The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-05-24
A Young Man Of
The Name of Mors
By BlLAND BELL.

house WHICH Il man WIN a itu hio''tSN
face covered with stubble beard stop /
ped him and said:
You're the purtiest boy we ever seen |
in these parts. ana them clothes air
jist too beautiful for an angel. Come !
in and have a drink
Thank you. I've never touched a
drop of liquor in my life"
well, it's time you begun. Come
on"
He took the young man by the arm.
The youngster resisted and struck the
ruffian in the face. There was a re-
port, and the youngSter fell
Two weeks after that the man with
the red face and stubble beard was
standing on the tavern porch when the
daily coach drove up at the same time
of day that the blue eyed boy had ar
rived The door opened. and the same
boy got out He was very pale but he
had the same light hair and blue eyes
as the other. The man With the red
beard gave back a step or two as
though he had seen ghost.
I'm looking" said the new arrival
! in a voice that seemed to come from
! the tomb. for a man called Hawkins.
! Can any of you gentlemen tell me
where can find him."
! The strangers attention was direct
ed to the man with the red beard
Would you like to have me drink
with you. sir?" asked the newcomer.
Hawkins seemed tongue tied. A
pal!or stood on his usually red face.
and he was trembling.
Il don't feel like a drink jist now"
he said.
"Pcrhaps You would like game.
Nv name is Mors. It's name taken
from dead language. I've come to
this country for the man who killed
another two weeks ago because he
wouldn't drink with him. Either Mors
or Hawkins must cease to live. Cards
are an easier way of settling the mat
ter than guns. Come; let's have a
game of euchre."
Taking Hawkins by the arm, he led
him into the baFroom. Hawkins seem
cd bcreft Of the power to resist and
seated himself at the same table with
the stranger. 4 pack OF cards was
produced, and Mors fixed them for
euchre. mixed them, cut them and
dealt hand for himself and the man
before him. Hawkins took up his
, cards mechanically, but did not see
! them His eye was fixed on the man
, who had come back from the dead, he
doubted not, to drag him down into
the grave.
, 1.-THE best three in FIVE wins" said
! the stranger.
! The first game he won, for Hawkins
a played without giving any attention
!. to the game. The second Hawkins
/ made an attempt to pull himself to
:, gether, but did not succeed. Thu
Y stranger won again. In the third gam'
: Hawkins played his cards withou
looking at them. He lost.
Il Mos deliberately pulled a pistol iron
his pocket, keeping his eye on tn
other, and as deliberately PORTED
at Hawkins. who seemed paralyzed
weapon. The stranger. keeping hi
," eye fixed on him, said:
"a you've PLAYED n game with deaf
aitd lost My twin brother came on
u. to this country to locate here, and yo
IN killed him. | was told that there wa
. no law in this country except gun law
NJ so | came out to get the man tina
~ murdered my brother l didn't Sc
~ any use i'll n gun fight when we coul
Al, hyy IIan
# up!'
n The last two words were spoken 8
no seeing in Hawkins eye change Th
~ murderer had been in doubt whethe
he was not talking to the ghost of tn
mr. man he had killed till he learned thf
10 he was flesh and blood. His eye II
no dicated that he had regained some {
q his equanimity, and he was about
or put up a fight. The avenger saw
nj and his own eye indicated that at til
slightest motion to draw his weapo
IN he would be shot. He sat immovabl
Gentlemen" said the stranger,
would much prefer that you would r
ID lieve me of disagreeable duty. W;
no very III when the news of my brother
death reached me and have not yet r
covered. Don't you think that yo'
n, town would be well rid of this fer
and that as respectable citizens 1t
up to you to do what is not fit tai
o for sick man? Say the word. Shf
no ! shoot him, or will you take him %
no and swing hlm?
ne A man standing behind Hawkln
IN who had suffered from him, but fear'
n him, jerked Hawkins gun from b
ra hip, then said to the dozen men stan
TO- ing about
n. gents, will you let this sick boy
"a. what 1t has long been our duty to d
no This desperate has killed five men
" four months. and for no good reaso
no Come on"
nc The speaker pinioned Hawkins arr
to his side; the others sprang forwaI
In, and the murderer was hustled out, t
crowd assisting or following.
give me bracer," said the m
70 who had called himself Death. a
rn when liquor was set before him
On drank 1t Off and. setting down
de glass, said:
p That's the first liquor that has eN
out passed down my throat. and it will
am the last. | needed it,
ms When the crowd returned they thar
vn ed the stranger for having accompli
Inc ed what they had never dared to
e themselves.