New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1916-02-05

say you'd let him 60. But I've got to
remember that this man has twisted
you round his finger before today. Ted
you by the hand like blessed old
, child and passed himself off for me.
Look at the fellow, look at me and ask
yourself candidly il you're the man
for the Job. But don't ask me unless
you want my opinion Of you e bit
palmer still No; you go on with the
others The two Of you can manage
HOWE II you can't, put bullet
through him. This is my man. and I'm
his. by the hockey, as he'll know If he
tries any Of his tricks while you're
gone
Stin2aree did not move muscle. He
might have been dead, and IN his dis
appointment 1t was the easier to lie a.
though be were. Really bruised. really
battered. really faint and stiff and sore
to say nothing OF his bonds. he felt
himself physically no match for SO
yoslng man with the extra breadth at
shoulder and the extra length Of arm
which were part and parcel OF his de
formitv. With the elderly sergeant he
might have had a chance. man to man.
one arm to two. but with Super!ntend
ent CAIRNS his only weapons were his
wits. He lay quite still and reviewed
the situation. as It was and as 1t had
been. In the very moment OF his down
fall by instructive presence Of mind be
had preserved the use Of his right
hand. and that was q still unsupported
asset Of incalculable worth. 1t had
been the nucleus Of all his plans. With
out hand he must have resigned him
self to the inevitable from the first
Then he had split up the party. He
heard the sergeant and the constable
ride OFF with HOWE, exactly as he had
intended two Of the three captors to Go
His fall alone introduced the clement
Of luck. 1t might have killed or MAIN.
ed him. but the risk had been run with
open eyes. Being alive and whole, he
had reduced the odds from three
difference was enormous, even though
one man held all the cards. Against
Howie the odds were heavier than
ever. but HOWE was eliminated from
present calculations. And rs. Stingaree
made them with the upturned face Of
seeming insensibility ne heard non
chalant step come and 60, but knew an
eye was on him all the time and never
opened hts own till the striking Of a
match was followed by the smell of
hush tobacco
The shadow Of the hop bush was
spreading like split ink. and for the
moment Stingaree thought he had it to
himself But u wreath OF blue smoke
lowered overhead. and when he got to
his elbow and glanced behind there sat
Cairns in his shirt sleeves. filling the
niche his body made in the actual
green bush, swollen wet water bag
at his feet, his revolver across hi..
even as 4tingaree screwed around
where he lay.
Give me drink he cried at sight
Of the humid canvas bag. , o., 0rgol
"Why should II" asked the superin.
tendent, smoking on, 70 vah t5-3
Because haven't had one since we
started-because I'm parched with
thirst" a' tiae a'e5 lsa -r'o7f p-9-
''Parch away cried the creature Of |
suspicion. you can't help yourself,
and l can't help you with this baby to
nurse" r.
And he fondled the cooked revolver !
In hts hands. ~-sa ~ etaleN sgs /
Every well! Don't give me oner' ex-
claimed Stingaree and dealt the moist !
bag kick that sent a Jet Of cold water |
squirting over his foot. He expected to |
Be kicked himself for that He was
only cursed. the. bag snatched out of ,
bis reach and deeply drained before hia
eyes. +.5..-. --,,s.+-e.-
Il was going to give you some" said !
Cairna. smacking his lips. Nov your |
tongue may hang cut before l doa"
Stingaree left the last word with |
tho foe. 1t was pars Of his preconceiv-
ed policy. He still regretted his coli
tary retort, but not for a moment the |
more petufant act which he had just |
committed His boots had been re-
moved after his fall: one Of his socks
was now wet through. and he spent !
the next few minutes In taking It or !
with the other foot The lengthy proc
ess seemed to afford bis mind Ger
tain pensive entertainment. It was a
shapely and delicate white foot that
lay stripped at iast-a foot that its
owner. with nothing better to DO.
could contemplate with Legitimate sat
isfactton- But superintendent Cairns.
noting his prisoners every look and
putting bin own confident interpreta
tion on them all cursed him afresh for
a conceited pig and filed another pipe.
with the revolver for an Instant by his
side. 49,. .r. ,a.7. --c.as II
Sungaree took no interest In his pro
ceedings: the revolver he especially ig
nored. and lay stretched before his
captor. one sock OF ana one sock on.
one arm IN splints and sling and the
other bound to his ribs. q model pris:
oner whose last thought was Of esr
cape His legs. indeed. were free. but
a man who could not sit on a horse