The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1917-04-19
CHAPTER Ix-continued.


Still regarding De Spain with the
most businesslike expression, the griz
zled outlaw took a guarded step for
ward, his companions following suit
De Spain, always with a Jealous regard
for the relative distance between him
and his self-appointed executioners
moved backward. In crossing the room
Sandusky, without objection from his
companions, moved across their front
and when the four lined up at the bar
their positions had changed. De Spain
stood at the extreme left, Sandusky
next, Logan beside him, and Gale Nor
gan, at the other end of the line, pre-
tended to pound the bar for service
De Spain, following mountain etiquette
in the circumstances, spread his open
hands, palms down, on the bar. San
dusky's great palms slid in the same
fashion over the checked slab in I'M
spoken recognition of the brief arms
tice. Logan's hands came up in turn,
and Morgan still pounded for someone
to serve.
De Spain in the new disposition
weighed his chances as being both bet
ter and worse. They had put Sandus-
ky's first shot at no more than an
arms length from his prey, with Lo-
gan next, to cover the possibility of
the big fellows failing to paralyze De
Spain the first instant. On the other
hand, De Spain, trained in the tactics
of Whispering Smith and Medicine
Bend gunner, welcomed a short-arm
struggle with the worst of his assail-
ants closest at hand. Their maneuver-
ing caused no disquiet to their slen-
der, compactly built victim. you'll!
wait a long time, if you wait for serv-
ice here, Morgan" he said, comment
ing with cOmpOsure on MOrgan's i'm
patience. Logan looked again at his
two companions and laughed.
Every hope De Spain had of possible
help from the back room died with
that laugh. Then the door behind the
bar slowly opened, and the scar-fea-
tured face of Sassoon peered cautious
ly from the gloom. The hOrsethief,
stopping, walked in with leer directed
triumphantly at the railroad man.
If it were possible to deepen it, the
sinister spot on De SPANS face dark
ened. Something in his blood ragged
at the sight of the malevolent face. He
glanced at Logan. This" he smiled
family nOdding toward SassOOn as he
himself took a short step farther to
the left, sis your drink, Harvey, is it?"
is your drink"
"PlI take Sassoon," assented De
Spain. good-natured again and shifting
still another step to the left. What
do you fellows want now"
1--WE want to punch a hole through
that strawberry" said Logan, that
beauty-mark. Where did you get it,
De Spain?
81 might as well ask where you get
your gall. Harvey" returned De Spain.
watching Logan bunch Sandusky
toward the left that both might crowd
him closer. II was born with my
beauty-mark-just as you were born
with your ID bad manners" he
added composedly, for in hugging up
to him his enemies were playing his
game. you can't help it, neither can
l." he went on. Somebody is bound
TO pay for putting that mark on me,
Somebody is bound to pay for your
manners. Why talk about either? Sas-
soon. set out for your friends-or l
will Spread, gentlemen, spread"
He had reached the position on
which he believed his life depended,
and stood so close to the end of the