Mexico Missouri message., 1917-03-22

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,
and stood so close to the end of the
bar that with n single step, as he ut
tered the last words he turned 1t. San
dusky pushed close next him. De
Spain continued to speak without hes
ltation or break, but the words seemed
to have no place in his mind. He was
thinking only, and saw only within his
field Of vision a cut-glass button that
fastened the bottom of Sandusky's
creased waistcoat.
you've waited one day too long to
collect for your strawberry De Spaln,"
cried Logan shrilly. you've turned
one trick too many on the sinks, young
fellow. If the man that put your mark
on you amt in this room, you'll never
get him"
(Which means, take it, you're going
to try to get me-" smiled De Spain.
NO" beloved Morgan, "it means
we have got YOU"
you are foOling yourself, Harvey"
De Spain addressed the warning to Lo-
gan. "And you, too, Sandusky," he
! added.
"We'll take care of that" grinned
Logan. Sandusky kept silence.
You are jumping into another mans
fight" protested De Spain steadily.
"Sassoon's fight is our fight" inter-
rupted Morgan.
| II advise yOu," said De Spain once
more, looking with the words at San
dusky and his crony, "to keep out of
it."
"Sandusky," yelled Logan to his
partner, "he advises me and you to
keep out of this fight" he shrilly
| laughed.
Sure" assented Sandusky, but with
no variation in tone and his eyes on
De Spain.
Logan, with an oath, leaned over the
bar toward SassoOn, and pointed con-
temptuously toward the end of the
bar. "Shike!" he cried, "step through
the rail and take that mans gun"
De Spain, looking from one to the
other of the four faces confronting
him, laughed for the first time. But
he was looking without seeing what
he seemed to look ut. In reality, he
saw only Cut-glass button. He was
face to face with taking a mans life
or surrendering his own, and he knew
the life must be taken In such way
as instantly to disable its possessor.
These men had chosen their time and
place. There was nothing for 1t but
to meet them. Sassoon was stepping
toward him, though very doubtfully.
De Spain laughed again, dryly this
time. go slow, Sassoon," he said.
THAT gun Is loaded"
''If you want terms, hand over your
gun to Sassoon," cried Logan.
mot till it's empty" returned De
Spain. do you want to try taking it?"
he demanded Of Logan, his cheeks
burning u little darker.
Logan never answered the question.
1t was not meant to be answered. For
De Spain asked 1t only to cover the
spring he made at that instant into
Snndusky's middle. Catlike though 1t
was, the felnt did not take the big fell
low unprepared. He had heard once,
when or where he could not tell, but
he had never forgotten the hint, that
De Spain, boxer, was as quick with
his feet as with his hands. The out
law whirled. Both men shot from the
hip; the reports cracked together. One
bullet, grazing the fancy button
smashed through the gaudy waistcoat
the other, as De Spaln's free hand
struck at the muzzle of the big mans
gun, tore into De Spain's foot. San
dusky, cOnvulsed by the frlghtfu
shock, staggered against De Spain's
J arm, the latter dancing tight against
\ him. Logan, alive to the trick but
caught behind his partner, fired ovel
Sandusky's right shoulder at d.
t SPANS head, flattened sldewIse agains
the gasping outlaws breast. Hugglnl
b his shield, De Spain threw his SECOND
t shot over SanGUsky's left shoulder int,
!, Logan's face. Logan, sinking to tn,
floor, never moved again. Supportin,
t with extraordinary strength the IN
/. wleldy bulk of the dying butcher, d,
y Spain managed to steady him as buf
d fer against Morgan's fire until he coul,
y send slug over Sandusky's head a
n the instant the latter collapsed. Mon
e gan fell against the bar.
p Sandusky's weight dragged De Spai
Is down. For an instant the four me
n sprawled in heap. Sassoon, who ha
d not yet got an effective shot across q