The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-05-26
A Young Man Of
The Name of Mors
By BlLAND BELL

3
p. ped him and said:
You're the purtiest boy we ever seen
in these parts, and 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
fuffian 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 Mt 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 ghost.
I'm looking" said the new arrival
in a voice that seemed to come from
the tomb. 'for 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
pallor stood on his usually red face,
and he was trembling.
II don't feel like drink jist now"
he said.
My name is Mors. It's 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. 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.
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. III the third game
Hawkins played his cards without
looking at them He lost.
Mors deliberately pulled pistol from
his pocket, keeping his eye on the
other, and as deliberately pointed it
at Hawkins, who seemed paralyzed
making no effort whatever to draw his
weapon. The stranger. keeping his
eye fixed on him, said:
you've played a game with death
and lost. My twin brother came out
to this country to locate here, and you
killed him. | was told that there was
no law in this country except gun law.
so ! came out to get the man that
murdered my brother. l didn't see
any use III a gun fight when we could
settle the matter by a game. Hands
upr'
The last two words were spoken at
seeing in Hawkins eye change. The
murderer had been in doubt whether
he was not talking to the ghost Of the
man he had killed till he learned that
he was flesh and blood. His eye in
dicated that he had rcgaincd some of
his equanimlty, and he was about to
put up fight. The avenger saw 1t,
and his own eve indicated that at the
slightest motion to draw his weapon
he would be shot. He sat immovable.
Gentlemen" said the stranger, II
would much prefer that you would re-
heve me of disagreeable duty. | was
very i'll when the news of my brothers
death reached me and have not vet re-
covered. Don't you think that your
town would be well rid of this fiend
and that as respectable citizens 1t Is
up to you to do what is not fit task
for sick man? Say the word. Shall
| shoot him. or will you take him out
and swing hlm%
A man standing behind Hawkins,
who had suffered from him, but feared
him, jerked Hawkins gun from his
hip, then said to the dozen men stand
ing about:
Gents. will you let this sick boy do
what 1t has long been our duty to do?
This desperate has killed five men in
four months. and for no good reason.
Come on"
The speaker pinioned Hawkins arms
to his side; the others sprang forward,
and the murderer was hustled out, the
crowd assisting or following
Give me a bracer," said the man
who had called himself Death, and
when liquor was set before him he
drank 1t off and. setting down the
glass, said:
That's the first liquor that has ever
passed down my throat, and it will be
the last. l needed it."
When the crowd returned they thank
ed the stranger for having accomplish
ed what they had never dared to do
themselves