The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1914-07-23

his hand shook with such a palsy that
he feared he might miss. He steeled
himself with the thought that other
men had snufed out life itself in this
manner. then sat down upon the floor
and cooked the weapon a second timei
He wondered II the shock might, by,
any chance, numb him into unconj
sciousness. II %, he might bleed to-
death before assistance arrived. But
he had nothing to do with that. The
only question ives, which foot. He re;
garded them both tenderly. They
were nice feet, and had done him
many favers. He loved every toe;
they were almost Ike innocent chilli
dren. 1t was = dastardly deed to take
advantage Of them thus. but-he adj
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 hts 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 iatact, 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
q strange voice:
Lock those doors! Quick!"
Finding that it was no hallucination,
Speed rose. calling out:
"Who are you?"
"Sh-h-h!" The stranger darted
across the room and bolted both
doors, while the other felt a chill Of
apprehension ut these sinister precau,
lions. He grasped his revolver firmly
while his heart thumped. The fellows
appearance was anything but reassur,
ing: he vas swarthy and sun-browned,
his clothes were ragged. his overalls'
were patched: instead OF q coat. he
wore q loosely tapping vest over a.
black sateen shirt. long since rusted
out to a nondescript brown.
1--WE been trying to get to you for a
week." announced the mysterious Wis
itor hoarsely.
"W.what do you want? Who are.
your"
I'm Skinner. cook for the Cent?
pede."
THE man I racer
mot % load" .sAtaQae Wa ltxsl4.'
ing for the falntest sound from the d.
rection of the mess.house.
I'll kill hint" exulted the Eastern
lad. But the other forestalled a muir.
der by running on. rapidly:
Listen, now! Hump and l jobbed
this gang last month; we're %pardners,
see! He's got another race framed
ut Pocatello. and l want to make a
getaway"
YES! yes! y.you needn't stay here
on my account"
Nov don't let's lake n chances
tomorrow. see? We're both out for
the coin What do you want to 10
win or Loser" Skinner jumped back
to the door and listened.
"What?"
Don't stalli" the Stranger cried.
impatiently. will | win or will YOU?
WHAT'S it WORTH" He clipped his
words short. hts eyes darted furtive
glances here aud there.
Can | win!" gasped Speed.
You can If there's enough In 1t for
me. I'm broke. sect You bet five
hundred, and we'll cut it two ways"
II haven't that much with me-"
Borrow 1t. Don't be a boob. Meet
mo in Albuquerque Sunday, and we'll
split there"
is that oil l have to do?"
Certainly. What's the matter with
you, anyhow" Skinner cast q suspl.
cious glance at his companion.
II guess I'm rattled-it's all go
sudden"
"Of course you'll have to run fast
enough so We don't tip off,"
How fast ia that?"
"Oh. ten-four." c~arelessly. "That's
what Humpy and l did"
"Ten and four-ffths-seconds9"
Certainly. Don't kid me! They're
liable to break in on U.s."
Mr.. Skinner IL can't run that
lsst. F:nfteen Is going some for. me-"
What" Skinner stared at his Cd.
ponent strangely.
That's right. I'm q lemon"
Amt you the Yale champ? The
guy that goes under even ttme'?"
Waly shook his head. Pm his
chum. l couldn't catch a cramp."
The brown face OF the Centipede
Splinter split into q grin, his eyes
cleaned. Then Ill win." said he.
I'm the sucker. but I'll make good:
Get your money down, and I'll split