The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-02-24

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
/ falsetto: mo. We don't happen to
have business that I know of. A
friend Of ours may have little, may.
bel" Logan, lifting his shoulders with
his laugh, looked toward his compan-
ions for an answer to his joke.
De SPANS smile appeared unruffled:
you'll help him transact it, / sup
poser"
Logan, looking again toward San
dusky, grinned: HE won't need any
help"
"Who Is your friend?" demanded De
Spain g@o&aaturedly. Logan's glance
misled him, It did not refer to San.
dusky. And even as he asked the ques-
ton De Spain heard through the half
open window at the end of the bar
the sound Of hoofs. Hoping against
hope for Lefever, the interruption
cheered him. 1t certainly did not seem
that his situation could be made worse.
WELL" answered Logan, talking
again to his gallery Of cronies, we've
got two or three friends that want to
see you. They're waiting outside to
see what youth look like in about five
minutes-ain't they, Gale?"
Someone was moving within the rear
room. De Spain felt hope in every
football he heard, and the mention of
Morgan's name cleared his plan of
battle. Before Gale, with an oath,
could blurt out his answer, De Spain
had resolved to fight where he stood,
taking Logan first and Morgan as he
should jump in between the two. 1t
was at the best a hopeless venture
against Sandusky's first shot, which
De Spain knew was almost sure to
reach vital spot. But desperate men
cannot be choosers.
There's no time for seeing me like
the present" declared De Spain, ignor-
ing Morgan and addressing his words
to Logan. Bring your friends in.
What are you complaining about, Nor
gon? he asked, resenting the stream
of abuse that Gale hurled at him when
ever he could get a word in. II had
my turn at you with a rifle the other
day. You've got youf turn now. And
l call 1t pretty soft one, too-dont
you, Sandusky?" he demanded sud.
denly of the big fellow.
Sandusky alone through the talk had
kept an unbroken silence. He was
eating up De Spain with his eyes, and
De Spain net -aaly aehled to hear him
speak, but was resolved to make him.
Sandusky had stood motionless from
the instant he entered the room. His
eyes rested intently on De Spain, and
at his side the long fingers of his right
hand beat soft tattoo against his
pistol holster. De SPANS question
seemed to arouse him. "What's your
nameT' he demanded bluntly. His
voice was heavy and his deafness was
reflected in the strained tone.
TITS on the butt of my gu., San
dusky."
Whats that he says" demanded
the man known as the butcher, asking
the question of Logan, but without
taking his eyes off his sAifty prey.
Logan raised his voice to repeat the
words and to add ribald comment.
You make good deal of noise"
muttered Sandusky, speaking again ia
De Spain.
THAT ought not to bother yod
much, Sandusky," shouted De Spain.
trying to win smile from his taci-
turn antagonist.
Ills noise won't bother anybody
nuch longer" put in Logan, whose re-
torts overfiowed at every interval. But
there was no smile even limited at in
the incorporating vigilance of Sam
dusky's expressionless face. De Spain
discounted the next few minutes fa-
enough to feel that Sandusky's first
shot would mean death to him, even if
he could return it.
It'll tell you, De Spain," continued
Logan, "we're going to have drink
with you. Then we're going to prcpare
you for going back where you come
from-with nice flowers"
Il guess you thought you could come
out here and run over everybody in tho
Spanish Sinks" interposed Morgan.
with every oath he could summon to
load his words.
Keep out, Morgan" exclaimed Lo-
gan testify. TIL do this talking"
De Spain continued to banter. Gen
tlemen," he said, addressing the three
together and realizing that every mo-
ment wasted before the shooting added
grain of hope, Il am ready to drink
when you are"
Hes ready to drink, Tom," roarcd
Morgan in the deaf mans ear.
I'm ready" announced Sandusky in
hollow voice.