The Huttig news., 1915-02-20

had the place to themselves, but the next morning would bring others.
 The next day, while the mountain eer was out on the flats, the party of men at the club had been sweiled to total of six, for in pursuance of the carefully arranged plans of MT. Farbish. MT. Bradburn had succeeded in inducing Wilfred Horton. to run down for day or two of the sport he loved When Horton arrived that afternoon, he found his usually even temper ruffied by bits of maliciously broached gossip. until his resentment against Samson South had been famed into danger heat He did not know that South also was at the club, and he did not that afternoon go out to the blinds, but so far departed from his usual custom as to permit himself to sit for several hours in the club grill.
 And yet, as is often the case in care fully designed affairs, the one element that made most powerfully for the success of Farbish's scheme was pure accident The carefully arranged meet ing between the two men, the adroitly melted passions of each, would still have brought no clash, had not Will fred Horton been affected by the flush ing effect of alcohol Since his college days, he had been invariably abstemi- ous Tonight marked an exception.
 Re was rather surprised at the cor diality of the welcome accorded him, for, as chance would have it, except for Samson South, whom he had not yet seen, all the other sportsmen were men closely allied to the politi- cal and financial elements upon which he had been making war. Still. since they seemed willing to forget for the time that there had been breach, he was equally so. Just now, he was feeling such bitterness for the Ken tuckian that the foes of a less per sonal sort seemed unimportant.
 In point of fact, Wilfred Horton had spent very bad day. The final straw had broken the back of his usually unruffled temper, when he had found in his room on reaching the Kenmore a copy of a certain New York weekly paper, and had read a page, which chanced to be lying face up Ga chance carefully prearranged) It wassan item of which Farbish had known in ad- vance of publication, but Wilfred would never have seen that sheet had it not been so carefully brought to his attention. There were hints of the strange infatuation which a certain young woman seemed to en- tertain for partially civilized stran- ger who had made his entree to New York via the police court, and who wore his hair long in imitation of biblical character of the same name. The supper at the Wigwam inn was mentioned, and the character of the place minated Horton felt this ob- jectionable innuendo was directly traceable to Adrienne's ill-judged friendship for the mountaineer, and he bitterly blamed the mountaineer. And, while he had been breeding on bish's ambassador P fad fad ddfr'59p5ped lEfias6 his room. since Farbish himself knew that Horton would not listen to his condolences. The delegated spokes- man warned Wilfred that Samson and advised cautious conduct, in fashion calculated to infame.
 Samson. it yas falsely alleged, had accused him of saying derogatory things in his absence, which he would hardly venture to repeat in his pres ence In short, it was put to Horton to announce his opinion openly, or eat the crow of cowardice.
 That evening, when Samson went to his room, Farbsh joined him.
 i've been greatly annoyed to find." he said, seating himself on Samson's bed, that Horton arrived today
 "I reckon that's all right" said Sam son. He's a member, isn't he?s'
 Farbish appeared dubious.
 T don't want to appear in the guise of a prophet of trouble,' he said, but you are my guest here, and I must warn you Horton thinks of you as a gun fighter and a dangerous man.
  If there is clash, it will be serious. He doesn't often drink, but today he's doing it, and may be ugly Avoid an altercation if you can, but if it comes" He broke off and added seri. ously You will have to get him, or he will get you. Are you armed?'
 The Kentuckian laughed.
 ''I reckon I don't need to be armed amongst gentlemen.
 Farbish drew from his pocket magazine pistol.
 Tt won't hurt you to slip that into your clotbes,'' he insisted.
 For an instant, the mountaineer stood looking at his host and with eyes that bored deep, but whatever was in his mind as he made that scrutiny he kept to himself At last, he took the magazine pistol turned it over in his hand, and put it into his pocket.
 MT. Farbish,' he said. I've been in places before now where men were drinking who had made threats against me. I think you are excited about this thing If anything starts, he will