The sun., 1916-11-26

done made 'em so. hut faint no way
To- n growcd UP man to b'have."
rs that so?' retorted Joe Bassett
with n sneer. We reckons diff
Trent in Arkansas City. Them that
m hyar sometimes finds II out"
We'll" said the stranger. still more
doubtful!y. "mebbe II a man's In Ar
kansas City it's nec'ary to fight &C.
c%asional. but l don't do 1t my
ownself. not 'thouten I'm forced.
Pears like U.s."
But Bassett interrupted him. He
was impatient by nature.
This yer's one O. the times" he
said. when 1t pears to be nec'ary.
They can't nobody come In hyar an
tell We uns what to do. 'thouten-"
Here he interrupted himself by de-
l!ver!ng n terrific bow toward the
point OF the strangers jaw.
The point of the strangers Jaw. how
ever, was not there when the blow ar
rived and the impetus which Mr.. Bas-
sett had given to his entire person
when he delivered 1t carried him past
the spot on which the stranger had
been standing.
Before he could turn about the
stranger had placed himself astraddle
OF the small OF Mr.. Bassett's back with
his legs wrapped firmly around Mr..
Bassett's stomach. At the same In
slant. II seemed. he had encircled the
greater part OF Mr.. Dassett's neck with
two punches Of muscular fingers which
he proceeded to construct vehemently.
BY thus doing he rendered Mr.. Bassett
incapable Of speech for tho moment
and so enabled himself to resume the
conversation without further inter-
ruption.
II was a sayin' what / don't never
fight my own self. not 'thoutcn Is
fo'ced." he remarked l%eisurely. nor I
don't never low nobody to fight when
Is round, II they s any way to p'vent
1t. Pears like they amt gwine to be
no fight. right now tn amt"
As he finished speaking Bassett fell
heavily to the floor, leaving the
speaker standing at ease In front OF
the bar.
Lets liquor" ne said calmly, and at
the magic words the others laid aside
their intention Of interfering with him
and ranged themselves beside him,
while the old man juggled out some
glasses and opened . fresh bottle of
whiskey. In counting out the glasses
he was careful not to omit m that
should serve for the use Of Mr.. Bassett
in case he should Join the party. and
while they were passing the bottle
along Mr.. Bassett did 90.
He looked Q little dassd. but they
understood readily enough that no had
fallen as a matter Of precaution before
he was entirely helpless. Doughty a.
he was. he was not foolhardy. and ne
felt, as tho others did. that he had
shown only common prudence in sue
cumbing as he had. when there was no
possible way for him to do anything
else.
He took his drink with the others
and then said, somewhat hesitatingly:
I'm kyind O. sorry. stranger. what
yo' all In got SIGH a p~rijudice ag'in
hghtin'. Pears like me an yo' cd find
a heap o pleasure into a roughhouse
II we was to git together ag'in."
"Ain't yo' all had enough?" asked
the stranger as II surprised. II kyind
o. reckoned what they wouldn't BE- no
mo- int'rest token into tho p'ceedin's.
but II they Is. yo' all CT easy r'sume
EN-. ! done told yo' what I Cd be
fo'ced."
His was that Of one who
vas not himself greatly interested, but
who. on the other hand. was willing tn
oblige. and they eyed him with interest
and respect.
His clothes did not At, but loosely a.
they hung they could not altogether
hide the indications that pointed to a
probability that something unusual
would result should Bassett persist.
And Rassett did persist. The stran-
ger was entirely mistaken In suppos-
Ing he had had enough. He advanced
quickly, hut on tho instant the old
man spoke chidinSiy.