Durant weekly news. (Durant, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 190?-1944, 1915-04-16

u
Quest drew a sigh Of relief.
That's mine. right enough" he de-
clared Now for the men,"
Say. want to tell you some
thing" the sheriff began dubiously.
These two are real thugs. They amt
going to take 1t lying down"
where are they?"' Quest de-
manded.
"In the worst saloon here" the sher-
III replied. They've been there pret-
ty we'll all night, drinking, and they're
there again this morning. hard at 1t.
They've got firearms, and though 1
amt exactly a nervous man, Mr.
Quest"
you leave it to me-" Quest inter
rupted. This is my job and want
to take the men myself"
You'll never do It," the sheriff de-
clared.
Look here" Quest explained, '1fl
let you and your men go in, thereS
will be free fight, and as likely as
not you will kill one. II not both Of,
the men. want them alive"
"Well. it's your SHOW" the sheriff
admitted, stopping before a disrepu-
table looking building. This is the
saloon"
WELL" Quest decided, I'm going
in, and I'm going in unarmed. You
can bring your men in later, II l call.
for help or If you hear any shoot:
ing"
You're asking for trouble" the.
sheriff warned him.
1--WE got to do this my own way"
| Quest insisted STAND by now"
He pushed open the door of the sa-i
loon. There we're dozen men drink
ing around the bar and in the cen-l
ter of them Red Gallagher and his,
mate. Quest walked right up to the
two men.
Gallagher" he said, you're myr
prisoner. Are you coming quietly?"l
Gallagher's mate, who was half
drunk, swung round and fired a wild!
shot in Quests direction. The result
was a general stampede. Red Galla-i
CHER alone remained motionless. Grim
and dangerously silent, he held a piss
! tol within a few inches OF Quests,
forehead. :
"If my numbers up he exclaimed
ferociously, "it won't be you to take
me-"
'I think it WILL" Quest answered.
"Put that away"
Gallagher hesitated. Quests influ-
ence over him was indomitable. ?
"Put 1t away" Quest repeated firm
ly. "You know you daren't use -
Your accounts pretty full up, as it,
is"
Gallagher's hand wavered. From out-t
side came the shouts of the sheriff and
his men, struggling to fight their way;
in through the little crowd who werei
rushing for safety. Suddenly Quest
backed, jerked the pistol up with his,
right elbow, and with almost the same
movement struck Red Gallagher un-i
der the jaw. The man went over
with a crash. His mate. who had
been staggering about, cursing vicious
ly, fired another wild shot at Quest,
who swayed and fell forward.
"I've done himl" the man shouted.
Get up, Red! I've done him, all
right! Finish your drink. Wen get
out of this"
He bent unsteadily over Quest. Sud-
denly the latter sprang up, seized him
by the leg and sent him sprawling.,
The gun fell from his hand. Quest
picked it up and held 1t firmly out, cow
ering both men. Gallagher was on his
knees, cropping for his own weapon,
Get the handouts on them," Quest
directed the sheriff, who with his men
had at last succeeded in forcing his
way into the saloon.
Crouching in her chair, her pale,
terrorstricken face supported be-
tween her hands, Lenora, her eyes
filled with hopeless misery, gazed at
the dumb instrument upon the table.
Her last CLEAN Of hope seemed to be.
passing. Her little friend was silent.
Once more her weary fingers spelled
out a final, despairing message.
What has happened to you? am
waiting to hear all the time. Has Craig
told you where am? ! am afraid"
There was still no reply, Her head
sank little lower on her folded.
arms. Even the luxury OF tears seemed,
denied her. Fear. the fear which dweltl
with her day and night, had her I'M
its grip. Suddenly she leaped, scream-l
Ing, from her place. Splinters Of
glass fell all around her. Her first
wild thought was of release; she
gazed upwards at the broken pane.
Then very family from the street be-
low she heard the shout OF boys
angry voice:
You've done It now, Jimmyl You're
hne pitcher, amt you? Lost 1t.
that's what you've gone and doneiH