The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1915-03-19

bad broken the back of his usually
unruf1ed temper, when he had found
in his room on reaching the Kenmore
copy of certain New York weekly
paper, and had read a page, which
CHANGED to be lying face up "a chance
carefully prearranged). 1t was an item
Of which Farbish had known, in adj
vance of publication, but Wilfred
would never have seen that sheet,
had it not been SO carefully brought
to bis attention. There were hints
Of the strange infatuation which a
certain young woman se~Ged to en-
terrain for partially civilized stran-
ger who had made his entree to NV
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 intimated. Horton felt this OBJ
jectionable innuendo was directly
tFaceable to Adrienne's ill-judged
friendship for the mountaineer, and
he bitterly blamed the mountaineer.
! And, while he had been brooding on
these matters, man acting as Far
bish's ambassador had dropped into
his room, since Farbish himself knew
that Horton would not listen to his
condolences. The delegated spokes-
man warned Wilfred that Samson
South had spoken pointedly Of him,
and advised cautious conduct, In
fashion calculated to infame.
Samson, 1t was 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, 1t was put to Horton
to announce his opinion openly, or eat
the crow Of cowardice.
That evening. when Samson went
to his room, Farbish joined him.
"T'Ve been greatly annoyed to flnd,"
he said, seating himself on Samsons
| bed, that Horton arrived today"
II reckon that's all right" said Sam
son. Hes a member, isn't he?"
Farbish appeared dubious.
Il don't want to appear in the guise
Of prophet of trouble" he said. but
you are my guest here, and / must
warn you. Horton thinks of you as q
gun fighter and a dangerous man.
He won't takes chances with you.
If there Is clash, 1t will be serious.
He doesn't often drink, but today
he's doing it, and may be ugly Avoid
an alteration if you can, but if it
comes" He broke of and added serl.
ously: You will have to get him. or
he will get you. Are you armed?"
The Kentuckian laughed.
Il reckon l don't need to be armed
amongst gentlemen"
Farbish drew from his pocket a
magazine pistol.
1T won't hurt you to slip that into
your clothes" 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.
Mr. Farbish," he said, I've been in
places before now where men were
drinking who had made threats against
me. | think you are excited about
this thing. If anything starts, he will
start it"
At the dinner table, Samson South
and Wilfred Horton were introduced,
and acknowledged their introductions
with the briefest and most formal
mods. During the course of the meal,
though seated side by side, each ig-
nored the presence of the other. Sam
son was, perhaps, no more silent than
usual Always, he was the listener ex-
cept when question was put to him
direct, but the silence which sat upon
Wilfred Horton was a departure from
his ordinary custom.
He had discovered in his college
days that liquor, instead of exhilarat-
ing him, was an influence under which
he grew morose and sullen, and that
discovery had made him almost total
abstainer Tonight his glass was con-
stantly flied and emptied, and, as he
ate, he gazed ahead, and thought re-
sentfully Of the man at his side
When the coffee had been brought,
and the cigars lighted, and the serv-
ants had withdrawn Horton with the
manner of one who had been awaiting
an opportunity, turned slightly in his
chair and gazed insolently at the Ken
tucklan
Samson South still seemed entirely
uncoGsc ious of the others existence,
though in reality no detail of the brew
ing storm hau escaped him. He was
studying the other faces arc nd the
table and what he saw in mem ap.
pe2rsa to occupy him Wilfred Ror-
tons cheeks were burning with dull
flush, and his eyes were narrowing
with an unveiled dislike. Suddenly,
a silence fell on the party and, as
the men sat putting their CIGARS. Horton