The Grangeville globe., 1921-03-17


"In dIsposing of any enemy in a gun
fight. so a professional killer once in
formed me-" Webster continued. at is
a good plan to put your first bullet
anywhere In the abdomen; the shock
Of bullet there paralyzes your oppo-
nent for a few seconds and prevents
him from returning the compliment.
and in the interim you blow his brains
out while he lies looking at you. l
have never had any practical expert
ence In matters of this kind. but
don't mind telling you that II ! must
practice on somebody, the good Lord
could not have provided two more de-
lightful subjects"
He ceased speaking, and for nearly
half a minute the three men appraised
each other. Benavides was smiling
slightly; Arredondo was ndgetlng: {:
webster's glance never faltered from
the captains nervous hand.
You would be very foolish to
draw" Webster then assured Bena-
vides. "Tf | am forced to XIII you, II
will be with profound regret Sup
pose You two dear. sweet children run
along home and think this thing over
You may change your mind by tomor.
row morn"
The captains hand. with the speed
OF a juggler's. had flown to his hol-
ster; but quick as he was. Webster
was split second quicker The sound
OF his shot roared through the silent
calle. and Benavides, with his pistol
half drawn. lifted bloody, shattered
hand from the butt as Webster's au-
tomato swept In swift arc and COW
cred Arredondo. whose arms on the in
stant went skyward.
THAT wasn't a half bad duel" Web
ster remarked coldly. "Are you not
obliged to me, Captain, for not blowing
your brains Out-for disregarding my
finer instincts and refraining from
shooting you first through the abdo-
men? Bless you. my boy. I've been
stuck for years in places where the
only sport consisted In seeing who
could take revolver. shoot at a tin
can and roll II farthest in three Sec
onds. Let me see your hand.'
Benavides sullenly held up that
dripping member. and Webster In
spected II at respectful distance.
"Steel jacket bullet" he informed the
wounded man. "Small hole-didn't do
much damage. You'll be just as well
as ever in q MONTH"
He helped himself to Arredondo's
gun, dipped out the cylinder. and
slipped all six cartridges into his palm
Similarly he disarmed Benavides. ex-
pressed his regret that circumstances
had rendered II imperative to use
force, and strolled blithely down the
calle. In the darkened patio he
groped along the wall until he found
the swinging rope by which he had
descended from his room--whereupo
he removed his shoes, tied the laces
together. slung them around his neck.
dug his toes into the adobe wall and
climbed briskly to his room.
The next morning Webster waited
until Dolores appeared and then ac-
companied her into the dining room
for breakfast.
swell. how did you pass your first
night In Buenaventura she inquired,
In the manufacture of breakfast con-
versation.
"Not very well. Jiggers bit me and
woke me up. and finally ! fell into
trance and had vision-abOut you.
After that ! couldn't go to sleep again.
| was fairly bursting to see you at
breakfast and read your palm. I've
just discovered wonderful system"
"Show me-" she flashed back at
him and she extended her little hand.
He picked II up gravely and with the
dull tine Of a fork made a great show
of tracing the lines on her palm.
"You are about twenty-four years
old. and your ancestors were pure-bred
Castilians who came from Madrid,
crossing the Atlantic In caravels. Ever
since the first Ruey landed on this
coast the family has been identified
with the government of the country In
one way or another. When you were
quite little girl. your father, Don
Ricardo Ruey, at that time president
of Sobrante. failed to suppress revo-
luton and was cornered n the govern
ment palace, which was set afire.
Through the bravery and devotion
of cockney gentleman, Colonel Henry
jerks, an artillery officer In your
fathers army you were saved from
perishing In the burning palace. Col
oael jerks turned you over to his
spouse. now known as Mother jerks,
with instructions to raise you a lydy,
and Mother jerks has carried out
those instructions. Colonel jerks and
your father were executed, and Mother
jerks sent you to the Uaited States
to be educated. You had a brother,
Ricardo Luis Ruey. older than your
self by seven or eight years. / should
Judge. In some mysterious manner
you and your brother lost track of
each other, and at the present moment
he believes you perished In the flames
that gutted the government palace.
sYou are Of proud, independent ma.
Iure; You work at something for a IIv-
no and inasmuch as you haven't been