The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1913-12-27

flash of light he whirled and poised on
his toes, his long, evillooking revolver
drawn and cooked, his tense face vul-
turelike and fierce. His eyes glared
through his spectacies. his livid fea-
lures worked as If at the sound Of his
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 THAR" 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. 1T was q acct
dent"
But the gun man seemed uncon-
vinced. With q 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.
Il thought 1t 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
mans back He most got you."
Fresno arose in 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
Willie's first movement.
Il dreamed about that feller agin
last night" apologized the little man.
I'm sort Of nervous. and any sudden
noise sets me of"
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 a
CONFUSION ran through the trainers
soft body. and 1t became as rigid as
If locked in death. Come out, Mr..
Glass. it's all over"
Larry muttered in a stifled voice.
go 'way!"
1T was q mistake"
| He opened his tikht-shut lids, rolled
over, and thrust forth round, pallid
face. He saw Slower laughing, and
beheId the white teeth of Carara, the
Mexican, who said:
perhaps the Senior is sleepy"
| Finding himself the object Of what
seemed to him a particularly senseless
joke, the New Yorker crept forth, his
face suffused with anger. Strangely
he bumped violently into the other. 1t
was with difficulty he could restrain
! himself from crushing MIN.
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"
! Zone moment" Willie was trans
figured suddenly. Al instant since he
had been a stoep-shouldered, short
sighted, Insignificant person, more
gentle hammered than q child. but in
a flash 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.
rection, or you'll go East in an ice
BATH" He was painting as If the ef-
fort to hold himself In leash was
almost more than he could stand.
| "G'wan!" said Glass, thickly.
| You're deluded with the idea that
the Constitution made all men equal.
but 1t didn't: it was Mr.. Colt" With
a movement quicker than light the
speaker drew his gun for the second
time, and buried half the barrel in the
New Workers. ribs.
| Look Quit" Glass barked the
words. and undertook to defect the
| weapon with his hand.