Omaha daily bee., 1914-11-01
THE FIRST LAW

THE FIRST LAW
BY ssness Trim. IN -. prsvas. var Of 1SeS he
arain. Alan Law con Of the tnsw dead who
Trns hsISs.. cripple for @ Alan Loves ana :. Loved BY
Of Ssni a.: S Sv he,
her lGv. wei. Roses In .pit. Of her IsloUy Rose
and e. n. Tine this story opens 10 setv'y ASSISTING Alan
outon Urine his eonhdentlaI NAV.
Marrophat.
1.-THE LAST WARNING.
In the chill violetshadowed dusk OF that clear
evening, a chapfallen motor car crept sluggishly
into the little mountain town Of Mesquite at
the heels Of two mutnous mules, driven by
chauffeur who steered with one hand while the
other nourished a cracking whiplash over the
backs Of its sole motive power
It's one passenger, a cripple helpless as the
car itself, huddled in a corner Of the rear seat.
saluted Mesquite with snarl. Though he I'm
sore need of such rude comforts as the town stood
prepared to afford him, his demeanor toward It
was that Of one who suffers an indignity rather
than begs accommodation.
And now as the car crawled to a pause before
the Mountain house-Mesquite's caravanserai
and Mesquite ITSELF to the last hea-bitten hound,
gathered round to view this wonder Mr. Trines
indignation and chagrin distilled words OF poison.
import.
Far from resentng this, Mesquite, pipe in mouth,
or resented the @nge that befe when two other
strangers (whose earlier appearance in town had
helped make that day memorable beyond all
others in Mosquitoes history charged out OF the
Mountain house and interrupted the elder devil
with cries OF greeting and jubilation.
The leader OF these answered to the name OF
Marrophat: his companion was a person named
Jimmy One guarded word from Marrophat was
all that was required TO change the old mans
oaths to phrases OF honeyed appreciation.
UhaN Aok~, ~ - 49,
peared behind that bedchamber door Mesquite
could by no means guess. But that celebration
OF some sort was In progress evidenced by
tho frequency with which Marrophet and Jimmy
called on the bar for more liquid refreshment
we'll as by bursts Of laughter long and loud and
somehow strangely cynical OF accent.
And toward midnight belated Mesquite
paused In the street outside the Mountain house
for one last curious stare at the lighted windows
OF Mr.. Trine's quarters, and Witnessed an Incl.
dent which puzzled him by fts and starts through.
out the balance Of his days.
He saw, clearly silhouetted against the glowing
oblong Of the window, the Mephistophelean profile
of Seneca Trine, distorted with a grimace Of the
orueest Joy that ever heart Of man conceived. He
saw Marophat approach his master with a drunk.
swagger and q speech which, though indistin
guishabls to the unseen auditor. unQuestionably
afforded both OF the other men ample excuse for
ecstatio giee Toward its conclusion Mr.. Mario
phat apparently capped the peak Of tubilation by
something which strongly resembled . single play
ing card
Now when he had coutTived 20 master HIS nirth
the cripple made gesture which eloquently abol.
ished this card. gesture which said quite plainly;
"Ai that is finished The thing has served its
purposel To hell with H."
Whereupon, with q smart Jerk Of his wrist Mr.
Marrophat sent the card spinning and sailing out
through the open window to lose itself in the
night
The watcher didn't see It fall. and though ho
spent an uncomfortable time searching for Il In
the deep dust OF the roadway. he went his way in
the end with curiosity unsated: Fate had reserved
that card for q higher purpose
Undisturbed. Il lay where Il had fallen face up
ward, not dozen feet from the front door Of the
Mountain house. until another day dawned on
Mesquite.
Then. in the clear hight Of that dawn, four more
strangers struggled into town-two weary and bag.
gard men, two footsore and bsdraggled women.
One OF these last was dressed in q suit OF man q
clothing. much the worse for wear. The other
members OF the party and all wore the look
OF people who have escaped the jaws OF death by
the narrowest Of imaginable sQueaks.
AZ sight Of the Mountain house the party be
trayed tlight symptoms OF a more cheerful spirit:
rejoicing in it's promise OF food and drinks and
beds withal wherein to sleep, the four quickened
their steps.
But OF sudden one of the women-she who
wore the garments OF her sex-paused, uttered q
low cry, athrill with terror. and cutehing the
OF the man nearest her pointed down to the card
that stared up from the dust at her feet
1t was Trey of Hearts.
TrTTTT uNFV