The Ozark spectator., 1917-04-11

to pay for putting that mark on me. Somebody is bound to pay for your manners. Why talk about either? Sas- soon, set out for your friends--or I 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 it. San dusky pushed close next him. De Spain continued to speak without hes itation 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 Spain," cried Logan shrilly. You've turned one trick too many on the sinks, young fellow. If the man that put your mark on you ain't il this room, you'll never get him."
 Which means, take 1t. you're going to try to get me-" smiled De Spain.
 "No," beloved Morgan, Tit means We have got you"
 | You are fooling yourself, Harvey" De Spain addressed the warning to Lo- gan. And you, too. Sandusky." he added.
 "Well take care of that" grinned Logan. Sandusky kept silence.
 You are jumping into another mans fight" protested De Spain steadily.
 "Sassoons fight Is our fight" inter- rupted Morgan.
 'I advise you" said De Spain once more. looking with the words at San dusky and his crony, ito 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 at. In reality, he saw only cut-glass button. He was face to face with taking mans life or surrendering his own, and he knew the life must be taken in such a 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.
 Not till it's empty" returned De Spain. Do you want to try taking it?" he demanded of Logan, his cheeks burning little darker.
 l Logan never answered the question. It was not meant to be answered. For De Spain asked 1t only to cover the | spring he made at that instant into ! Sandusky's middle. Catlike though 1t was, the felnt did not take the big fel- low unprepared. He had heard once, when or where he could not tell, but he had never forgotten the hint. that De Spain, a boxer. was as quick with his feet as with his hands. The out law whirled. Both men shot from the l hip; the reports cracked together. One bullet, grazing the fancy button, smashed through the gaudy waistcoat {; the other. as De Spain's free hand struck at the muzzle of the big mans gun. tore into De Spain's foot. San dusky, convulsed by the frightful shock, staggered against De Spain's arm, the latter dancing tight against him. Logan. alive to the trick but caught behind his partner, fired over Sandusky's right shoulder at De Spain's head, flattened sldewise against the sasping outlaws breast. Plugging his shield, De Spain threw his second shot over Saneusky's left shoulder into Logan's face. Logan. sinking to the floor, never moved again. Supporting with extraordinary strength the un- wieldy bulk of the dying butcher, De Spain managed Go steady him as buff fer against Morgan's fire until he could send a slug over Sandusky's head at the instant the latter collapsed. Nor gan fell against the bar.
 Sandusky's weight dragged De Spain down. For an instant the four men sprawled in heap. Sassoon, who had not vat rof an effacfiya shot acrac~ n,