The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-08-06
CHAPTER SIXTEEN.


CHAPTER SIXTEEN.
The blow was so sudden, so full OF
swift animal fury, 1t knocked Porter
against the column. The don drew
back, brushing his hand in scornful
contempt. The ~bystanders stood aghast
at the singing humiliation Of the patri.
clan stranger.
1t was BUT the breath of an instant.
Porter leaped up, his broad shoulders
hunched forward, his face crimson with
rage. On his cheek, four livid weits
stood out k white blisters. In that
scene Of 9xauisite culture, the ferocity
OF the jungle was unleashed.
Like a mad bull, Porter sprang for
the don, striking right and left.
The don hurled himself forward, grip
ping Porter about the waist. Some
thing flashed, The next second, his still
letto was driving sEaight for @rter's
1t was Blls life or the don's.
! pulled out my forty-five and fired
in the Spaniard's face.
Shot BoOms Like Blast.
the ballroom. The don fell, Porter stood
as though hewn to stone, a look Of white
horror frozen to his face. From every
where voices whispered and all at once
raised into a mighty protest.
Out from the corridors two men
udSuuu tHC IEoWu hSluS. charging upOU
us. Rector swept me into his gigantic
arms as though l were a kitten. Frank
caught Porter and pushed him from the
room.
Rector's carriage stood waiting. We
we're hustled into II, The most disma,
said. Porter sat like a man stricken
d0.f with STAGGERING dismay.
Frank slumped down in one corner
sullen with anger, recoiling from m,
as though I had done an evil thing
II dashed me as a torment. l felt theil
tense nervousness, but I felt unjustifiet
/ had not killed deliberately. / hat
acted only to save Bill. The death O
the don did not trouble me, Porter
quiet stung like q wasp bite. wanted
someone to tell me Thad' done the RICH
thing,
Resentment and an undesirable irrita,
ton against all Of them bit, into me
l felt as though l were in the "Blacl
Maria" on the way 10 the seaffold. A.
oppressive hush weighed like a suffo
eating hot breath upon US. /
The carriage wun through a nar
row lane OF palms, The trees looke'
like appraised black swords. The monot
onous clatter Of the hoof beats was tn
only sound. The silence seemed a re
proAch to me.
The words more 10 myself than TO their
Porter stirred and leadned forward: III
hand went out and capght mine. fel
Immediately at peace. No word coul
have filled me with the satisfaction 9
that warm, exprsssiye CLASP: .,.u,,
aor m ooMms mt r0 Rector e !" a siEa1
lin the soft match-light. caught
glimpse Of Porter's face,
Ii was still struck with that shocke
look Of rerugnance as though he wer
recoiling from himself and the thought
less caprice that s ws. p sSss "A Snt N
consequence to that moment. Of bar
I'm a mood OF unwonted levity he ha
answered the challenge In . smile
was an ordinary ballroom episode Ar
~lth his overwhelming disaster,
The big mlsfortunes cf hiasiite SEE
all 10 have come upon him with as III
lie invitation. The law of cause az
effect IN !his case worked In an insofu'
When Porter put out his hand to n
the TRAGEDY was over as far as | vi
concerned. TO him K was Away q hi'
Once he alluded to It. We we're 81
ting together IN tho warden's ofnce
the Ohio pe~nitentiary,,,
"That night he said, was the mo
,.yr,hls IN nv Iife.' ! could not undo
Stand THAT the don should die II Pc
ter were TO live seemed clearly newt
BILE.
Colonel, 1 was IS guilty a. q mu
1 derer," he said. =.
who went down." His version stu
1--WE always regretted A." hs =
NJ swagna.