Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-01-13

ing MIN by nous anu Whispers to 9TH
erS.
Among several groups OF men stand.
ing before the long bar, one party of
four near the front cad likewise en-
gagged the interest of those keener loaf.
ers who were capable of fOreseeng
situations. These men. Satterlee Nor.
gan, the cattleman; Bull Page, one of
his cowboys; Sheriff Druel. and Judge
Druel, his brother. had been drinking
together. They did not see Lefever
and his companion as the two came In
through the rear lobby door. But lie.
fever, on catching sight of them, well
coined his opportunity. Walking di.
rectly forward, he laid his hand on
Satt Morgan's shoulder. AS the cat.
tleman turned, Lefever. genially grasp
Ing his hand. introduced De Spain 10
each OF the party In turn.
Morgan threw the brim of his wealth
er-beaten hat back from his tanned
face. He wore mustache and chin
whisker 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 a
good-natured. slightly nasal tone, "you
made sunrise call on Us one day last
week."
Sand I want to say" returned De
Spain, equally amiable, that if ! had
had any idea you folks would take it
so hard--l mean, as an affront intend
ed to any of you'll never would have
gone into the gnp after Snssoon. ]
just ssumed-makIng a mistake rs
now realize--thnt my scrap would be
with Sassoon not with the Morgans."
Salts face wrinkled into a humorous
grin. "You sure kicked Up some
alkali."
De Spain nodded candidly "More
than | intended to. And | say-with.
out any intention Of impertinence to
anybody else-SassoOn Is a cur. sup.
posed when I brought him in heie
after so much riding, that we had
sheriff enough TO keep him." He
looked at Druel with such composurc
that the latter for a moment was nom
olnSsed. Then he discharged volley
If oaths, and demanded what De Spain
meant. De Spain Gid not move. He
refused to see the angry sheriff "That
IS where | made my second mistake"
lie continued speaking to Morgan and
forcing his tone just enough to be
heard. Druel, with mox, 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 awayNpd left De
Spain standing somewhat apart from
the rest Of the group. Then 1t may
be | am making another mistake,
Drucl, in blaming you. 1t may not be
your fault"
"The fault is, you're fresh" cried
Drucl, wSrming w as De Spain ap-
peared to cool The line OF tipplcra
backed away from the bar. De Spain
stepping toward the sheriff, raised his
hand IN friendly way. "Drue, you're
hurting yourself by your talk. Make
me Your deputy again some time" he
concluded. "anl I'll see that Snssoon
stays where he is put"
"Ill just do that" cried DWel. with
q very strong word, and he raised his
hand in urn. next time you want
him locked up, you con take care of
him Yourself"
Tho sharp crack Of rifle cut off the
words; a bullet tore like a lightning.
bolt across De Spoin's neck, crashed
through u 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. Whtefaced
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 60 back as he whirled and
shot instantly toward the heavy re.
port. He had whipped out his gun
and fired sidewise through the window
at the sound.
That ~as all. The bartenders
breathed and looked again. Men were
croWding like mad through the back
doors. De Spain, at the cigar case,
looking intcntly 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 eoch covered the butt of
a revolver. De Spain moved first.
While the pool players jammed the
back doors TO escape, he spoke to,
without looking at, the bartender.
whats the matter with your cur
,tains" he demanded, shenthing his re.
volver and pointing with an expctive
to the big sheet Of plate glass. rs
this the way you build up business for
the house?"
Those close enough to the window
saw that the bare pane had been cut,
lust above the middle. by two bullet