The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1917-09-22


revolver IN q vague circle with I'm
decided arm On his face was a vacant
grim, IN strong contrast to the smile
on the silent face of the man stretched
before him. On the quiet form In the
stained saWdust were the garments of
priest-and the cause for his attitude
was apparent In a little pool of GRIM
son which was oozing through his
black robes and slowly spreading on
the floor.
In the reeking air of the unventi-
lated barroOm the sharp smell of smoke
less powder and the faint mist from
recently exploded cartridge pervaded
the atmosphere. Back of the bar was
the keeper, Pitt himself, whose instinct
after long experience on the frontier
had taught him to raise his hands
above ms head when a revolver was
drawn He had them In this position
now, but was leaning forward, with
hOrrOr-strlcken expression, needless even
of his own safety should the man by
the door turn upon him
Behind, in the billiard and gambling
room which adjOined, couple of Mex
can kitchen employees jabbered prayers
IN superstitious terror. Beyond their
rapid mumblng the only sounds to be
heard were the roaring of the stove in
one corner and the wailing of the wind
outside
The silence seemed to affect the man
with the revolver Had others been
present, had a sudden rush been made
at him, his faculties would have been
awakened at once, his fighting nature
brought to the surface. But the faint
sounds which only seemed to emphasize
the stiffness appeared to puzzle and
confuse him as he passed one hand over
his forehead and the grin on his face
faded For a few minutes he stood
gazing down blankly at the recumbent
figure, his face tWitching as the facts
forced themselves into his partially
stupefied brain
1t was a gentle face which looked
up from the foor-maintaining even
IN its present position and with closed
eyes the dignity it had worn as long as
WellestOn had known it. 1t was the
face OF a man of fifty, with prematurely
snOW-White hair, the deep burrows
down the smooth shaver face, which
told OF struggles of the past, seeming to
soften It's outlines rather than to make
them more rugged And as WelIeston
stared his remembrance came back
with a start.
But regret was not his first impulse
Instead. he quickly Strengthened him
self against the door, tightening his
grip on his revolver and glancing
hurriedly out of the window to see
ing the place.
keep 'em up, SAM" he said in a
meaning tone to Pitt, as the latter
showed signs of lowering his hands
"But he's dead, Bill" exclaimed the
saloonkeeper IN an awed tone. the
situation lending him courage
''Step out here till / go through
you" responded WelIeston briefly.
The saloon keeper complied and
WeIleston passed hand over him IN
quest of weapons, then walked behind
the bar and picked up the revolver
which, stuck muzzle downward IN a
board beneath the counter, lay ready to
his hand. A shotgun with barrels
sawed off short he picked up and
unloaded, then thrust into q cupboard
which he locked.
"Now, look him over" he ordered.
Pitt dropped or his knees at once
and pulled aside the robes for an
examination of the wound Then he
looked up with silent shake o. the
head
Fright through the stomach" he