Phoenix tribune., 1920-08-21

pipe. Beaton laughed, assuming "a
semblance of good nature
my questions were prompted sole
ly by curiosity" he explained, evil
IDENTIFY not wholly at ease. 81 was ex-
pecting a young woman, and thought
this new arrival might prove to be my
friend"
Hardly" returned Westcott dryly.
"As the landlord informed you, Miss
Donovan is lady"
If he expected. this shot to take eff
feet he was disappointed, for the grin
never left Beaton's face.
'Ah, good joke; very good joke,
indeed. But you misunderstood; this
is altogether business matter. This
young woman whom 1 expect is COM
ing here on a mining DEALT is not a
love affair at all. assure you"
81 thought possibly you might care
to question me regarding my acquaint-
ance with the young woman?" West
colt went on, his voice hardening
slightly. "If so, l have not the slight
est objection to telling you that it con-
sists entirely of acting as her escort
from the station to the hotel. I do not
know why she is here, how long she
intends staying, or what her purpose
may be. Indeed, there is only one fact
l do know which may be of interest to
you"
Beaton, surprised by the language
of the other, remained silent, his face
turning purple, as suspicion came to
him that he was being made fool of.
at is this, my friend-who she is,
what she is, and why she happens to
be here, is none of your d-n busi-
ness, and if you so much as mention
her name again in my presence you
are going to regret 1t to your dying
day. That's ALL"
Beaton, glancing about at the uplift-
ed faces of the card players, chose to
assume an air of Indifference, which
scarcely accorded with the anger in
his eyes.
"Ah, come now." he blurted forth, 81
didn't mean anything; there's no harm
done-let's have a drink, and be
friends"
Westcott shook his head.
mo, 1 think not" he said slowly.
I'm not much of drinking man my
self, and when do chooss my own
company. But let me tell you some
thing Beaton, for your own good. 1
know your style, and you are mighty
apt to get into trouble out here if you
use any Bowery tactics"
''Bowery tactics"
"Yes; you claim to live in New York,
and you possess all the earfaarks of
the East side bad man. There is moth
ing keeping you now from roughing it
with me but the sight of this gun in
my belt, and suspicion in your mind
that may know how to use it. That
suspicion is correct Now you go back
to YOUR barrOom, where you will find
plenty of your own kind to associate
with. It's going to be dangerous for
you to hang around here any longer"
Beaton felt the steady eyes upon
him, but was carrying enough liquor
to make him reckless. He stepped
backward, feigning a laugh, watchful
to catch Westcott off his guard.
"All right, then" he said, "T1l go get
the. drink; you can't bluff me-"
Westcott's knowledge of the class
alone brought to him the mans pur-
pose. Beaton's hand was in the pocket
Of hic oOat apd &c bo +,,~ro5 a.-a,.
emily to leave the room, the cloth
bulged. With one leap forward the
miner was at his throat. There was a
report, flash of fame, the speeding
bullet striking the stove, and the next
instant Beaton, his hand still helpless
ly imprisoned within the coat pocket,
was hurled back across a card table,
the players scattering to get out of the
way. All the pent-up dislike in West
colts heart found expression in ac-
tiOn; the despicable trick wrought him
to sudden fury, yet even then there
came to him no thought of killing the
fellow, no memory even of. the loaded
gun at his hip. He wanted to choke
him, strike him with his hands.
you dirty coward" he muttered
fiercely. $50 you thought the pocket
trick was new one out here. did you?
Come, give the gun upl OH so there
is some fight left in you? Then let's
settle it here"
1t was struggle between two big,
strong men-the one desperate, un-
scrupulous, brutal; the other angry
enough, but retaining self-controll
They crashed onto the floor, Westcott
still retaining the advantage of posi-
tion, and twice he struck, driving his
clenched fist home. Suddenly he be-
came aware that some one had jerked
his revolver from its holster and, al
most at the same instant a hard hand
gripped the neck-band of his shirt and
tore him loose from Beaton.
Here now-enough of that, Jim,"
said voice sternly, and his hands
arose instinctively as he recognized
the CLEAN of two drawn weapons
r