The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1915-01-15
cHApTeR xLvll.


the Last warning.
In she chill, yiolet-shadowed dusl
OF that clear evening. chap Taller
motor car crept slugglshly into tht
little mountain town OF Mesquite al
the heels OF two metinous mules, tiriy
en- by a chauffeur who steered with
one hand while the other fiourished
a cracking whIpiaah over the backs
OF Its sole motive power,
IT, one passenger, cripple as help
less as the car itself, huddled In a
corner OF the rear seat, saluted Mes.
quite with smart. Though he was In
sore need OF such rude comforts as
the town stood prepared TO afford him,
ms demeanor toward II was that OF
ona who suffers an indignity rather
than begs accommodation.
And now. az the car crawied 10 a
pause before the Mountain house
Mosquitoes one caravanseraI-- and
Mesquite itself. 10 the last ea.hitten
hound, gathered round TO view this
wonder. Mr. Trine's indignation and
chaerin distilled words of poisonous
import.
Far from resenting this. Mesquite.
pipe Ia mouth. hands IN pockets. ad.
mired and applauded. and rather re-
scented the change that hefell when
Two other strangers fwlhosp earlier an
pearaace in town had helped make
that one day memorable beyond All
others In Mosquitoes history charged
out OF the Mountain house and inter.
rupted the elder devil with cries Of
greeting and utilization.
The leader Of these answered 10 he
name Of Marrophat. his companion
was a person named Jimmy. Mes.
quite acquired this information
through paying close attention TO the
substance OF their communications
with the cripple, More than this how.
ever. learned little. Something
seemed to have been accomplished by
the two, something that was highly
gratifying 60 Seneca Urine: for he was
chuckling almost mirthfuily whea
lifted from the car and carried into
the hotel
What passed between the trio after
they disappeared behind that bed.
chamber door Mesquite could by no
means guess. Hut that a celebration
OF some sort was In progress WAS eyi.
aenced BY the frequency with which
harrophat and Jimmy called on the
bar for more liquld refreshment.
And toward midnight one beIatsd
Mesquite paused 10 the street outside
che Mountain house for one last cnrI.
GUS stare at the lighted windows az
hr. Trins's quarters
lie saw. clearly siIhouetted against
The glowing obiong OF the window. the
Mephissophelean profile OF Seneca
Urine, distorted with grimace 81 the
crueiest JOY that ever heart OF man
conceived. lie saw Marrophat an.
proach bis master with a drunken
swagger and speech which, though
indistinguishable TO the unseen nj.
dlior. unquestionably Afforded both az
the other men ample excuse for &c.
static glee. Toward It's concIus,on
Mr. Marrophat apparently capped the
peak of jubllation by fumbline n his
coat pocket and bringing forth some.
thing which strongly resembled a ain.
gle playing card.
Now when he had contrlyed 10
master his mirth. the cripple made 4
gesture which eloquently abolished
this card. gesture which said oulta
plainly: "All that Is finished Tho
thing has served its purpose, II
hell with IT."
Whereupon, with a smart ierk ~ ~.
wrist. Mr. Marrophat sent tha card
spinning and sailing out through tha
open window TO sose Itself In the night
The watcher didn't see il fail gnd
though he spent an ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
time searching for II in the deem d,st
OF the roadway, he went bis wav m .ha
end with curiosity unsated: Fate mad
reserved that card for a higher MIR.
pose.
Undisturbed. II lay where it had
'Iaiien, face upward, not dozen feet
ssrom the front door OF the Mountain
house. until another day dawned an
Mesquite.
Then. I'm the clear light of that dawn
four more strangers struggled into
town-rtwo weary and haggard men
two footsore and bedraggled women.
One Of these last was dressed in a
suit OF mans clothing, much the worse
for wear
At. sight Of the Mountain house the
party betrayed slight symptoms OF a
mofe, cheerful spirit: rejoicing in its
promise of food and drinks and beds
wtthai wherein to sleep. the four
s2u.SSenea their steps.