Arizona republican., 1922-04-24

, rammed his head into the pillow and
completely relaxed his body, but. al
though his breathing soon became
deceptively regular, he was far from
being asleep. He was thinking as
purposefully as ever he had in his
life. He had to escape. To permit
his enemies to do this thing was in
tolerable. There was a way out.
Every strait no matter how close
and awkward it may be, has its way
out
He built many plans while he lay
there. But there was a flaw in each
and every one of them. Felix Craft
returned about the middle of the
afternoon.
AS the door opened and Craft en-
tered. Billy sat up. Have nice
timer" he drawled.
Went through like clockwork ,.
replied Craft, slumping into a chair
beside the table.
Lord Almighty, I'm hungry
Craft said carelessly. Got any more
eggs and ham, Sam -
If you want anything to eat, you
can cook it yourself" said Sam.
When Felix Craft brought the eggs,
ne drew up at one side of the table
OF eggs was between them TIP
looked on from his seat near the fire
place. Sam lounged comfortably in
his chair.
Billy looked with a dissatisfied air
upon the eggs. "Ain't there any
bread, Felix? A lii butter on the
bread wouldn't hurt neither
SO Felix made another trip to the
Kitchen. When he returned with the
bread and butter, Billy discovered
that the pepper had been overlooked.
For GaWd's sake use salt on 'em.n
implored Felix
Billy pushed right back from the
table and refused to be conforted.
Il want some pepper! Sam, you
lazy lump OF slumpullion, get me
some pepper, will your
NO, won't I'm to comfortable
and you're too finicky."
Bill glanced across at Tin. "yo,
gong TO refuse me too, Tip. old cit
izen?"
! No said Tip with a weary air.
i suppose not"
He arose and betook himself to the
kitchen. Returning with large old
Iashloned tin pepper pot he thumped
1t down upon the table in front of
the captive. "There y'are. Now.
stop your squalling.''
Thank YOU. Tippy, I will. Yeah"
Billy scraped up to the table as
Tip turned away. whats the mat
ter with this pepper pot. anyway?
lip turned to look. Billy picked up
the pepper pot slowly and stared
hard at it. Felix Craft craned his
neck.
7 don't see anything the matter
with it," said Craft.
Don't you?" murmured Billy, his
Ilngers busy with the removable top.
Look here"
Tip and Craft obeyed, In fact, they
obeyed with such good will that the
handful OF pepper that Billy Instant
ly swept into their faces busted up
their nostrils as well as into their
eyes.
In throwing the pepper Billy had
employed his left hand. His left
hand had not completed the motion
before Billy was reaching for the
platter of eggs with his right hand.
1t was unfortunate or Sam I4arder
that he was a slow going gentleman.
The platter struck him edgewise
over the eye when his shooter
had barely cleared the holster. The
six shooter thudded to the floor. Sam
and his chair went over backward
and lay together in a tangie amid
the fragments of broken platter and
the remains of several eggs He was
unconscious.
Billy, arriving in Sans immediate
neighborhood. a split second after
sam struck the floor, seooped up the
fallen six-shooter and wheeled back
to face his other twSp enemies. But
they were too occupied to be an
immediate menace. Felix Craft was
sitting on the floor, clawing at his
eyes and swearing continuously. Tip.
coughing and sneezing, was not
swearing. Perhaps he had not suf-
ficient breath. At any rate. he was
on his feet. arms spread wide, feel
Ing his way along toward the door
giving into the hall.
Billy cat-footed up behind Tip and
snatched away his six shooter Tip
spun around at the touch, but Billy
dodged away from the clutchlng
hands
Bang! revolver bullet cut a but
ton from his vest and tucked into
the wall at his elbow. BiIly's sud.
den movement had saved his life.
He leaped back another two yards
to get out Of the smoke and
crouched. balancing his tense body
on the balls of his feet.
Continued in Our Next Issue)