Mexico Missouri message., 1917-03-08
CHAPTER xVII-continued.

-
Meaning, that in this country you
can't begin on play like pulling Sas-
soon out from under his friends noses
without keeping up the pace-without
a second and third act. You dragged
Sassoon by his hair out of the gap;
good. You surprised everybody; good.
But you can't very well stop ut that,
Henry Such feat by itself doesn't
Insure permanent reputation, Henry.
1t is, so to say, merely a demand repu-
tatlogt-One that men reserve the right
to recall at any moment. And the
worst of 1t is, If they ever do recall 1t,
you are worse off than when before
they extended the brittle bauble to
you"
"Jlngo, joint For stage black
smith you are some spleler." De Spain
added an impatient, not to say con-
tumelOus, exclamation concerning the
substance of Lefever's talk. 81 didn't
ask them for a reputation. This man
interfered with my guard-ln fact,
kried to cut his throat, didn't he?"
"Would have done it if Frank had
been an honest man."
"That is all there is to 1t, isn't it?'
Lefever tapped the second finger of
one fat hand gently on the table.
practically; practically all, Henry,
yes. You don't quite understand, but
you have the right idea"
"What do you want me to do-back
IN tfxyn a
up and down Main street, cowboy
stylc?"
Lefever kept his patience without.
difficulty. "No, no. You'll under
stand"
"Scott advised me to run down to
Medicine Bend for few days to let
the Morgans cool OFF,"
"Right That was the first step. The
few days are thing of the past.
suppose you know" continued Lefever,
in us well-mOdulated a tone as he
could assume to convey information
that could not be regarded as wholly
cheerful, that they expect to get you
for this Sassoon job"
De Spain flushed. But the red anger
lasted only a moment. "WhO are
,'they'?' he asked after pause.
Deaf Sandusky, Logan, of course,
the C0labasas bunch, and the Nor
Igans."
De Spain regarded his companion
unamiably. "What do they expect I'll
be doing while they are getting me?"
Lefever raised hand deprecatingly.
"DOn't be overcOnfidrbt Henry; that's
your danger. l know you can take
care of yourself. All want to do is
to get the folks here acquainted with
your ability, without taking unneces-
sary chances. You see, people are not
now asking questions of one another
they are asking them Of themselves.
Who and what is this newcOmer--an
accident or q genuine arrival? A COM
mon squib or real explosion? Don't
get excited" he added, in an effort to
sooth De SPANS obvious irritation
l''YOu have the idea, Henry. It's time
to show yourself"
81 can't very well do business here
without showing myself" retorted De
Spain.
"But 1t is thing to be managed
persisted Lefever. "Now, suppose
since the topic is up-we show in
Main street for a while"
Suppose we do" echoed De Spair
ungraciously.
''That will crack the. debut ice. We
will call at Harry Tensions hotel, anC
then go to his new rooms-go right t.
society headquarters first-that's my
theory Of doing 1t. If anybody has
any shooting in mind, Tensions is {
quiet and orderly place. And If {
man DECLINES to eat anybody up a
Tensions, we put him down, Henry, ai
not ravenously hungry"
zone man would like to see is tina
sheriff. Druel, who let Sassoon &c
out"
Ready to interview him now?"
'I've got some kilograms to answer.
'Those will keep. The Morgans ar
In town. Wen start out and find some
body"
1t was wet and sloppy outside, bu
Lefever was Indifferent to the raiI
and De Spain thought it would be III
dignIfled to complain of 1t.
When, followed by Lefever, h
yslteo into the lobby Of Tension