The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1914-01-27
A COMPLETE NOVEL EACH WEEK IN THE EVENING WORLD
Hg Chance"E

afraid - look at paksta-wAe We
walking slowly toward the man who
still stood In front Of the saloon
though In spite Of her fears and mis-
held her gaze steadily on the chief
actors.
Out Of the corners Of her eyes she
could see that far down the street.
men were conereeated: they stood IN
dOofways, at convenient corners, their
eyes directed toward Dakota and the
vther man. In the sepulchral calm
which had fallen there came to
Sheila'R ears sounds that In another
time she would not have noticed
Somewhere door slammed: there
came TO her ears the barking Of .
dog, the neigh Of . horss sharply
the sounds smote the quiet atmos-
phere. they seemed ODD TO the point
Of unreaiity.
However, the sounds ala not long
distract her attention from the CHIEF
actors in the scene which was being
worked out In front OF her: tho noises
died away and she gave her entire
attention 70 the mon. She saw Da-
kota reach Q point about thirty feet
from the man In front Of the saloon
Blanca. A. Dakota continued to ap-
proach, Sheila observed an evil smile
nash suddenly to Blanca's face: saw q
CLINT of metal in the faint light; heard
the crash Of MIS- revolver; shuddered
at the flame squirt. She expected TO
Instead, she saw him smile-in much
tho fashion In which he had smiled
that night In the cabin whom he had
threatened TO shoot the parson II she
did not consent to marry him. And
then his hand dropped swiftly to the
butt OF the pistol at his right hip.
Sheila's eyes closed. she swaysd
and felt her fathers arm come out
and grasp her 10 keep her from FAIL
Ing. hut she was not going to fall:
she had merely closed her eyes 10 blot
out the scene which she could not
turn from. She held her breath In an
agony OF suspense. and II seemed an
age until she heard n crashing re-
portland then another. Then silence.
Unable longer 10 resist looking
Sheiln opened her eyes. She saw
Dakota walk forward and stand over
Blanca. looking down at him. his pis-
toll still In hand. Blanca was face
down In the dust OF the street, and
a. Dakota stood over him Sheila saw
the half breeds body move convul-
sively and then become still. Dakota
sheathed his weapon and. without
looking toward the wagon In which
Sheila sat, turned ana strobe uncon-
ccrnedly down the street. A man
came out Of the door { the saloon In
front OF which Blanca's body lay,
looking down at II curiously. Other
men were running toward the spot /;
there were shouts. oaths.
tsAr Nlo A.sx st,,~ H., ~. ma ssa.- 10 =
had seen a man killed--murdered--
and there came.to her q recollection
Of Dakota's words that night in the
cabin: Have you ever seen Q man
die?" Hhc had surmised from his
manner that night that he would not
hesitate to kill the pars0n. and nov
she knew that her sacrifice had not
been made In vain. A sob shook her
the world rsslsd. blurred. and she COW
cred her face with her hands.
"Oh!" she said In . strained. hoarss
voice. Obi The bruts!"
Hey" From a great distance the
drivers voice seemed TO come. Hey
What's thatf Well. mebbe. hut
cattle. "Lord!" he added. In m awed
voice; both Of them hit him!"
Blanca was dead then. there could
be no doubt Of that. sheila felt her
self swayinE and tried 10 grasp the
end Of the seat to steady herself. She
heard her fathers voice raised In
alarm. felt his arm como out again
and grasp her. and than darkness set
tied around her.
When she recovered consciousness
her fathers arms were still around
her and tho blackboard was In mo-
ton. Dusk had come: above her
countless stars fiickered IN the deep
blue Of the sky.
Il reckon she's plum shocked" she
heard thu driver say.
II don't wonder" returned Lang.
ford. and Bheila felt . shiver run
over him. "0reat 1uns!" sheila won
dered at the tone he used. THAT
man ID . marvel with . pistol! Did
you notice how cool he took it7"
"Cool!" The driver laughed. "If
you get acquainted with Dakota
you'll hsd out that he's cool. He's
an iceberg. that's what he is!"
They'll arrest him. suppose :"
querisd Langford.
Arrest him! What for? Didn't he
give Blanca his chancef That's why
I'm tellin' you he's COOL"
Che remembered Dakota's words In
the cabin. Was Fate indeed running
this gams-if game Il might be
called7