Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1917-03-09
CHAPTER TX.
The Glass Button.

MN, tlc cutuuHlel Scclucu W lie opulu
accidental. But before he could speak,
a second man appeared In the door
way and this man appeared to be Jok.
Ing with II third, behind him. AS the
second man crossed the threshold De
Spain saw SanduSky's high-vOiced
little lighting crony, Logan, who now
made way, as he stepped within To the
right Of the open door, for the swing
Ing shoulders and rolling stride Of
Gale Morgan.
Morgan, eying De Spain with lnso-
lence as was his wont, closed the door
behind him with bang. Then he
backed his powerful frame significant
ly against 1t.
A blind man could have seen the
completeness of the snare. An unpleas-
ant feeling flashed across De Spun's
perception. II was only for the I'M
measurable part of second-while
uncertainty was resolving Itself into Il
rapid certainty. When Gale Morgan
stepped into the room on the heels
OF his two Calabasas friends, De Spain
would have sold for less thun cup
Of coffee all his chances for life. New
ertheless, before Morgan had set his
back fairly against the door and the
trap was sprung, De Spain hud
mapped his fight.
He did not retreat from where he
halted at the instant Sandusky entered.
His one slender chance was to hug TO
the men that meant to XIII him. Nor
gun, the nearest, he esteemed the least
dangerous Of the three; but to think
TO escape both Sandusky and Logan
ut close quarters was, he knew. more
than ought to be hoped for.
While Morgan wns closing the door,
De Spain smiled at his visitors "rhnt
isn't necessary, Morgan-I'm not ready
to run" Morgan only continued 10
stare at him. ~ need hardly ask"
added De Spain, whether you fellows
J have business with mel'
He looked to SanduSky for a reply;
1t was Logan who answered In shrlll
fulsetto: NO. We don't happen to
have business that know Of. A
friend Of ours may have little. may.
bel" Logan, lifting his shoulders with
his laugh, looked toward his compan.
ions for an answer 10 his joke.
De SPANS smile appeared unruhled:
You'll help him transact 1t, sup
poser"
Logan looking again toward San.
dusky, grlnned: HE won't need any
help"
"Who Is your frlendr demanded De
Spain good-naturedly. Logan's glance
mlsled him; II did not refer to SIM
dusky. And even as he asked the qucs.
ton De Spain heard through the half.
open window at the end OF the bar
the sound of hoofs. Hoping against
hope for Lefever, the interruption
cheered him. It certainly did not seem
that his situation could be made worse.
"Well," answered Logan. talking
again to his gallery OF cronies we've
got two or three friends that want to
see you, They're waiting outside to
see what you'll look like In about five
mlnutes-aln't they, Galef"
Someone was moving within the rear
room. De Spain felt hope In every
football he heard, and the mention Of
Morgan's name cleared his plan OF
battle. Before Gale, with an oath,
could blurt out his answer, De Spain
had resolved to fight where he stood,
taking Logan first and Morgan as he
should Jump In between the two. II
was at the best hopeless venture
against Sandusky's first shot, which
De Spain knew was almost sure to
reach Il vital spot. But desperate men
cannot be choosers.
"rhere's no time for seeing me like
the present" declared De Spain, ignor.
Ing Morgan and addressing his words
to Logan. Bring your friends In.
What are you complaining about, Nor.
gon?' he asked, resentlng the stream
Of abuse that Gale hurled at him when.
ever he could get word In. 81 had
my turn at you with rifle the other
day. You've got your turn now. And
call 1t pretty soft one, too-dont
you, Sanduskyf" he demanded sud.
denly OF the big fellow.
Sandusky alone through the talk had
kept an unbroken silence. He was
eating up De Spain with his eyes, and
De Spain not only ached 10 hear him
speak, but was resolved to mike him.
SanduSky had stood motionlcss from
the instant he entered the room. His
eyes rested intently on De Spain and
at his side the long fingers of his right
hand beat n soft tattoo against his
pistol holster. De SPANS question
seemed to arouse him, whats your
name| he demanded bluutly. His
voice was heavy and his deafness was
iNh'Nttu ia tiAc lluiiCu tOlc.
It's on the butt Of my gun, San
dusky."
Whats that he saysf" demanded
the man known as the butcher, asking
the question Of Logan, but without
taking his eyes off his shlfty prey.
Logan raised his voice TO repeat the
words and to add rlbald comment.
"YOu make a good deal of noise"
muttered Sandusky, speaking again to
De Spain.
THAT ought not to bother you
much, Sandusky," shouted De Spain,
trying to win smile from his taci-
turn antagonist.
"H!s aolse won't bother anybody
much longer" put In Logan, whose re-
torts overaowed at every interval. But
there was no smile even hintcd Mt 10
the uncompromising vigilance of San
dusky's expressionless face. De Spain
discounted the next few minutes far
enough to feel that Sanduskys first
shot would mean death to him, even II
he could return It.
''Ill tell you, De SPAIN" continued