Bisbee daily review. [volume] (Bisbee, Ariz.) 1901-1971, 1922-01-07
Continued from last issue.)

1 "Wolfpaw," it's against the law OF
this province to give or receive liquor
from Indians" he replied, gravely
Il won't drink tonight"
Pete turned with a scowl. His
thought had already flashed to the
white blade at his belt. You're damn
particular" he began.
But Joe shook his head, restraining
him. The hour to strike had not yet
come. They must ENJOY their liquor
first and engender fresh courage
from its fire.
Have a drink" ice asked vir,
Ginia.
| She didn't like the tone of his
voice. He was speaking with entire
familiarity, and again she expected
interference from Harold. Her flance,
however, was lingering the bottle.
She saw Bill straighten, ever so little,
and beheld the first signs hof rising
anger in the set of his lips.
NO" the girl responded coldly.
The others poured themselves
mighty drinks-staggering portions
| that more than half-emptied the first
You're drunk now-but don't forget
] their heads and drained the cups.
XIV
"A little toast-and everybody
stand up" Harold, getting drunken,
| finally proposed.
Were going to drink to virginia.
To my future wife, conference.-the
lady who's promised me her hand,
Look at her there, you oreeds-tle
most beautiful woman tina: ever came
to the North. Drink 'er down."
The burning poison poured into
their threats. Virginia glanced at her
pistol. Her face was no longer mere
ly anxious. Bill sat there, helpless
and blind. against the wall.
She had not dared to resent aloud
the bandying of her name, the insult
of their searching eyes upon her
beauty
1t seemed to her that she heard
half-muttered exclamation from Bill,
but his face belied it. And in reality
the mans thoughts were as busy as
never before.
HE opened his eyes struggling ror
vfsfonf J But he could not make out
the forms of the men at all except
when they crossed in front of the
candies.
The candles themselves were mere
points of yellow between his lids.
The men then drank another round,
emptying the first quart and begin
ming upon the second.
You're pretty little WITCH" Har-
old addressed Virginia. You're hard
to kiss, but your kisses are worth
having. What you think about that,
Joe? Aren't | tellin' you the truth
Joe! Bills first impression had
been right, after all. Virginia heard
the name, too, and her fears in
creased.
"Joe?" she repeated. "You KNOW
him, them"
"Of course | know Joe. He's an
old friend He's one that Bill told
never to show his face in this part
OF Clearwater again-but you don't
see anything happening to him, do
you?'
He waited, hoping that Bill would
make response. But the latter was
holding hard.
You see, he hasn't anything to
say" Harold gloated. Il asked you
"a question, Joe-about Virginia.
Didn't l tell the truth?'
Il don't know" Joe replied. shes
pretty enough. But I've never kissed
her"
The girl flinched, then caught her
self with half-sob. She resolved to
make one more appeal.
"Oh. d-please-please be
careful what you s-y," she pleaded.
You're drum know-but don't forget
you were a gentleman-once. Don't
drink any more. Don't let those In
dams drink any more, either"
"A gentleman once, Ell? So you
don't think I'm one any more. But
Bill there-he's one, amt her? II
seems to me you've been getting kind
of bossy around here, lakeland the
women of we northern men don't be-
have that way"
I'm not your woman. thank God,
and | ask you to be careful
so you're not my woman, eh?"
mo, no, no, never will be-" The
girls eyes weer blazing, and she had
forgotten her fear in her magnificent
wrath.
There ensued a moment of strange
and menacing silence. Pete chuckled,
already receptive to Joe's thought.
Harold turned to stare at him.
Joe put his pipe to his lips, then
fumbled at his pocket. He seemed
to search in vain. will you give me
a match, please, LADY," he asked.
The tone was strange, thick and
strained, yet Virginia's heart thrilled
with hope. Perhaps if these men
started to smoke, their blood would
cool. She turned quickly to the shelf
above Bills head and procured half
dozen matches from the box.
AS her back was turned she heard
Pete laugh again.
Instinctively her eyes turned to the
wall for a reassuring sight of her
pistol. 1t was gone from its place.
She looked at Joe; his evil, leering
face told her only too plainly that
his eager hand had seized and secret
ed her pistol. Pete's face was drawn,
too; Harold only looked bewildered.
He was her last hope, but in one
instant's scrutiny she saw that this
had vanished, too. Some terrible
a. n