Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1917-02-15
CHAPTER I.
Frontier Day.

Frontier Day.
Lefever sat sldewise on the edge
Of the table. His subdued whistle,
which seemed medltative, irritated De
Spain more or less, despite his en-
Sdeavor not to be irrltated. 1t was like
the low singing Of q teakettle, which,
however uuobtrusive, indicates steam
within. In fact, John Lefever. who
was, built not unlike a kettle, never
whistled except when there was some
pressure on his senslbilities.
The warm sun came streaming
through the windows of the private Of
fee Of the division superintendent at
Sleepy Cat, a railroad town lying al
most within gunshOt of the great con-
In the superintendent chair, sat near
Lefever-Jeffrles had the mountain d.
vision then-hts feet crossed on the
walnut rim of the shabby, cloth
topped table His chin lay on his soft,
open collar and tie, his sunburnt lips
were shut tight, and his nervous brown
eyes were staring at the dull finish
BARREL. of a new rifle, that lay across
Lefever's lap. At intervals Lefever
took the rife up and, whistling softly,
examined with care fracture Of the
aever, the broken thumbpiece of which
day on the table between the two men.
From the Main street side Of the
large room came the hooting and clat-
tering of Frontier day celebration,
and these noises seemed not to allay
the discomfort apparent on the faces
of the two. men.
"Hang 1t. John" blurted out De
Spain peevishly. "what possessed you
10 send for me to do the shooting, any.
rway2"
His companion answered gently
Erefever's patience was noted even
among contained men-"Henry," he re.
monstrated, Il sent for you because ]
Thought you could shoot"
De Spain's expression did not change
0dnder the reproach. His features were
50 regular as to contribute to this un.
disturbed expression. and his face
would not ordinarily attract attention
out for his extremely bright and alive
eyes-the frequent mark of an out-of
door mountain llfe-and especially fol
q red birthmark, low on his left cheek
disappearing under the turn Of the jaw
1t was merely q strawberry, so called
and after. knowing him, one forgo
about the birthmark In the man thai
carried It. Lefever's reproach wal
naturally provocative. II hope now
wetOrted De Spain, but without an,
show of resentment, "you understand
can't"
"NO," persisted Lefever good-na
tgredly, II only realize, Henry, tina
this wasn't your day for the job"
The door of the outer Office opened
and Jeffries. the superintendent
walked into the room; he had just com
from Medicine Bend in his car. TIL
two men rose to greet him. He aske,
about the noise In the street.
~That noise. William. comes from al
'Calabasas and all Morgan's gap," eS
Dlained Lefever, still fondling tn
Eife. 'The Morgans are celebratin
our defeat. They put 1t all over III
We were challenged yesterday" h
continued IN response to the abrup
questions of Jeffries. 1.-THE Morgan
offered to shoot us offhand, two hur
>dred yards, bulls-eye count. though
we could trim them by running in
real gunman, so 1 wired to Medlcin
bend for Henry. Henry comes up las
might with brand-new rife. This |
the gun The Iavpr" ha addn6 with
patient expletlVe. "broke. Henry &c
TO shooting too fast"
"That wasn't what beat me-" e,
claimed De Spain CURLY. And takin
up the offending rifle, he walked OF
of the room.
SWAT do you think, William" l.,
&eVer grumbled on. ''The MOrgans ra
IN a girl TO shoot against us-Na
Morgan. old Duke Morgan's little nice,
And I never before in my life sa'
Henry so fused. The little MusI
Mountain skirt simply put 1t all owe
aim. She had five bull's-eyes TO Her
Gy's three when the lever snapped. Il
&OrfeitedT
'SOme shooting" commented Jel
fries. rapidly signing letters.
"Fe expected some when Henry vi
sIuag his gum" Leftover went on witt
out respecting Jeffries' preoccupatior
~-As stis, these fellows have cleaned u
every dollar loose in Sleepy Cat, an
chen some. Money7 They could star
y taAE this minute.