Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1917-04-19

4 81 NJ !
The scar-Featured Face of Sassoon
Peered Cautiously From the Door.
bar slowly opened, and the scar-fea-
tured face Of Sassoon peered cautious
ly from the gloom. The hOrsethief
STOPPING, walked il with a Ieer directed
triumphantly at the railroad man.
If it were possible to deepen it, the
sinister spot on De SPANS face dark
ened. Something in his blood ragged
at the sight of the malevOlent face He
glanced at Logan. ''This," he smiled
| family, nodding toward Sass0on as he
| himself took a short step farther to
the left, els your drink, Harvey, is it?"
No" retorted Logan Loudly, ''this
is your drink"
I'll take SassO0n," assented De
Spain, good-natured again and shifting
still another step to the left. 'What
do you fellows want nOw?"
eve want to punch a hole through
! that strawberry" said Logan, chat
beauty-mark. Where did you get it,
De Spain?'
II might as we'll ask where YOU get
your gall, Harvey" returned De Spain,
watching Logan bunch Sandusky
toward the left that beth might crowd
him closer. 'I was born with my
I.,;luty-2n@rk-just as you were born
With Your Id Lad manners" he
1e.- -"'"-o oily, for in hugging up
/ Ii lbs enemies were playing his
como, you CAN'T up -. e. 3C~ ea~
/ Au vet OF. -. G..:.av J.; IA
= Pay Iur putting Cuat mark on me
Somebody is bound to pay for your
manners. Why talk about either? Sas.
soon, set out for your frienGs-oc ]
will. Spread, gentlemen, spread"
He had reached the position on
which he believed his life depended
and stood sc close to the end of the
bar that with 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-gIass 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 shTiIly. you've turned
| one trick too many on the sinks, young
fellow. If the man that put your mark
on you amt in this room, you'll never
get him"
(Which means, I take it, you're going
to try to get me-" smiled De Spain.
"NO," beloved Morgan, ct means
we have got you"
''YOu are fOoling yourself, Harvey"
De Spain addressed the warning to LO-
gan. "And you, too, Sandusky," he
added.
wen take care of that" grinned
/ Logan. Sandusky kept silence.
''You are jumping into another mans
| fight" protested De Spain steadily.
"Sassoon's, fight is our fight" inter-
rupted Morgan.
Il advise you," said De Spain once
more, looking with the words at San
dusky and his crony, "to keep out of
! it,
"Sandusky," yelled Logan to his
partner, she advises me and you to
keep out of this fight" he shriIly
| 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 20 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 q cut-glass button. He was
| face to face with taking a 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 it but
to meet them. Sassoon was stepping
toward him, though very doubtfully.
De Spain laughed again, dryly this
time. $50 slow, Sassoon," ne 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 a little darker.
Logan never answered the question.