The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1918-05-09
o Won FELLOWS want now"

do YOU fellows wan nOwy"
"We want to punch a hole through
that strawberry" said Logan, that
beauty mark. Where did you get it,
De Spain?"
IL 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. ~ was born with my
bcauty-mark-just as you were born
with your Id bad me he
added composedIy, 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? Sass
soon, set out for your friends-or |
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
bar that with n single step, as be VI
tered the hast words, he turned it. SAN
dusky pushed close next hirn. De
Spain continued 10 speak without b,
itatiOn or break, but the words seemed
to have no place in his mind. lie WAS
thinking only. ana saw only within his
field of vision a cut-glass button .hat
fastened the bottom of Sandusays
creased waistcoat.
"You've waited one day TOO louy 70
collect for your strawberry, De Spain
cried Logan ShrilE. you've turned
one trick too many on the sinks, young
fellow. If the man that put your mark
on YOU amt In this room, youIl never
get him"
(which means, | take it, you're going
to try 10 get me-" smiled De Spain.
40" beloved Morgan, at means
we have got you"
YOU are fooling yourself, Harvey
De Spain addressed the warning to Io-
gan. "And you, too, Sandusky,' he
added.
wen take care of that" grinned
Logan. SanduSky kept silence.
You are jumping into another mans
fight" protested De Spain steadily.
"Sassoon's fight is our fight" inter
rupted Morgan.
81 advise YOU" said De Spain once
more. looking with the words at San
dusky and his crony, ito keep IL Of
it,"
"SanduSky," yelled Logan to his
partner, "he advises me and you 10
keep out of this fight" he shrilly
laughed.
Sure" assented Sandusky, but with
no variation in tone and his eyes on
De Spain.
Logan, with an oath. leaned Over the
bar toward S%aSsoon, and pointed con-
tcmptuously toward the end of the
bar. "Shike!' he cried, "step through
the rail and take that mans gun
De Spain. looking from one to the
other of the four faces confronting
him, laughed for the first time. But
he was looking witiou. seeing what
he seemed to look at. In reality. he
saw only a cut-glass button. He yas
face to face with taking a mans life
or Surrendcring his own. and he knew
the life must be taken in such a way
r. instantly TO disable its poSSeSSor.
These men had chosen their time and
place. There was nothing for il but
To- meet them. SasSOOn was stepping
toward him, though very d%ouhtfully.
De Spain laughed again, dryly this
time. "Go slow, S%assoOn," 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, his cheeks
burning n little darker.
Logan never answered the question
De Spain asked it only to cover the
spring he made Mt that instant into
SanduSky'S middle. Catlike though II
was, the feint did not take the big fel
low ~unprepared. He had heard once
when or where he could not tell, bu1
he had never forgotten the hint, thai
De Spain, n boxer. was rs quick witt
his feet as with his hands. The out
law whirled. Both men shot from tho
hip: the reports cracked together. on,
bullet, grazing he fancy button
smashed through the gaudy waiStcoat
the other, as De SPANS free hant
struck at the muzzle of the big man!
gun, tore into De Spain's foot. San
husky. ~convulsed by the frightfu
shock, staggered against De Spain'i
arm, the latter dancing tight agains
him. Logan. alive to the trick bu
caught behind his partner, fired owe
Sandusky's right shoulder at u,
Spain's head. tlattened sidewiSe agains