The Jasper news., 1917-03-08
CHAPTER discontinued.

Still regarding De Spain with the
most businesslike expression. the griz-
zled outlaw took q guarded step for-
ward, his companions following suit.
De Spain, always with jealous regard
for the relative distance between him
and his self-appointed executioners,
moved backward. In crossing the room,
Sandusky, without objection from his
companions, moved across their front,
and 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-
tended to pound the bar for service.
De Spain, following mountain etiquette
in the circumstances, spread his open
hands, palms down, on the bar. San
dusky's great palms slid in the same
fashion over the checked slab in un-
spoken recognition of the brief armis-
tice. Logan's hands came up in turn,
and Morgan still pounded for someone
to serve.
De Spain In the new disposition
weighed his chances as being both bet
ter und worse. They had put Sandus-
ky's first shot at no more than an
arms length from his prey, with Lo-
gan next, to cover the possibility of
the big fellows failing to paralyze De
Spain the first instant. On the other
hand, De Spain, trained in the tactics
of Whispering Smith and Medicine
Bend gunner, welcomed short-arm
struggle with the worst of his assail-
ants closest mt hand. Their maneuver-
ing caused no disquiet to their sen-
der. compactly built victim. You'll
wait long time, If you wait for serv-
ice here, Morgan" he said, comment
ing with composure on Morgan's i'm
patience. Logan looked again ut 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 scnr-fea
tured face of SassoOn peered cautious
ly from the gloom. The horsethief
STOPPING, walked in with leer directed
triumphantly at the railroad man.
If it were possible to deepen it, th'
sinister spot on De Spain's face dark
ened. Something In his blood rage'
mt the sight of the malevolent face. IL
glanced ut Logan. "This," he smile'
family, nodding toward Sassoon as h
himself took II short step farther t
the left, sis your drink, Harvey, Is It?
NO" retorted Logan loudly, "thi
is your drink"
"rll take Sassoon," assented d
Spain, good-natured again and shiftln
still another step to the left. "Wha
do you fellows want now?"
1--WE want to punch hole throug
that strawberry" said Logan, "tha
heauty-mark. Where did you get 4
De Spain?"
II might as we'll ask where you &c
your gall Harvey" returned De SpaiI
watching Logan hunch Sandusk
toward the left. that both might crow
him closer. ~ was born with m
beauty-mark-.just as you were Dor
with your ID bad manners" h
added composedly for in hugging Ii
to him his enemies were playing h
game. "You can't help it, neither ca
l." he went on. Somebody is boun
to pay for putting that mark on IN
Somebody is bound to pay for yol
manners. Why talk about either? Sa
soon, set out for your friends-or
will. Spread, gentlemen, spread"
He had reached the position {
which he believed his life depende
and stood so close to the end of Il
bar that with single step, as he u
tered the last words, he turned 1t. Sa
dusky pushed close next him.
Spain continued TO speak without he
itation or break, but the words SCENE
to have no place In his mind. He WI
thinking only, and saw only within h
field of vision cut-glass button tn
fastened the bottom of Sandusky
creased waistcoat.
you've waited one day too long
collect for your strawberry, De Spain
cried Logan shrilly. you've turnt