The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1917-03-22

able.
Alpin, staring and struggling with
his breath.
I'm some way I've happened
when l talked with her, to get in
wrong - understand" McAlpin,
with clearing wits, nodded more
than once. mo fault of mine; IT
just happened so. And she may
not at first take-kindly to the idea
of going with me-
II see."
But she ought to do it." De
Spain looked now shamelessly at
his ready-witted aid. "See that
her pony Is lame when she gets
here-can't be ridden. But you'll
take good care of him and send
him home in a few days-get it,"
McAlpin half closed his eyes:
He'll be so lame it would stagger
a cowboy to back him ten feet
and never be hurt a mite, neither.
Trust me-"
With arrangements so begun, de
Spain walked out-of-doors and
looked reflectively up the Sleepy
Cat road. One further refinement
in his appeal for Mans favor sug-
gested itself. She would be hungry,
possibly faint in the heat and dust,
when she arrived. lie turned to
McAlpin:~ Where can | get a
good cup of coffee when the stage
comes in?"
Go right down to the inn, sir
Ny wife is cooking there off and
on. She'll fix you up a sandwich
and a cup of good coffee"
1t was four O'Clock and the sun
beat fiercely on the desert. De
Spain walked down to the inn,
looking neither to the right nor
the left.
The door of the office stood ajar,
De Spain, pushing it all the way
open, walked in. A large man con-
l-fronted de Spain. He was Deaf
|Sandusky.
The encounter seemed to de
Spain accidental. But before he
could speak. a second ma nappear-
ed in the doorway. and this man
appeared to be joking with the
third, behind him. They were
Logan and Gale Morgan. Then the
door behind the bar opened and
Sassoon walked in with leer d.
rected triumphantly at the rail-
road man.
you've turned one trick too
many on the sinks, young fellow"
cried Logan shrilly.
Which means, | take it, you're
going to try to get me-" smiled de
Spain,
mo" beloved Morgan. 1t
means we have got you"
Wen take care of that"
igrinned Logan. Sandusky kept
silence.
you are jumping into another
mans fight" protested de Spain,
steadily.
"Sassoon's fight is our fight"
interrupted Morgan.
Il advise you," said de Spain
once more, looking with the words
lat Sandusky and his crony, Ito
keep out of it,"
"Sandusky." yelled Logan to his
partner, The advises me and you
to keep out of this fight" he
shrilly laughted.
Sure" assented Sandusky, but
with no variation in tone and his
eyes on de Spain.
'Sassoon," Logan cried, "step
through the rail and take that
mans gun"
De Spain, looking from one to
the other of the four faces con-
fronting him, laughed for the first
time. But he was looking without
seeing what he seemed to look at.
Go slow, Sassoon," he said.
THAT gun Is loaded"
If you want terms, hand over
your gun to Sassoon," cried Logan.
Not till It's empty" returned
|de Spain. Do you want to try
taking it?" he demanded of Logan.
Logan never answered the ques-
ton. 1t was not meant to be an
swered. For de Spain asked 1t
only to cover the spring he made
at that instant into Sandusky's
middle. Both men shot from the
hip; the reports cracked together.
One bullet smashed through San
dusky's waistcoat the other tore
into de SPANS foot. Sandusky,
convulsed by the frightful shock,
staggered against de SPANS arm,
the latter dancing tight against
him. Hugging his shield, de Spain
threw his second shot over San
dusky's shoulder into Logan's face.
Logan, sinking to the floor, never
moved again.
Supporting with extraordinary
Istrengh the unwielding bulk of the
dying man, de Spain managed to
steady him as a buffer against
Morgan's fire until he could send
a slug over Sandusby's head. Nor
gan fell against the bar
Sandusky's weight dragged de
Spain down. For an instant the
-four men sprawled in a heap. Sas-
soon, dropping his revolver, lodged
under the rail to- close. De Spain
struggling to free himself from the
dying man. saw through a mist,
the greenish eyes and the thirsty
knife.
De Spain staggered to his feet
and running In as Sassoon tried to
strike, beat him senseless with the
butt of his gun.
His own eyes were streaming