Evening star., 1919-03-09

all COmerS are SUSPICIOUS.
'Well chief'--Brennan blinked into
the dazzling rays--"it's only me-"
The radiance vanished. Brennan
was able to see the tuft of chin
whiskers thrust forward belligerently.
Been some young fellers pesterin'
round the summer cottages, didnt
know but what ye might be one OF
them"
Brennan nodded. Chief" he bgan
abruptly ,"have you seen party
round here lately--little under me
dium size, black haired, got scar on
his right cheek?"
silence followed. The tuft of chin
whiskers wagged ruminativeiy. And
Brennan chafed, waiting.
II do mind that feller. He come last
week and stayed three days, Me and
him WAS talkin' in the store. He was
thinkin' of buyin' place. said his
wife was poorly. He WAS
Brennan breathed deeply. DO you
pack a gum" He shot the question.
What We drivin' at?'' The tuft Of
whfskers was horizontal again.
Brennan fumbled in the breast
pocket of his flannel coat and pro-
duced his star. He held IT out while
tho ancient guardian Of the village
peace brought his fiashlight into play
again.
'Oho" The light winked out Glad
to know ye, I'm sure" The horny old
palm met Brennan's,
''Now! Aboupt that gun!' Brennan
demanded when he had complied with
the amenities as quickly as possible,
The little man was cropping under
the tails of his long coat. With
sIowness that was maddening to
Brennan, he drew forth pistol.
whose enormous length and remark
able lines proclaimed 1t as the weapon
of bygone generation.
TN take It, IL you don't mind. Come
on. chief"
Brennan started swiftly toward the
town. The other followed, voicing
alternate wonder and protest. Once
only did Brennan speak and that was
to ask concerning the ponderous fAre-
arm which he was carrying In his
right hand.
"shoot?" The old watchman echoed
auaveringly. why, killed Bill
Simpsons dog with it five years ago.
Knocked him galley west the second
shot. The fust would We got him.
but the blamed catdige missed fire"
Brennan withheld comment on that
past performance. His eyes had a
far-away expression. His thoughts
were with his own late model re-
volver. reposing with his handouts
in the locker at the hall Of justice.
He strode down the hill: in the
darkness his companion stumbled be-
hind him. putting such questions as
his scanty breath allowed. To these
Brennan gave one answer:
Hurry. chief"
They had reached the foot of the
slope and were close to the business
part of the village heavy, hol-
low detonation sounded somewhere
ahead of them, a noise so vague that
II seemed te. have no exact location.
What the dIcKens--'' The little
watchman looked UP into Brennan's
face. They had come to halt Side
by side.
That flreproof safe that your bank
keeps its money in--" Brennan's
voice was laden with scorn. Il knew
that he's beat that box before we got
here. Now, chief, we got to hurry.
These are swift people"
Al once Brennan started forward.
His bearing had changed. He was
walking toward the bank, with the
deliberation of one going on
straight line from which he will never
swerve. His shoulders were sway
ing He swaggered down the middle
of the road
In the silence of the night--a
silence seeming deepfr than ever
after that expIosion--came the SOUND
ehna q sharp mstsi elows beating sns sta
vague blur of light oozed through
the windows of the little building
less than 100 feet ahead of him.
Within that luminous area a man
n appeared He sprang from shadow
leaped out of the earth: In that in.
stant he showed plainly, man of
ordinary size. with a long, livid scar
upon his cheek. Fills head Went
forward; he raised his right arm with
jerk. The light from the windows
Elinted along the black barrel of the
revolver which he aimed.
Brennan's face became heavy, I'M
, placable. Drop that gun. I'm an
officerw 1t was the voice of one
, who believes implicitly in his au-
. thority. He came on; his swagger
was superb AS If all the grim pano-
ply of the law---steei fetters, stone
walls and solemn courtrooms--came
with him now, he walked like one
} invulnerable.
A fash OF orange leaped toward
, him from the sidewalk. A bullet
. snarled above his head. The venomous
spat Of smokeless powder cartridge
completed the reply to his command.
Even as Brennan raised the ancient
revolver he came on in that uncom-
} promising straight line, at the same
proud swagger. Then--
Brennan pulled the rusty trigger.
An appalling roar arose upon the
: night air. A cloud of acrid smoke
enwrapped him. AS he walked on
he gave one wondering glance at his
: weapon, then raised his eyes again
and took new aim
The automatic was splitting from
the sidewalk now, so swiftly that the
reports sounded like the blows of a