Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1917-05-10
CHAPTER I.
Frontier Day.

Frontter Day.
Lefever sat sidewise on the edge
Ut the table. His subdued whistle,
which seemed meditatiye, irritated De
Spain more or less, despite his en-
deavor not to be irritated. 1t was like
the low singing Of a teakettle, which.
however unobtrusive, indicates steam
within. in fact. John Lefever, who
was built not unlike a kettle, never
whistled except when there was some
pressure on his sensibilities.
The warm sun came streaming
through the windows of the private Of
xice Of the division superintendent at
Sleepy Cat, II railroad town lying al
most within gunshot of the great CON
tinental divide. De Spain. tilted back
In the superintendent chair, sat near
Lefever-Jeifries had the mountain dt-
vision then~-his feet crossed on the
walnut rim of the shabby. cloth
topped table. His chin lay on his soft,
open collar aud tie, his Sunburnt lips
were shut tight, and his nervous brown
eyes were staring ut the dull finish
Barrel of n new rifle, that lay across
Lefever's lap. AT intervals Lefeyer
took The rifle up and, whiStling softly,
examined with care q fracture of the
fever, the broken tl%lMnhpiece OF which
Say on the table between the two men.
From the Main street side OF the
large room carne the hooting and clat-
tcritig of a Frontier day celebration,
and these noises seemed not TO allay
tlln discomfort apparent on the faces
OF Che two men.
"Hang IT, john blurted out De
Spain pecvishly, what possessed you
10 send for me to DO the shooting, any
wayt'
His companion answered gently
I.efever's patience was noted even
among contained men-'Henry," he re-
.monstrated, Il sent for you because I
thought YOU could shoot"
De Spain's expression did not change
under the %reproach. His features were
10 regular rs to contribute to this un-
disturbed expression. and his face
would not ordinarily attract attention
but for his extremely bright and alive
eyes--the frequent mark of un out.of.
door mountain life--and especially for
"A red birthnark. low on his left cheek.
disappearing under the turn Of the jaw.
lit was merely Il strawberry, so called,
and after knowing him, one forgot
about the birthmurk In the man that
carried 1t. Lefevcr's reproach was
naturally provocative. II hope now
retorted De Spain, but without any
show Of resentment, "you understand
can't"
""No." persisted Lefever. good-na
|turedly, II only realize, Henry, that
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 asket
about the noise In the street.
'.That noise, William, comes from al
Caiabasas and all Morgan's gap" ex
niained Lefever, still fondling til
riae. 1.-THE Morgaus are celebratin
our defeat. They put 1t all over u.
We we're challenged yesterday" h
continued IN response to the abrul
questions of Jeffries. 1.-THE Morgan
offered to shoot us offhand, two hur
dred yards. bull's-eye count. l though
we could trim them by running In
zeal gunman, SO L wired to Medicin
Bend for Henry. Henry ONE up Ia.
nlght with a brand-new rifle. This
the gun. The lever" he added with
paticnt expletive, 'brpke. Henry s,
70 shooting too fast"
"That wasn't what beat me-" e
claimed De Spain curtly. And takir
up the offending rifle. he walked o,
OF the room.
.What do you think. William l.
fever grumbted on. 'The Morgans RI
On a girl to shoot against us--Na
Hforsan, old Duke Morgan's little nlec
And / never before In my life On
Henry 10 fused. The little Mus
Mountain skirt simply put II all ov
. MIN. She had fivc. bull's-eyes to He
rvs three when the lever snapped. I
forfeited"
.Somc shooting" commented il
cries. rapidly signing letters.
1--WE expected sonc when Henry q
slung hls gum" Lcfever went on wit
cut respecting JeffrIes' p%reoccupatio
- II ID, those fellows have cleaned
every dollar loose In Sleepy Cat. al
80 some. Money! They could sts
x bank this minute"
s6OMnds Of rcvelry continued to 20
through the street window. r
kOfkans were celebrating uncommt
b. Rubbing II 10, eh, Johnf' .,
gssteis JetffieM
sThlnk of ~ ssspsd Lefsver. :
\ ~ beaten BY % eiEhteen-yearoid 81
sNow that declared JsAftss, M
iaslups ~ " fars TIM nfst dime int
~ exactly where you made "a
VII: III JohA. A guninan shoots |
W16Sn thees's somsbody shoot
IhatS why 20 shoot well
a4ons yosstS I gunman, and not
W4LtH ElA IALA II - AMF l % L. ~ @A