The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1923-06-19
lCsnllnued Prom Yesterday


Most ~ the counter customers had
dnfted out when. without warning,
Inc srrron door banged loudly open
and Gray looked up from his plate
to SEQ his recent Acquaintance OF
me gambling table approaching.
rhn time purpose was stamped
upen Iho mans face, hat whether Il
was deliberate or merely the result
az mono drinking there was no tell
ins. tlo lurched directly up 10
nv table ard stared across az Gray.
slapped my face, didn't your"
he cried, after a menaclng mo-
meut.
4 ala indeed the speaker
nodded. pleasantly
"You amt going 60 slap Il
again, You ain't goiug 20 slap any
body
"What makes you think I wontg"
Gray boesmc aware as he spoke
that his elderly neiEhbor had raised
10 the intruder couutcn0nco
stamped with peculiar expression
u incrcdullty almost ~ anger, at
the interruption, and that tho two
remaining counter customers had
turned startled faces over their
shoulders. whilo tho proprietor his
arms full OF dishes, had paused he.
side me swinging door 20 the
kitchen.
That which occurred next came
unexpectedly. The stranger whipped
out from under his coat \ revolver
al the same time yolclns a profano
answer TO the challenge, The pro.
pnetor uttered hleat OF terror.
he dropped his dishes and Owed out
az the ROOM the men on the stools
scrambled down and plunged after
him.
AS calvin Gray rose TO his feet
Il was with flash OF mingled anger
and Impotence. This quarrel was
SO utterly scnseless, Il served so
little purpose.
MY friend. he cried, sharply ~
you don't put up that gun, one Of
us viii go 10 a hospital"
In snite u the intrudcF's haste In
drawing the weapon, he appeared
now TO lack the will promptly Is
use this laggard spirit required
further scouragc. SO u seemed.
something more 10 Eoad e into final
fury, II was a phenomenon hy no
means uncommon. for Il ~ not easy
10 shoot down an upaFmcd victim.
Ry way Of rousing his savAgory.
the fellow uttered below. then.
like = warrior shifting HIS shield
with his spear before tho charge,
no swung his heavy weapon.
smashing al ous blow that silver
plated merry soFound with It's clus'
Ter OF bottles.
A shower Of i0oihpicks fFaEl
ments Of glass, aa pat,er OF oil
and vinegar covered tho old man
in the end chair. and he rose with
y cry that drew swift glance from
The desperndo.
Gray was upon the point OF
launching himself over tho table
when no witnessed a peculiar trans
formation IN his assa!lant. The
mans expression altered with al.
most comic sudienneas. no lowered
his weapon and took a backward
step. Gray, too, had cause for as
,nnlShment for the elderly man
was moving slowly toward thn dis.
iurbsr, his overcoa,. meanwhile
hanging loosely from his left
shoulder. like n mantle. ITS gray
iaca had grown white, malignant
threatening: no advanced with a
queer. Siding gait. edgiug forward
behind the shelter OF his garment
az II behind n baFFleade. But what
challenged Gray's instant attention
wa the certainty OF purpose. the
cold. eonfidant meanco behind this
Old fellows demeanor. There was
something appalling about him; hs
had suddenly become huge and
dominant.
That no had been recognized was
plain. for tho armed man cried
aEiiatsdly: Look out. Toni
don't want any truck with you
The deliberate advance continued
in harsh voice Tom answered; Z
don't allow anybody 10 interfere
with me when I'm eating" For
every step he shuffled forward the
man before him fell back a CORE
spending distance.
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