Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-07-13

his chair. The latter said something
In italian. which couldn't under
stand, over his shoulder. What that
message was remained unknown to
me. But l noticed that a wide shout
dered youth who had appeared to be
browsing over a bottle of Chianti at
the table next to ours sidled quietly
out of his chair and crifted like a
shadow down between the serried
tables.
Pareto. in the meantime. sat leaning
forward. staring at Gashouse Aggie.
His body was poised there, SO tense
and yet so motionless, that at first I
thought he was awaiting some secret
signal from her. some signal of tre-
mendous Importance. But when
stared into the girls face I saw that
she wasn't even looking at him. She
was looking beyond him just as she
had looked beyond me when Pareto
had first stepped into the room. But
on her face this time there seemed
less of wonder and more Of terror.
I could see Pareto read that face.
Through 1t he seemed to apprehend
something awesome behind him, as
astronomers study a star In a mirror.
And I at once thought of Wrinkles Of
fcers of the law and fleetingly won
dered what folly could be bringing
them on the scene at such a time.
Then no longer thought Of even this.
for had noticed Gashouse Aggie do
a remarkable thing. 1t was a move
ment that would have been ludicrous
been less tragic. She melted down out
of sight. like disappearing gun sink
ing behind its redoubt. She disap-
peared noiselessly and spinelessly be-
meath the level Of the tabletop with
the charred edge, subsiding snakily
into a huddled mass on the floor.
understood even before 1 saw the
flash Of metal in Pareto's hand held
close into his side. 1t was the paroled
'Iifer" returning to balance up his
ledger Of hate. 1t was Duke Callahan
come back az he had promised to come
back, to wipe out blot Of betrayal.
saw a lank man advancing through
the smoke-blue air Of Tiernan's "ink-
pot" man as tall and lank as Curate
Sam himself. He seemed to see nobody
in that crowded room but the enemy
who had robbed him Of his woman. He
was drunk with this. Just as other
men become drunk with gin and
whisky. Then for the first time 1
clearly saw the revolver poised in
Duke Callahan's right hand. Wrinkle.
too. must have seen 1t, for his startled
gazeswavsred back to mo with a sort
Of childlike wonder shot through
with protest.
Quick" gasped. get that captain
Of yours"
He was cut short by a double clap Of
sound, as sharp and clear as the dou-
bic stroke Of mallet on a deck
board. followed by the scream of a
terrified woman. Then came q clat-
ter of suddenly moving furniture and
stamping feet. a clatter so quick and
explosive that IT almost swallowed up
the repeated double clap Of sound as
the two revolvers barked out for the
second time.
l noticed neither the tumultuous
ducking for cover nor the magic like
clearing OF the room. All 1 saw was
Duke Callahan's inexplicable move
ment as he drew his right hand high
above his face and turned halfway
around. Then. with a great intake OF
breath. he drew himself up to his full
height. 1t seemed so unmistakably an
attitude Of defiance that l was thinly
startled. the next moment. to see him
pitch forward on his face and lie full
length between two Of the iron-ped
estaled tables. where for q second or