The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-06-06
A Young Man Of
The Name of Mors
By BYLAND BELL

man with light hair and a mild blue
eye alighted and was going into the
house when a man with a red bloated
face covered with a stubble beard stop
pkd him and said:
You're the purtiest boy we ever seen
f4&hese parts, and them clothes air
too beautiful for an angel. Come
. and have drink"
thank you. I've never touched
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 step or two as
though he had seen a ghost
"Pm 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 I 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
pallor stood on his usually red face,
and be was trembling.
81 don't feel like a drink jist now"
he said.
Perhaps you would like a game
NV name is Mors It's a name taken
from a 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 barroom. Hawkins SEEM
ed bereft of the power to resist and
seated himself at the same table with
the stranger. A 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
played without giving any attention
to the game. The second Hawkins
made an attempt to pull himself to
gether. but did not succeed. The
stranger won again. In the third gams
Hawkins played his cards without
looking at them. He lost.
Mors deliberately pulled pistol from
his pocket, keeping his eye on thu
other, and as deliberately pointed 4
at Hawkins, who seemed paralyzed
making no effort whatever to draw hi,
weapon. The stranger. keeping hii
eye fixed on him, said:
you've played a game with dealt
and lost. My twin brother came on
to this country to locate here, and YOU
killed him. l was told that there wa'
no law in this country except gun law
30 l came out to get the man tina
murdered my brother. / didn't Sc,
any use in a gun fight when we coult
settle the matter by a game. Hand
upr
The last two words were spoken a
seeing In Hawkins eye a change. TIL,
murderer had been in doubt whethe
he was not talking to the ghost of tn
man he had killed till he learned tina
he was flesh and blood. His eye In
dicated that he had regained some o
his eQuanimity, and he was about T.
put up fight. The avenger saw II
and his own eye indicated that at tn
slightest motion to draw his weapon
he would be shot He sat immovablt
Gentlemen" said the stranger, q
would much prefer that you would r,
heve me of disagreeable duty. wa
very Ill when the news of my brother
death reached me and have not yet +,
covered. Don't you think that you
town would be well rid OF this fen
and that as respectable citizens 1t
mp to you to do what is not a At tas
for a sick man? Say the word. Sha
shoot him, or will you take him OF
and swing hlmr'
A man standing behind Hawkin
who had suffered from him, but feare
him, jeTked Hawkins gun from b
hip, then said to the dozen men stan'
ing about:
Scents, will you let this sick boy
what 1t has long been our duty to d.
This desperate has killed five men
four months, and for no good reasol
Come on"
The speaker pinioned Hawkins arm
to his side; the others sprang forwar
and the murderer was hustled out, Il
crowd assisting or following.
"Give me a bracer," said the mi
who had called himself Death, al
when liquor was set before him
drank it of and, setting down Z
glass, said:
"That's the first liquor that has ev
passed down my throat, and 1t will
the last l needed It."
When the crowd returned they than
ed the stranger for having accomplis
ed what they had never dared to
themselves.