Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-01-17

bar that with single step, as he ut.
tered the last words, he turned it. Sam
dusky pushed close next him. De
Spain continued to speak without hes
itati0n 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 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. "Iou'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, / take it, you're going
to try TO get me-" smiled De Spain.
NO" beloved Morgan, st 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" grnned
Logan. Sandusky kept silence.
you are jumping into another mans
fight" protested De Spain steadily.
"Sassoon's fight is our fight" inter.
rupted Morgan.
81 advise you" said De Spain once
more, looking with the words at San
dusky and his crony, "t0 keep out Of
it,"
"Sandusky," yelled Logan to his
partner, "he advises me and you to
keep out of this fight" he slirllly
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 chat mans gun
De Spain, looking from one to thc
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 Il mans life
or surrendcring his own. and he knew
the life must be taken in such way
as instantly to disable its possessor.
These men had chosen their time antl
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. go slow, Sass0on,' he said.
"Thnt gun is loaded"
IF you want terms, hand over your
gun to SaSsoon,' cried Logan.
"N0t till it's empty" returned De
Spain. "Do you want to try taking it?'
he demanded Of Logan, his check:
burning little darker.
Logon never answered fhe question
It WIS not meant TO be answered i'ol
De Spain asked it only TO cover the
spring he m90c at that instant into
SanduSkys middle. Catlike though ii
was, tho fcint did not tako the big fcl.
low unprcpared. lie had heard once
when OF where he could not tell, but
/ ho had never forgotten the hint, that
De Spain, a boxer WAS as quick with
/ his feet as with his hands. The out
law whirlcd Both men shot from the
hip; the reports cracked together. One
bullet, grazing the fancy button
/ smashed through the gaudy wastcoat
the ether as De Sp0in's free HAND
struck at the muzzlc of the big mans
gun, tore into De SPANS foot San
duslSy, convulsed by the frightfu
shock. staggered against De Spain's
arm, the latter dancing tight agains
aim. Logan, alive to the trick bu
/ caught behind his partner, fired ovel
Sandusky's right shoulder at y,
-pain's head, nattencd sdeWse agains