Marble Hill press., 1917-02-22

hotel few moments later the Office
was empty. Nevertheless. the news og
the appearance OF SusSoon's Capior
spread. The two Sauuicrrl into the
billiard hall. which occupied deep
rnmw adjoining the office aud opened
with large I'aic.glaSS windows un
Main street. Every table was iu use.
\ fringe ~ spectators iu %" chairs. us
'ru>,hly watching 'hc pool ramcs
'uruDl 'hp.r eyes toward H. Spain
fhH>, Sha' recognized ln distinguish.
.us mm hy mods and whispers 10 9th
prs.
AIMING several groups Of men stand.
iu- before the long bar one party cf
four near the front end likewise en-
gagged the interest oi those krcncr lnaf.
crS who were capable ~ forcscclns
situations. These men. Sattrrlcc Nor
gan. the cattl"mnn; Eull Page. one OF
his cowboys: sheriff prurl. and Judge
pruel. his brother. had been drinking
together. They did not see Lcfcycr
nud his companion rs the two came In
through the rear lobby door. But Lc.
fever. on catching sight " them, wei
coined his opportunity. Walking dl-
rcctly forward, he laid his hand on
Satt MorEuu'S shoulder. As the cat
tlcman turned. Icfcycr. gcnlally grasp
inc his hand, introduced pc Spain to
each of the party in turn.
NF,~ang, 81 - 1. .f... 1 ~. ...g..sb
or beaten hat back frogG his tanned
face. lie wore n musiachc and chin
wh.ehor of that variety d,sI IsuItcd IN
the mountains by the appropriate
name Spinach" But his smile, which
drew his checks into wrinkles all about
his long, round nose. was not unfricnl-
~. He looked with open interest from
his frank but not enthusiastically eyes
at De Spain. II heard" he said In
good.naturcd. slightly nasal tone, you
made a sunrise call on US one day last
week"
And want TO say" returned De
Spain, equally nmablc, that II had
had any idea you folks would take It
50 hard-I mean. as an afrront intend.
ed to any of you'll never would have
gone into the gap after Sassoon. /
just aSsumed-makIng mistake ms !
now realize--thnt my scrap would be
with Sassoon, not with the Morgans."
Salts face wrlnkled into n humorous
grin. You sure kicked up some
alkali."
De Spain nodded candidly. More
than intended to. And ! say-with-
out any intention of impertincnce to
anybody clsc-Sassoon Is eur. sup
posed when l brought him In. here
after so much riding, that we had
sheriff enough to keep him" lie
looked at Druel with such Composurc
that the latter for moment was non
plusscd. Then he discharged volley
Of oaths, and demanded what De Spain
meant. De Spain did not move. He
refused TO see the angry sheriff. THAT
is whore / 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 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. Then II may
be i am making another mistake,
Druel, in blaming you. 1t may not be
your fault"
"The fault Is. you're fresh" cried
Druel, warming up as De Spain mp
pearcd to cool. The line of tlpplers
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
stays where he Is put
''Ill just do thnt." cried Druel, with
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 rifle cut Off the
words; bullet tore like a lightning
bolt across De Spain's neck, crashed
through 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