't.
pede."
'aThe man I races"
mot % loud" Skinner was strain
ing for the faintest sound from the dit
rection of the mogs-house.
I'll kill him!" exulted the Eastern
lad. But the other forestalled . MUIR
der by running on. rapidly:
Listen, now! Hump and jobbe6
this gang last month: we're partners.
see? He's got another race framed
at Pocatello. and want to make Q
getaway"
Eyes! yes! y.you needn't stay hero
-on my account"
Now don't lets take any chances
tomorrow. see? We're both out for
the coin. What do you want to do
win or lose?" Skinner Jumped back
to the door and listened.
'What?"
Don't stall!" the Stranger cried,
impatiently. "Win l win OF. will you?
What's it WORTH" He clipped his
words short. his eyes darted furtive
glances here and there.
Can VIM" gasped Speed.
you can II there's enough IN It for
me. I'm broke, sec? You bet ave
hundred. and we'll cut It two ways"
IL haven't that much with me-"
Borrow 1t. Don't be q boob. Meet
me in Albuquerque Sunday. and wen
split there"
rs that all I have to do?"
Certainly. What's the matter with
you, anyhow" Skinner cast = susDi.
cious glance at his companion.
IL guess I'm rattled-lt's all 90
sudden"
"Of course yourl have to run fast
enough 80 we don't tip OF"
How fast 10 that?"
"Oh, ten-four," carelessly. "That's
what Humpy and did"
Ten and four-fifths-seconds p
Certainly. Don't hid me! They're
liable to break in on N"
Mr.. Skinner, IL can't run that
fast. Fifteen il going some for me"
what" Skinner stared ct his op
ponent strangely.
That's right. I'm . lemon"
"Ain't you the Yale champ? Tha
guy that goes under even time?"