The Lamar register., 1917-04-11
Nan ST
Music
Mountain

By
FRANK H. SPEARMAN
Author Of WHISPERING SMITH

INK MN Dy nous ana Whispers 10 Otn
ors.
Among several groups OF men stand
ing before the long bar, one party OF
four near the front end likewise en-
gagged the interest of those keener loaf
ers who were capable of foreseelnl
situations. These men, Satterlee Nor
gan, the cnttleman; Bull Page, one OF
his cowboys; Sheriff Druel and Judge
Druel, his brother, had been drinking
together. They did not see LefeveI
and his companion as the two came IL
through the rear lobby door. But LIE
fever. on catching sight of them, wei
coined his opportunity. Walking d.
rectly forward. he laid his hand or
Satt Morgan's shoulder. AS the cat
tlsman turned, Lefever, genially grasp
ing his hand. introduced De Spain tc
each Of the party in turn.
Morgan threw the brim Of his wealth.
sr-beaten hat back from his tanned
face. He wore a mustache and a chin
whlsker OF that variety designated In
the mountains by the appropriate
name Spinach" But his smile, which
drew his cheeks into wrinkles all about
his long round nose, was not unfriend.
ly. He looked with open interest from
his frank but not ENTHUSIASTICALLY eyes
at De Spain. II heard" he said in O
Eood-natured. slightly nasal tone, you
made sunrise call on us one day last
week"
"And want to say" returned De
Spain, equally amiable, ''that II had
had any idea you folks would take II
so hard-I mean, as an affront Intend
ed to any of you-I never would have
gone into the gap after Sassoon. ]
Just Misunderstanding a mistake as ]
now renllze-that my scrap would be
with Sassoon, not with the Morgnns."
Salts face wrinkled into humorous
grin. you sure kicked up some
alkali."
De Spain nodded cnndldly. More
than intended to. And | say-with-
out any intention of lmpertinence to
anybody else-Sassoon is cur. sup
posed when brought him In mere
after so much riding, that we had
sheriff enough to keep him" He
looked at Druel with such composure
that the latter for a moment was non
piussed. Then he discharged volley
Of oaths, and demanded what De Spain
meant. De Spain did not move. BE
refused to see the angry sheriff. THAT
IL where made my second mistake"
he continued, speaking to Morgan and
forcing his tone just enough to be
heard. Druel. with more hard words,
began to abuse the railroad for not
paying taxes enough to build a decent
jail. De Spain took another tack. He
eyed the sheriff calmly as the latter
continued to draw away and left De
Spain standing somewhat apart from
the rest of the group. '"rhen It may
be am making another mistake,
Druel. in blaming you. 1t may not be
Jour fault"
The fault is. you're fresh" cried
Druel, warming up as De Spain ap-
peared to cool. The line of tipplers
backed away from the bar. De Spain
stepping toward the sheriff, raised his
hand In friendly way. "Druel, you're
hurting yourself by your talk Make
me your deputy again some time" he
concluded, 'and I'll see that Sassoon
stnys where he is put"
'Tll just do that" cried Druel, with
4 very strong word. and he raised his
hand In turn. Next time you want
him locked up, you can take care OF
him yourself"
The sharp crack of a rifle cut of the
words; bullet tore like a lightning
bolt across De SPANS neck, crashed
through a mahogany plaster back OF
the bar, and embedded itself in the
wall. The shot had been aimed from
the street for his head. The noisy
room instantly hushed. Spectators sat
glued to their chairs. White-faced
players leaned mOtionless against the
tables. De Spain alone had acted; all
that the bartenders could ever remem.
Der after the single rifle shot was see
ing his hand go back as he whirled ano
shot instantly toward the heavy re
port. He had whipped out his gun
and fred sidewise through the window
at the sound.
That was all. The bartenders
breathed and looked again. Men were
crowdlng like mad through the back
doors. De Spain, at the cigar case
looking intently into the rainy street,
lighted from the corner by a dingy
lamp. The four men near him had not
stirred. but, startled and alert, the
right hand OF each covered the butt OF