The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1917-04-05

/ four near the front end likewise en-
| gagged the interest of those keener loaf
/ ers who were capable of foreseeing
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 dasT. But Lee
/ fever on catching sight of them, vel
coined his opportunity. Walking d.
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 to
each of the party in turn.
| Morgan threw the brim of his wealth
er-beaten hat back from his tanned
| face. He wore a 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 overtrustworthy eyes
at De Spain. 81 heard" he said in a
good-natured, slightly nasal tone, you
made a sunrise call on US one day last
week"
"And ! want to say" returned De
Spain, equally amiable, that if l had
had any idea you folks would take it
so hard-I mean, as an affront intend
ed to any of you'll never would have
gone into the gap after SassoOn. l
just Misunderstanding a mistake as
now realize-that my scrap would be
with SassOOn, not with the Morgans."
Salts face wrinkled into humorous
grin. you sure kicked up some
alkali.'
De Spain nodded candidly. More
than intended to. And I say-with-
out any intention of impertinence to
anybody else-Sassoon is a cur. I sup
posed when I brought him in here
after so much riding, that we had
sheriff enough to keep him." He
looked at Druel with such composure
that the latter for moment was non
plussed. 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 where 1 made my second mistake"
he continued speaking to Morgan and
forcing his tone just enough to be
heard. DrueI, with more hard words,
began to abuse the railroad for not
paying taxes enough to build a 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 it may !
be l am making another mistake, |
Druel, in blaming you. 1t may not be |
your fault"
1.-THE fault is, you're fresh" cried |
DrueI, warming up as De Spain APP |
peared to cool. The line of tipplers |
backed away from the bar. De Spain |
stepping toward the sheriff, raised his
hand in a friendly way. "Druel, you're
hurting yourself by your talk. Make /
me your deputy again some time" he |
concluded. land I'll see that Sassoon /
stays where he is put"
'.Tll just do that" cried Druel, with
a 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 a 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
tables. De Spain alOTe had acted; all
that the bartenderS could ever remem-
Der after the single rifle shot was see
ing his hand go back as he whirled and
shot instantly toward the heavy re-
port. He had whipped out his gun
and fred sidewise through the window
at the sound.
That was all. The bartenders
breathed and looked again. Men were
like mad through the back
lOOfS. lie SldlIt Ut lllS ClSdI ChSe,
looking intently into the rainy street,
lighted from the corner by a dingy
amp. The four men near him had not {
stirred, but, startled and alert, the :
tight hand of each 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. l
What's the matter with your cur
ains?" he demanded, sheathing his re-
'olver and pointing with an expletive {
o the big sheet of plate glass. rs
his the way you build up business for 1
he house?" {
Those close enough to the window c
aw that the bare pane had been cut, I
ust above the middle, by two bullet f
loles. Curious men examined both
ractures when De Spain and Lefever v
lad left the saloon. The first hole was