The Tomahawk., 1917-12-20

tain of them; but one thing CONES ~
the surface as entirely definite-tha'
trigger was not so hard TO pull as DILL
said it was.
Rang, Wh-a-a-ack A shatterlnS re-
port split the air of the STAPLE, <'',A
there was an orifice of remarkaDle oi'
ameter in the alley door Nitl tne's
phenomena, three yells, expressing eA-
element of different kinds were d.
most simultaneOus-tWo from within.
the stable and the third from a po'll'
in the alley about eleven lnches io"e'
than the ,orifice just construcleu ia
the planking of the door, inns th'iu
point, roughly speaking, was the open
mouth of a gayly dressed young coior-
ed man whose attention, as he strolleu'
had been thus violently distracted 1roih
some mental computations ne was
making in numbers, including, partlcu-
larly, those symbols of ecstasy or VICE.
as. the case might be, seven anu eleVeh'
His eye at once perceived the oflhce
on a line enervatingly little apo7e llre
ton of his head; and, although ne hau
not supposed himself so we'll known IN
this neighborhood, he was aware that
he did, here and there, possess ac-
uuaintanc s of whom some such I'M
complimentary action might be expect
ed as natural and characteristic. his
immediate procedure was to prostrate
himself flat upon the ground against
the stable doors.
In so doing, his shoulders came
brusuuely in contact with one OF tnelh,
which happened to be unfastened, ana
it swung open, revealing to his gaze
two stark-white white boys, one OF
them holding an enormous pistol anu
both staring at him in stup0r OF uitr
mate horror. For. to the CLASSY eyes
of Penrod and Sam, the stratagem OF
the young colored man, thus dropping
to earth, disclosed, with awful certain
ty, slaughtered body.
This dreadful thing raised itself up
on it's elbows and looked at them' ana
there followed motionless moment
q tableau of brief duration, for both
boys turned and would have fled,
shrieking, but the body spoke:
cats nice business!" it said re-
proachfully. ''Nice business! Tryin'
blow a mans head off !" e..
Penrod was unable to speak, but
Sam managed to summon the tremu'
lous sernblance of voice.
"Where-where did it hit you?' he
gasped.
"Nemmine anything bout where it
hit me-" the young colored man return
ed, busting mis- breast and knees as ne
rose. II want to know what kline o.
white boys you think you is-lnan
can't walk long street 'thout you blow
in his head Off" He entered the sta"
bic and, with an indignation surely
justified, took the pistol from the limp,
cold hand of Penrod. ''Whose gun you
playin' with? Where you git at gun"
Its ours" quavered Sam. 1T be-
longs to U.S.
'Then YOU pa ought to be rested,
said the young colored man. "Lettin'
boys play with gum" He examined
the revolver with an interest in which
there began to appear symptoms of a
pleasurable appreciation. my goo'-'
ness! Gun. like iss blow a team o.
steers thew brick house! Look at at
gun!" With his right hand he twirled
it in a manner most dexterous and sur
prising; then suddenly he became Sc
we're. "You white boy, listen mel" he
said. EFF I went an did what ought
to did, I'd march straight out 'iss sta
Bile, git policeman, an tell him rest
you an take you off to Jail. ATS what
you need-blowin' mans head off!
Listen me: I'm goin' take 'iss gun an
th'ow her away where you can't do no
mo- harm with her. I'm goin' take her
way off in the woods an th'ow her
away where can't nobody fine her an
60 BLOWN mans head off with her.
ATS what I'm goin' do!" And placing
the revolver inside his coat as incon-
spicuously as possible, he proceeded to
the open door and into the alley, where
he turned for final word. 81 let you
off 'iss one time," he said, "but listen
me-you listen, white boy: 20 bet not
tell you pa. ain goin' tell him, an
you ain goin' tell him. He want know
where gun gone, you tell him you los
her."
He disappeared rapidly.
Sam Williams, swallowing continu-
ously, presently walked to the alley
door, and remarked in a weak voice,
s'.rm sick at my stummick." He paused,
then added more decidedly: "Tm gofn'
home. + guess I've stood about enough
around here for one day." And be-
slowing last glance upon his friend,
who was now sitting dumbly upon the
floor in the exact spot where he had
stood to fire the dreadful shot, Sam
moved slowly away.
The early shades of autumn evening
were falling when Penrod emerged
from the stable; and better light
might have disclosed to shrewd eye
some indications that here was boy
who had been extremely, if Temporal
lily, i'll. He went to the cistern, and.