The herald. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1905-1953, 1916-06-01
A Young Man of
The Name of Mors
By BlLAND BELL.

face covered with a Stubble beard stop
ped him and said:
You're the purtiest boy we ever seen
in these parts, and them clothes air
list too beautiful for an angel. Come
in and have a drink"
Thank you. I've never touched a
drop Of liquor in my life"
We'll, It's time you begun. Come
on"
He took the young man by the arm.
The younaster resisted and struck the
ruffian in the face. There was re-
port, and the y1ungster fell.
Two weeks after that the man with
the red face and stubble beard was
staining 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 a step or two as
/ though he had seen a ghost
I'm looking" said the new arrival
In voice that seemed to come from
/ the tomb. for a man called Hawkins.
/ Can any Of You gentlemen tel me
where can ind him?'
! The strangers attention was direct
ed TO the man with the red beard
Would you Ike TO have me drink
. u CT acl- hn
Hawkins seemed tongue tied. \
pallor stood on his usually red face,
and he was trembling.
IL don't feel like a drink jlst now"
he said
Perhaps you would like game
from n 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 10 live. Cards
are an easier way Of settling the mat
ter than guns. Come; let's have
game Of euchre."
Taking Hawkins by the arm, he led
him into the harroom. Hawkins seem
ed bereft OF the power to resist and
seated himself at the same table with
the stranger. 4 pack OF cards wGs
produced, aud 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. In 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 1t
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. 1 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 in 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 a 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 eve In |
dicated that he had regained some Of !
his eQuanimity. ard he was about to
put up fight The avenger saw It,
and his own eye indicated that at the
slightest motion to draw his weapon
he would be shot He sat immovable.
Gentlemen" said the stranger, 81
would much prefer that you would re-
heve me OF disagreeable duty. / was
very Ill when the news of my brothers
death reached me and have not yet re-
covered. Don't you think that your
town would be we'll rid of this fiend |
and that as respectable citizens 1t Is
up to you to do what is not a fit task
for sick man? Say the word. Shall
| shoot him, or will you take him out
and swing himT
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 or and, setting down the
glass, said:
That's the first liquor that has ever
M coad dou-p /