Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1919-10-24

environment sObered me, and caused
me to pause and seriously consider the
Importance of my mission. Nothing
less potent than either fear, or force,
would ever make Kirby diSgOrge.
Quite evidently the gambler had DELHI
erately set out to ruin the planter, to
rob him of every dollar. Even at the
last moment he had coldly insisted on
receiving a bill Of sale so worded as to
manded all. The death of the judge,
of course, had not been contemplated,
but this in no way changed the result.
That was an accident, yet | imagined,
might not be altogether unwelcome,
and could not rid my memory of that
shining weapon in Kirby,s hand, or the
thought that he would have used it
had the need arose. Would he not
then fight just as fercely to keep, as
he had to gain? Indeed / had but
one fact upon which / might hope to
base actiOn-every watcher believed
those cards had been stacked, and that
Beaucaire was robbed by means of a
trick. Yet, could this be proven?
Would any one of those men actually
swear that he had seen a suspicious
move? If not, then what was there
left me except a mere bluff? Abso-
lutely nothing.
Unarmed, never once dreaming of
attack, I advanced alone along the
dark, narrow strip Of deck, leading
toward the ladder which mounted to
the wheelhouse. There were no lights
and was practically compelled to feel
my way by keeping one hand upon the
rail. l had reached the foot of the
ladder, my fingers blindly seeking the
iron rungs in the gloom, when a figure,
vague, suddenly emerged from some
denser shadow and confronted me. In
deed the earliest realization / had of
any other presence was sharp pres
sure against my breast, and a low
voice breathing a menacing threat in
my ear.
II advise you not to move, you
young fool. This is a cooked pistol
tickling your ribs. Where were you
gOing?"
The black night yelled his face, but
language and voice, in spite of it's low
grumble, told me the speaker was
Kirby. The very coldness of his tone
served to send a chill through me.
sTo have word with Throckmor-
ton," I answered, angered at my own
fear, and rendered reckless by that
burst OF passion. "What do you mean
by your threat? Haven't you robbed
enough men already with cards with
out resorting to a gum?
"This is not robbery" and | knew
by the sharpness of his reply my words
had stung, land it might be well for
you to keep a civil tongue in your
head. l overheard what you said to
those men in the cabin. SO you are
going to take care of me, are your"
There was a touch of steel in the low
voice. "Now listen, you brainless med
dler. Joe Kirby knows exactly what
he is doing when he plays any game.
/ had nothing TO do with Beaucaire's
death, but those stakes are mine. I
hold them, and will kill any man who
dares to interfere with me-"
"YOu mean you refuse to return any
of this property?"
every cent, every niger, every
acre-that's my business. Beaucaire
was no child; he knew what he was
betting, and he lost"
"That may be true, Kirby. L an
not defending his action, but surely
this is no reason, now that he is dead
why you should not show some degree
of mercy to others totally innocent OF