The St. Charles herald., 1921-03-05

Finally he removed the vest tudt
hung upon him unbuttoned and pitched
it aside.
He moved slowly and calmly. al
though In the moonlight it could be
seen that his face was shades less
| swarthy than common.
"Well, I'm ready he announced as
he approached Holmes.
| "This Is question that's got to
be carried to a fln!sh," the latter ad'
dressed himself to the crowd as much |
as to Carnes. land it will be settled
with knives. I'm the one that's been
given the wrong deal in it. and l
reckon got the right to name the way
wen proceed"
"Well settle 1t with our fists, like
couple of grown-up men," Carnes In.
terposed with sneer. "instead of &C.
cording TO some of these moving pic.
ture plays"
That's like you." Holmes returned.
also with a sneer. 'Tli fight a fist
fight with. any man in ten or twelve
pounds of my weight either way, but
you outweigh me nigh on to twenty
, |
There used to be an old way Of de-
Gliding arguments out here that they
! called 'chawing your corners and
that's the way this shebang is going
to come off. I got knife and you
got one!
"WelI take this here bandanna, and
, | / put corner of 1t in my mouth and
, I.you take one in yours.
, Then. when some of the boys give
5 the signal. Wen wade in, and we'll
keep 1t up until one or the other I'm
{ lets 20 his corner of the rag. That's
!. the only way this question is going to
l. be tended to.
J. "With knives we'll be on an equal
: basis-we will be, that is if you've got
. the sand to stand up to me, which it's
my belief you amt!
o 81 amt been sure for some time that
you amt just about 80 per cent BLUM.
d and intend to show you up!"
$ For the first time Carnes lost control
S of himself.
"You nor nobody else can't say that
~ TO nv face" he exclaimed In raised
tone with a number of Oaths; "and II
r. you keep on, it don't matter cuss
!. with me whether it's knives or guns,
or anything else"
q He drew forth a knife from his rear
e pocket, opened it. and snatched one
~ end of the handkerchief Holmes held
y out to him.
"SIong as you just simply got to
rseI have IT," he growled from beneath his
seealeeth. Its coming to you, ano
5. you're going to get 1t. Come on =
,ea "Fu!tz here will count three,
r Holmes stated, "and we start just the
AT second he gives us the last count.
3 Fultz instantly began an emphatic
o. refusal to act in the capacity men
ar Etioned, but quick look from Holmes
er1 silenced him, and after slight hesi
a ,ation he. nodded his head.
. "Ali right, thenl" he exclaimed
Mt "Readyy'
Both men stood facing each other les'
l" than 80 inches apart. each holding
on coruer OF the handkerchief between
he tightly cienched teeth. each inclinet
forward upon the balls Of his feet
n with q knife in his right hand raise'
he breas, high and held near his body
m. and with his eyes glaring axedly a
I'D the other.
as :sOne!''
.Two r.
!, A second passed: another; Fult
a. hesitated. shec glanced tnQuiringiy 9
Holmes.
sr< suddenly the latter dropped hi
IN knife. grasped the bandana from hi
mouth and ierked It from the other
ao teeth with force that brought Carne
ce. staggering toward him.
Holmes caught his shoulders. an
nd. began to pound upon his back an
IN. ven with maniacai abandon:
"You owe me ten dollars!" he shou
pe- ed 10 voice that startled some morse
hundred yards away.
oro aIet me see you-hiccough!" !"
He danced about. slapping Carn'
,no upon the. back. bending double. goir
i from one outburst Of wild JOY into
other.
.. .Why, you low-down son of gun
no. he roared. Everybody knows that "
,os, wouldn't know how 70 tell a lie on al
,o,v one. even II you trled
No. While he entered into another pa
ava oxysm OF hilarity. the spectators Q
was gan to recover from their bewilde
II p. ment and join in the din. although n
y. with such whoie-souled mirth :
Holmes exhibited.
,u,a The transformation had come a0o
,ass so suddenly, and was so unexpectt
Z 81 that they were unable to show mi
,,.va appreciation properly at irst.
the Even Fultz himself had not antir'
,ver. recovered from his astonishmept,
spite OF the fact that before enteri
- into his part OF the affair ne p
g !. caught the almost imperceptible wi
~. Holmes had given him.
! = Lets see you hiccough" the lat
was gasping over and over. Lets
nm you try it once!''
oht. Heavens Carnes muttered IN
vnu voice Of utter disgust. "Oh. heaven
He had been standing in an unt
f0in ATTITUDE staring at Holmes II