The Holbrook news., 1916-11-03

or WdQIS 10 play Wlln QOllS
 on my front porch"
 This coming from the lips of the
 generally silent Gilson had it's effect
 and, in the hundreds of conversations
 that followed the killing-the opinion
 of GilsOn was given and ratified
 Later that night Tights came down
 to (ke general store for a can of beans.
 He entered in his generally furtive
 manner and a man. who had not heard his entrance and chanced to turn quickly, bumped into him.
 The previous day this man would have walked on without even notic- ing the shrinking figure but today he drew quickly aside and with a smirk said, "kxcuse me, Mister Tights"
 The title of Mister" seemed to touch a spring and release the reply that came instantly from the lips of Tights, My names Henderson," as he walked on to the counter.
 GIlSon heard the remark and com ing forward said, What kin 1 do fer you, MT. Henderson,"
 The shrunken figure stopped-the head jerked up and the eyes opened. MT. Henderson"-how many thou sands of years had passed since he had heard that name and heard it with the accent of respect it now carried? Back-way back-through the ages, his mind slipped. He saw thousands of people under the tightly stretched canopy of the Big Top"-he could smell agaIn the odor of sawdust and hear the band crash out a long chord as he posed at the foot of the rope ladder leading to his trapeze. The man in the dress suit was calling with all the power of hIs clarion like voice Mister Carlyle Henderson, the worlds greatest aerial artist" and to hls ears came the appIaI Ise of all those thousands of hands.
 UncoEsciOusly the figure of the man strengthened and he looked straight into G.lson's eyes. Thanks" he said, aEd then reverting to the whine they so wei knew, Gimme a Can o'beans."
 When he left there was moments silence and then Giiscn remarked" That talk of mine today stands cop pered. That mans got an eye that don't know what fear looks like" And Gilson was right-fcr the eye that flashed at him for the one instant was the eye cf Carlyle Henderson, the man who laughed at fear and enjoyed the dangers of the dizzy heights from which he looks town on the circus crowds.
 On the way back to his hovel, Tights G derson." Ills shoulders tried to throw off lhA Lurden Of shame the years had piled upon theln and strengthened slightly. Mister Henderson" The sEuffiing feet were un consciously lift ed and put down with a snap. Mister Henderson" He was at the door of his sCabie-"Gawd! Wot place fer man to live in," he muttereG. Then he stopped and stood halffrightened. "A man"-he had not used these words for years. He had called hInself or thought of himself IS "a guy" a"poor stiff, "a geek, this Lo" how did he come to say "a man?' Then through his brain the two phrases seemed to run Mister HeHderson-a man, Mister Henderson-a man" and then then Tights came to the surface in burst of realization, and tears-tears of self-pity, self condemnation and weak anger, ran down his face and cursing in futile, whining manner he threw himself onto the heap of rags he called his couch and wept.
 Yet through all the hours that fol- lowed the words, Mister Henderson" kept running through his head. He spoke them himself. He lay in a semi stupor thinking of every accent Gilson had used-"Mister Henderson"-and to him came the craving to hear and enjoy the sweetness of the experience agaIn.
 He would go down to the store and purchase a pug of tobacco,a box of matches, nything-anything to hear Gilson say again Mister Henderson"
 As he entered the store he realized there was some unusual excitement. Two voices were snapping like the crack of whips. Gilson's was the first he heard, You got the stuff and you'll pay fer it"-and then the voice he did not. know, You're a damn iar!" and then-then a crash of two pistols so closeIy together as to almost sound as one-and a fall. Then a voice rather awed "Gilson's dead"
 The full horror of it came slowly to Tights. RobbedI Robbed of that for winch he would now almost give hls life. Robbed of again hearing Gnson's voice saying Mister Henderson" and robbed by some one that, even now, was there.
 Tights slipped through the mob un- til he came to the open space in winch stood a brawny inner at whose feet lay Gilson. The miners gun was still in his hand-a rather sneering look on his face.
 Tights crowded into the open space his hand in his shirt front. He moved towards the big miner-slowly-un- a snake draws towards it's victim.
 The miner saw him and started-his pistol rose as a flash until it covered the head of Tights. You keep away from me-" he thundered.
 Tights never wavered. This man had robbed him of more than life. Had taken from him the sweetness of hearing himself again named as a man. He would kill this man. He knew it. What mattered it if he him. self were killed now? He laughed at the foolshness of this man who threat ened to shoot him. What was that threat compared to what he had al ready done?
 HIs hand came slowly from his shirt-the rusty, squat weapon cud- died in its palm. Once! Twice! The