Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1917-06-14
Discontinued.

Still regarding De Spain with the
most b~usinesslike expression. the griz-
xIed outlaw took a guarded step for
wafo. his companions following suit.
lie Spain. always with u Jealous regard
tOe the relative distance between him
n his self-appointed executioners.
moved backward. In crossing the room.
Sandusky, without objection from his
c0mpaniOns, moved across their front,
n when the four lined up at the bar,
their positions had changed. De Spain
stood at the extreme left, Sandusky
next, Logan beside him, and Gale Nor
gan. at the other end of the line, pre-
fcnde3 to pound the bar for service.
1e Spain, following mountain etiquette
an the circumstances, spread his open
hands, palms down, on the bar. San
<1usky's great palms slid in the same
faShion over the checked Slab in un-
spoken recognition of the brief armis-
C I.ognn's hands came up in turn,
and Morgan still pounded for someone
10 serve.
DE Spain In the new disposition
weighed his chances as being both bet
ter and worse. They had put Sandus-
ky's first shot at no more than IN
arms length from his prey, with Lo-
n next, to cover the possibility OF
the big fellows failing TO paraiyze De
Spain the first instant. On the other
hand, De Spain, trained In the tactics
Of Whispering Smith and Medicine
Bend gunner, welcomed n short-arm
struggle with the worst of his assail-
ants closest at hand. Their malielver-
ang caused no disluiet to their slen-
der, coinpactly built victim. you'll
wait a long time. If you wait for serv-
tee here. Morgan" he said, comment
ing with composure on Morgan's i'm
patience. Logan looked again at his
two companions and laughed.
Every hope De Spain had of possible
help from the back room died with
that laugh. Then the door behind the
bar slowly opened, and the scar-fea-
'tured face Of Sassoon peered cautious
ly from the gloom. The horsethief.
STOPPING, walked in with a leer directed
tnunphuntly at the railroad man.
II it were possible to deepen it, the
sinister spot on De SPANS face dark
enei. Something in his blood ragged
at the sight Of the malevolent face. He
glanced at Logan. This" he smiled
faintly, nodding toward Sassoon as he
himself took Il short step farther to
she left, as your drink, Harvey, Is it,"
"No," retorted Logan loudly. this
IL our drink"
"Tll take Sassoon," assented De
Spain, good-natured again and shifting
still another step to the left. what
do you fellows want now?"
1--WE want to punch q hole through
that strawberry" said Logan, that
beauty-mark. Where did you get 1t,
De Spain"
81 might as well ask where you get
your gall, Harvey" returned De Spain,
watching Logan bunch Sandusky
toward the left that both might crowd
him closer. II was born with my
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES as you were born
with your Did bad manners" he
ndded ~composedly, for In hugging up
to him his enemies were playing his
game. "You can't help 1t, neither can
T." he went on. Somebody Is bound
to pay for putting that mark on me.
Somebody is bound to pay for your
manners. Why talk about either? Sas-
soon. set out for your ~friends-or !
will. Spread, gentlemen, spread"
He had reached the position on
which he believed his life depended.
Sand stood 50 close To the end nf the