Cut Bank pioneer press. [volume] (Cut Bank, Mont.) 1909-current, 1914-06-05
that no n could force a crippled man

"By Jove," he exclaimed, "Irl do it,"
house door and looked in. The room
was empty. The supper-bell pealed
out, and he heard the cow-men answer
it. Now was the appointed moment;
he might have no other. With cat-like
tread he slipped into the sleeping
quarters, returning in a moment with
a revolver. He stared thankfully at
the weapon-better this han dishonor.
why didn't l think of 1t before?
It's perfectly simple. I'll accidentally
shoot myself-in the foot!"
But even as he gazed at the gun he
saw that the muzzle was as large as
q gopher-hole. A bullet of that size
would sink a ship, he meditated in a
panic, and as for his foot-what fright
full execution 1t would work! Butt
were better to lose a foot than a foot
race, under present conditions, so he
began to unlace his shoe. Then real
izing the value of circumstantial evil
dence, he paused. No! His disability
must bear all the earmarks of an acct
dent. He must guess the location of
his smallest and least important toe,
and trust the rest to his marksman-
ship. Visions of blood-poisoning be-
set him, and when he pressed the
muzzle against the point Of his shoe
his hand shook with such a palsy that
he feared he might miss. He steeled
himself with the thought that other
men had snuffed out life itself in this
manner, then sat down upon the floor
and cooked the weapon a second time.
He wondered If the shock might, by
any chance, numb him into uncon-
sciousness. If SO, 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. 1t was a d~astardly deed to take
advantage of them thus, but-he ad-
vanced the revolver until 1t pressed
firmly against the outside of his left
foot, then closed his eyes, and called
upon his courage. There came q
great roaring in his ears.
How long he sat thus waiting for
the explosion he did not know, but
he opened his eyes at length to find
the foot still intact, and the muzzle
of the weapon pointing directly at his
instep. He altered his aim hurriedly,
when, without warning Of any sort, a
mans figure appeared silhouetted
against the window.
The figure dropped noiselessly to
the floor inside the room, and cried, In
a strange voice:
Lock those doors! Quick!"
Finding that it was no hallucination,
Speed rose, calling out:
"Who are your"
across the room and bolted both
doors, while the other felt a chill Of
apprehension at these sinister precau
lions. He grasped his revolver firmly
while his heart thumped. The fellow
appearance was anything but reassur
ing: he was swarthy and sun-browned
his clothes were ragged, his overalli
WC4C pdAShCd1 lloIOaa VI . WAN Ae
wore a loosely Tapping vest yer
black sateen shirt, long since rustet
out to a nondescript brown.
'T've been trying to get to you for
week." announced the mysterious Wis
itor hoarsely.
"W-what do you want? Who ar
your"
I'm Skinner. cook for the Cent
pede."
THE man l racer"
mot so loud" Skinner was strain
ing for the faintest sound from the d
rection of the mess-house.
I'll kill him!" exulted the EASTER
lad. But the other forestalled a mul
der by running on, rapidly:
Listen, now! Hump and l jobbe
this gang last month; we're pardneri
see? He's got another race frame
at P~ocatello, and l want to make
getaway"
Yes! yes! y-you needn't stay her
ON my account"
Nov don't let's take any chance
tomorrow, see? We're both out fc
the coin. What do you want to do
] win or loser" Skinner Jumped bac
to the door and listened.
"What?"
n Don't STALL" the Stranger erie
u impatiently. "WiIl / win or will yor
RS What's 1t WORTH" He clipped h
ry words short, his eyes darted furti'
X chances here and there.
"Can l win?" gasped Speed.
a you can If there's enough in It 4
MS me I'm broke, sect You bet a.
N, hundred. and wen cut 1t two ways"
on Il haven't that much with ms
ID. Borrow 1t. Don't be q boob. Me
If me in Albuquerque Sunday. and we
ny split there"
,il- els that all I have to dol"
me Certainly. What's the matter WI
you, anyhow" Skinner cast . sus
cious glance at his companion.
I'D I'll guess I'm rsttled-ts al
led sudden"