The Kevin review. [volume] (Kevin, Mont.) 1922-1929, 1924-12-25
CHAPTER XI-Continued


name had already been banded abou
from a ruffian's lips. Lee WINGED a
that ever as he had WINGED at the re
membrance of having been brutal.
rough with her himself. But what wa.
past was past Quinnion had talked
and must talk no more.
He'll start something tie minute
he sees YOU" cautioned Carson, his
own revolver loose in the belt under
his coat, his hard fingers like talons
gripped about the butt. Keep your
eye peeled, Bud. Better cool off a
speck before you tie into him. You're
too mad, l tell you, for straight, quick
shooting"
Lee made no answer Side by side
the two men went on. They had left
the sidewalk and walked down the
middle of the rusty, %rut-gouged street.
Every mar they met, every figure
standing in the shadows, received
their quick, measuring looks.
Most likely" suggested the cattle
foreman, ''by now he's got drunk an
gone to sleep it off,"
But Lee knew better than that.
sQuinnion wasn't the sort that got
drunk. He'd drink until the alcohol
stirred up all of the evil in his ugly
heart; then he'd stop, always sure of
his eye and his hand. 1t was far more
likely that with a crowd of his own
sort he was gambling in the card room
Of the Last Chance saloon, the Jail
tsird saloon as white men called it.
For there was an ill-famed hang-out
at the far end Of the struggling town,
Just at the edge Of the italian settle
ment, that of late had come to be fire.
quented by such as Quinnion; men
who were none too well loved by
the greater part OF the community,
men who, like Quinnion, had
served time In Jail or penitentiary.
Black Steve, who was both proprietor
and bartender, and who looked like a
%vernacular Of the country, was the
god of the "dago" quarter, the friend
of those who hai gotten entangled with
the law. Oaly last year he had killed
his man in his Owl saloon, then zone
clear. through the combined perjury
of his crowd
The street grew steadily gloomier,
filled with shadows. In front of the
Jailbird the only light came from
within and made scant war on the
lurking darkness without. Lees ears
were greeted with the crazy whine of
an old accordion, and with mems
voices lifted in laughter. He showed
tie swing door open with his shout
der, Carson pushed the other half
back. and the two stood on the
threshold, their eyes swiftly seeking
QuinniOn.
AS though their presence had been
a Command for silence, sudden hush
fell over the Jailbird. The accordion
mai drew out a last gasping note and
try ed black round eyes upon them.
Bla k Steve, oily and perspiring be-
h.nd his bar, caressed a heavy black
and looked at them out of
cold, eSpressionless eyes.
The first glance had shown Lee that
QuiLniGa was not there. At least mot
IL Tile HILL IOOIl. Dut llclC WClS
tile card rooms at the rear. He gave
sign of having felt the hostility of
the many eyes turned upon him, but
vent quickly down through the room,
turning neither to right nor left.
"Hol' on there came the big boom
ny voice of Steve. "What you fellers
huh?'
Lee gave him no answer but strobe
IN. Carson, at Lees heels like a
rim old dog, showed his teeth a lit
lie. Steve, striking the bar with a
leavy hand, shouted in menacing
ones:
"Hol' on. J sayl Nobody goin' to
reak in on . play that's running in
ny card rooms If you fellers want
nything, you ask me-"
go ahead, Bud" said Carson
ocosely. Its only the OF black calf
awling same as usual"
But Lee needed no urging. He had
card voices beyond the closed door
l front of him, among them a certain
igh-pitched, snarling, indescribably
vii voice which he knew. He put his
and on the knob and found that the
cor was locked. With no waste of
me, he drew back a step, lifted his
,ot and drove his heel smashing into
lie lock. Then, throwing himself for n
ard, driving his shoulder into the
oor, he burst it off its hinges.
At last he had found Quinnion. a.
Here were half a dozen men, not az
aging cards, but interrupted In a 81
liet talk. Standing on the far side Il
the table was a nan who was as al
I'll a thing to see as was his voice
hear, his face twisted, drawn to W
e left side. the left eye a mere slit hi
malevolence, the uneven teeth XII
owing in an eternal, mirthless grin, st
man whose hands, when his arms lie
ere lax as now. hung almost to his ia
ices, a man twisted morally, men in
lily, and physically. IN
Bud Lee had eyes only for this man. sp
suddenly Carson had seen anoth- ba
man. seeking to screen himself be- FRI
nd the great, misshapen bulk of o.
linnion, and with new eagerness was ia