Las Vegas optic., 1914-05-04
Mans Revenge
Written by X.

sage OF snow and ice without; the
building which housed the village
postoffic and the general store groan-
ed dismal reply. Inside the small
sheet iron stove threw glow about
it that rivaled the light of the greasy
little oil lamp suspended from the
ceiling. The room was stuffy and
warm, even sitting but the occupants
preferred to the Arctic regions out
side.
The speech and apparel of the in
habitants of the room showed them
to be of the typical Yankee" farmer
type.
wal, enyhow, this here club has
been adoin' me heap o. good" John
Green a tall lanky farm hand was
saying, its been givin' me a lot O.
|selfconfidence SOS I can get up on my
feet and talk. Why las Monday night
at town council | got up an, by heck,
if / didn't reel off a line O. talk that
even put Mayor Humphries spell In
the background"
sIYas an that be not the only good
shes adoin'." drawled Elisha the pro-
prietor of the store, 'she's increasin'
/ my vocabulary immensiy,' mispro-
nouncing his latest addition to it.
"Then again it makes a feler SOS
he can talk on upterdate subjects in
telergentlike' chirped Simon from his
perch on the tep OF a large empty
sugar barrel So the talk drifted on
from national political issues to the
better known subject of winter wheat
A half an hour passed an the door
opened and a short heavy individual
entered He shook the snow from his
Eperson removed his overcoat and fur
cap, unwound a yard of muffler from
his throat and stepped up to the fire.
In the uncertain light his features
were scarcely distinguishable. Two
narrow green eyes peered from under
shaggy eyebrows. The nervous twitch-
ing Of his thick lips disclosed a set Of
uneven yellow teeth
After a few moments he spoke,
WenYboys," he said what do you
think of the mayoral election next
Monday"
No answer it was plain to see that
he was not very well liked by the
boys"
''What are my chances for win
ning?" he continued. John Green the
selfconfident one was about to reply
when the door flew open and a strang-
er stepped in.
He wore no overcoat. his suit was
worn and shabby and his shoes were
full of holes. His hat had been blown
away by the wild wind and his long
hair was blown across his fever flush
ed face. Strange dark lines about his
piercing black eyes and thin compress
ed lips told tale of much Driyation
and hardship. His large wasted frame
shook with a fearful cough; after an
unusual spasm he turned his-gaze first
on one and then another Of the per
sons until it rested on the little poll
tician. This individual was seen to
start turn first red then ashy pale;
his knees shook as though he had
seen an apparition. The stranger then
broke the silence.
"'Yes Malina it isl it is ], I,assen. :
Yes, Malina I've found you thank God
I've. For six long months I've follow
ed you each day the trail grew warm
er. Now I've found you" he paused.
The politician tried to speak but his
lips barely moved no sound issued
from them Suddenly ,he, reached for
his hip pocket but the stranger was
quicker whipping out Shipping Colt he
covered his man and proceeded, No,
Malina, was prepared for that, Do
you think that | shall let you get the
better Of me when ! have succeeded
thus far? Nay! God forbid! This gun
contains but one cartridge and that
one shall send you to eternity; but not
until / am through with you; not un-
til rye told my story" Here he was
interrupted by spell Of coughing
He gaspeds leaned heavily on a large
case and continued with difficulty
JAcksoNViLLE GREETs SOLDIERS
Jacksonville. Fla, May 4.-All the