The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1922-03-24

tomato in his hand. At the same in
slant Webster's attention had been at
tracted to the little band on the side
walk i'm their leader he recognized no
less a parsonage than his late acquain-
tance. the fire eating Capt Jose Ben
avides. Coincidentally Benavides REC
ognized Webster. - ~
It wassan awkward situation. Web
ster realized the issue was about
to be decided. that If he would
have 1t in his favor. he should waste
not one split-second before killing the
mercurial Benavides as the latter
stood staring at him. 1t was not
question, now. Of who should beat the
other to the draw, for each had al
ready filled his hand. It was a ques-
ton, rather. as to who should recover
first from his establishment. If Bena-
vides decided to let bygones be by
cones and retreat without firing
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 care to
escape aboard the steamer. will see
to it that you are not removed from
her before she sails; If you care to
surrender to me now. I 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.
the bayonets at my back" he replied,
"it strikes me the odds are even now.
And vet you patrOnize me-"
Webster was nettled. ''Td rather
do that than kill you. Benavides," he
retOrted. Don't be fool Run
along and sell your papers. and take
your pitiful little sandal-foOted bril-
SdnuS WIFI you. SCdL!
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 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. creasirg
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 defective
cartridge, which gave to John Stuart
Webster all the advantage he craved. |
He planted 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. hut he was
too dizzy to shoot effectively, and the
semicircle Of bayonets closed in on his
front. He had wounded three men
without stopping them: second
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 fend
grasped by the barrel.
Webster saw bnyonet lunging to-
ward him. He lifted his leg and
caught the point on his boot-heel while
with his last cartridge he killed the
man behind the bayOnet. just as the |
'ot'CI uCAt-"dnh ulun thrust StTdlSHI |
and true in under the Americans left
arm. While third man jabbed 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 smart thud. He
Tell forward on his face; before his
assailants could draw back for fin:
lshing 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
,utspread legs, Don Juan Cafetero
stood for the final accounting, his but
'ermllk eyes cleaning hatred and war
his lips drawn back from
his snaggle teeth, his breast rising |
and falling rs they closed in around
him. For few seconds he was visi-
bic swinging his rifle like fail,
magnificent, unterrified-and then |
ne vOnnt Slinnad In ,pda,. bic ,x,,ou,1