The Kevin review. [volume] (Kevin, Mont.) 1922-1929, 1924-12-25
By Jackson Gregory
Copyright by Charles scribner's Sons

Lake man, and now would turn hi.
second shot through the fimsy wal
itself on the man standing there. Lee
did not hesitate now, but with one
leap was across the room, avoiding
the table, seeking TO come to close
quarters with Quinnion and have the
thing over and done with. In the bit.
terness still gnawing at his heart, he
told himself again that it would be
no calamity to the world if the two
men Who haI insulted Judith Sanford
went down together.
Again Steve fired. His bullet ripped
into the wall, tearing a hole through
the partition where a brief instant ago
Lee had stood. The light out in the
barroom was extinguished. In the
card room it was utterly. impenetrably
dark now, only a vague square of les
ser darkness telling where was the
window through which Shorty had
fled.
A red flare of flame from where
Quinnion crouched, and Lee stood
very still, refusing the temptation to
fire back. For Quinnion's bullet had
sped wide of the mark, striking the
wall a full yard to Lees left. Quin
MONS eyes had not found him, would
not find him soon If he stood quite
motionless. The fight was still to be
made, Quinnion's friends would be
taking a hand now, Steve had already
Joined issue. There were six of them
against him and with one shot fired
from his heavy Colt there we've but
five left. No shot to be wasted.
A little creaking of a floor board,
a vague, misty blur almost at his side.
and still Lee saved his fire. Quickly
he lifted the big revolver, held weld
ed to a grip of steel. throwing it high
above his head and striking down
ward. There was almost no sound
just the thudding blow as the thick
barrel struck a heavy mat of hair, and
with no cutlery a man went down to
lie still. AT the same moment the dim
square of the window showed a form
slipping through; one mar was seek
ing safety from a quarrel not his w
And as he went, there came again
a soft %thudding blow and Carsnn's dry
voice outside, saying calmly;
Shorty got away, but you don't,
pardner. Give 'em hi Bud. I'm in
the play again.
1.-TWO men down." grunted Lee to
with grify satisfaction. "And
old Carson back IN the job. Only two
to our one now"
The form in the window crumpled
and urder Carson's quick hands was
out. Suddenly 1t was very
still in the little ROOM. Steve did not
a third time; Quinnion held his
fire. Fol- Lee had made no answer
they were taking heavy chances
with every shot now, chances of shoot
ng the wrong man. Each of the four
vatchful men in the narrow apartment
softly.
Once more Lee lifted his above
MS head. AS he held it thus, he put
tut his left hand gently, inch by inch,
sropingly. Extended full length, it
nothing. Slowly he moved 1t
n a semi-circle, the gun in his right
land always ready TO come crashing
His fingers touched the wall,
hen moving back assured him that
10 one was within reach. Lifting a I
DOT slowly, he took one cautious step |
onward, toward the spot where he
lad last seen Quinnion. Again his {
rm, circling through the darkness,
ought to locate for him one OF the 8
uddenly it brushed a mans shoulder. :
There was a sharp, muttered ex- S
lamation, and again a flare Of red
anne as this man fired. But he had v
lisjudged Bud Lees position by a few S
lches, the bullet cut through Lees d
oat, and Lees dubbed revolver fell b
nerringly, smashing Into the mans e
There was a low moan, a II
clattered to the floor, a body Il
heavily. Il
"A new situation" thought Lee.
hree men down before a clock could 7
ok off as many minutes and not a a
ngle nan shot. 1t was a place for a fl
an like Charlie Miller with his old c;
ckhandle.
Bud" called Carson's voice sharp ri
'are you all right?' W
YES" answered Lee briefly, and as "
answered moved sharply to one
de so that his voice might not draw pl
shot from Quinnion or the other 81
There came two spurts of flame,
e from each of the corners of the he
ON opposite him, the reports of the or
o shots reverberating loudly. But this hs
IS mere MISUNDERSTANDING at no it
IRE definite thing thar a mans voice, |
d Lee having moved swiftly had lit hi
fear. And he knew pretty well 70
Iere those two men were now. ut
So did Carson, who from without do
I'd in twice through the window. In
en- again it grew so silent that a tiT
ticking somewhere out in the
room was to be heard distinctly, as
that again the men guarded their ba
lee thought that he knew where let
inniOn was, In the corner at his
close to the rear wall. Not Dirt