The Bingham County news. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1918-1930, 1921-07-08

stood staring at him. It was not a
question, now, of who should beat the
other to the draw, for each had al
ready filed his hand. 1t was a Ques-
ton, rather, as to who should cov
first from his establishment. If Bena-
vides decided to let bygOnes be by
cones and retreat without firing "a
shot. then Webster was quite willing
to permit him to pass unmolested; in
deed, such was his aversion to shoot
ing any man, so earnestly did he hope
the Sobrantean would consider that
discretion was the better part of valor.
that he resolved to inculcate that idea
in the Hotspur.
captain Benavides," he said suave-
ly, "yOur cause is lost. If you are to
escape aboard the steamer, I will see
to it that you are not removed from
her before she sails; if you care to
surrender to me now. 1 give you my
word Of honor you will not be exc
cuted."
Benavides might have had, and
doubtless did have, his faults, but
cowardice was not one Of them. And he
did have the ghost of a sense of hui
NOR. An evil smile fitted over his
olive features.
"Without taking into consideration
the bayonets at my back" he replied,
ut strikes me the odds are V e now.
And yet you patronize me-"
Webster IA nettled. "rd rather
do that than kill you, Benavides," he
retorted. Don't be a fool. Run
along and sell your papers, and take
your pitiful little sandal-footed bri-
gands with you. Scat!"
Benavides' hand, holding his pistol,
had been hanging loosely at his side.
With his furious glance meeting Web
ster's unfalteringly, with the merest
movement of his wrist and scarcely
without movement of his forearm, he
threw up his weapon and fired.
Scarcely a fifth of a second had
elapsed between the movement of his
wrist and the pressure of his finger
on the trigger; Webster, gazing stead
lily into the SOmber eyes, had noted
no hint of the mans intention, and
was caught actually off his guard.
The bullet tore through his biceps,
momentarily paralyzing him, and his
automatic dropped Gathering to the
sidewalk; as he stopped and recovered
1t, Benavides fired again, ~creasine
the top of his left shoulder. The
SObrantean took aim for a third and
finishing shot. but when he pulled the
trigger the hammer fell on a defective
cartridge. which gave to John Stuart
Webster all the advantage he craved
He planted a bullet in Benavides' alb.
domen with his first shot, blew out
the duelist's brains with his second,
and whirled to meet the charge Of the
little sandal-fOOted sOldadOs, who
seeing their leader fallen, had with.
out an instant's hesitation and appar'
emily by mutual consent decided to
avenge him.
Webster backed dazedly toward the
wall, firing as he did so, but he was
too dizzy to shoot effectively, and the
semicircle of bayOnets closed in on his
front. He had wounded three men
ltilOu StOl'l'hS oiSA a. HSNCiib
more, and their long, eighteen-inch
bayonets would have been in his
vitals, when into the midst Of the
melee, from the rear, dashed Don
Juan Cafetero, shrieking like a fiend
and swinging his rifle, which he held
| grasped by the barrel.
Webster saw a bayonet lunging to
--u-1 H.. H. f%oI H. 49, -
caught the point on his boOt-heel while
with his last cartridge he killed the
mar behind the bayOnet, just as the
latter's next-rank man thrust straight
arm, while a third man 1abbed at his
stomach and got the bayonet home in
his hip. These two thrusts, delivered
almost simultaneously, by their i'm
pact carried their victim backward
against the wall, against which his
head collided with a smart thud. He
fell forward on his face; before his
assailants could draw back for a fin:
ishing thrust, in case the gringO need
ed it, which they doubted, Don Juan
Cafetero had Drained them both.
Standing above the man he loved.
with the latter's body between his
outspread legs. Don Juan Cafetero
stood for the final accounting. his but
termilk eyes cleaning hatred and war
madness, his lips drawn back from
his snaggle teeth, his breast rising
and falling as they closed In around
him. For a few seconds he was visi-
BILE swinging his rife like a fail,
magnificent, unterrified-and then a
bayonet slipped In under his guard.
1t was the end.
With a final great effort that used
up the last strength in his drink
corroded muscles he hurled his rifle
into the midst of his four remaining
enemies, before he swayed and top
pied full length on top of Webster.
shielding with his poor body the man
who had famed to flame the dying