Evening star., 1924-01-13

~~'A es~ei oSS SHo BODDGQ- OIL
starved him to death In your prison
sherwood strode to the bed. and,
leaning over, lifted the sheet. Be
meath the sheet he saw a roll OF
blankets nodded and tied into the
sembiance OF human form. Before
he could turn, cold steel was pressed
against the base of his brain.
Drop that gun, Sherwood" said
Boston Biackie's voice from behind
him. Drop IL quick
Sherwood smiled and let his reyol-
yer slip through his fingers to the
bed. Hero was a worthy antagonist.
"Pick up his gun, Mary, and lay IL
on the table, well out of the deputy's
way" directed Blackie. Then see IL
he has another. Now" he continued,
slip of these skirts"
Nov turn around, Sherwood, ard
face the music" ordered Blackie :.
moment later.
The deputy warden met his cap
tors eyes without tremor and
smiled.
well done. Blackie, I must ad-
nit" he said.
The convict's grip on the gun lev
eled at the deputy's head tightened.
You understand, of course. sher-
wood, I've got to kill you" he said.
Naturally 1t wouldn'. surprise
me-" the deputy answered His voice
was calm.
THE men stared into each Others
eyes, the silence broken only h.
Mary's sobs.
You're a brave man. Sherwood"
said Boston Blackie. Il hate to xii.
you, but I've got TO do 1t. ] can
tie and gag you. You'd get free be
fore we coulS gat away from The
city. can't Mss that"
Naturally not" said Sherwood
"T couldn't trus+ your promise 10.
to bother me If let you go alive"
continued Blackie with troubled eyes
"I wouldn't give It IL you did"
There was no hesitation in the an
swer.
We'll, then"-the gun that Gov
cred the deputy warden's head
swayed downward until the nuzzle
covered his heart-"are you ready"
ANY time," said Sherwood.
Mary Dawson, crying hysterically,
turned away her face and covered
her ears.
do you want to go, Mary, before
IL do what I must do?" asked
Blackie.
NO, no" she cried. IT want TO
share with you all blame for what
you do"
Sherwood turned his eyes cur
ously on the woman. He knew what
he would have risked for such a
! woman and such love.
Slowly the convict let the n2uzzle
Of his weapon drop.
Sherwood" he said in a broken
voice, II hate you as l hate no liv-
| ing man, but I can't kill you as you
stand before me, unarmed and help
less" He stepped backward and
picked up the deputy warden's re
volver. He pushed a table between
them. He laid the revolvers side by
side on 1t, one pointing toward him,
the other toward Sherwood.
Sherwood" he said. ain three min
utes that clock Will strike. I'm ex
actly as far from the guns as you
On the first stroke of the clock wei
reach together for them-and III"
quickest hand wins
Biackies face with something in his
eyes no other man had ever seen
there Blackie deliberately had sur
rendered his advantage TO give him.
Martin Sherwood, an even chance for
life. For the first time the deputy
was shaken.
81 won't bargain with you,
Blackie," he said.
"YYou'se afraid to risk an even
break?'
rYou know I'm not Sherwood an
swered.
Boston Rlackie reached toward his
gun hoping the deputy warden would
do likewise. Sherwood let Blackie
recover his weapon without MOVING
q muscle. Once more the convfct's
revolver rose till 1t covered Martin
Sherwood's heart.
Seconds passed, then minutes, with
out a word or motion, The muscles
of the convict's throat twitched.
"Piuk up that gun and defend your
self" he cried.
NO." shouted Sherwood.
With a great cry Boston BIackie
threw his gun upon the floor.
lOu "ihs A0hSk " WV, ho ooNbSN-
you've beaten me-"
He staggered drunkenly towart
Mary and folded her in his arms.
1T couldn't do It," he moaneh
brokeniy. "I'll go back with hla.
Everything is over"
Tn glad you didn't. DEAR Or
cried. clinging to him. eft would irx*e
been murder. I'll wait for you. dear
one, wait till you come back to me
again"
BOSTON RLACKIE Strengthened his
- shoulders and turning to Sher-
wood, held. out his wrists for the
handouts.
Come, come" be urged. Don't
stand there gloating. Take me away"
Martin Sherwood reached to the
table, picked UP his gun slowly and
dropped It into his pocket He looked
into the two grief-racked faces be-
fore him, long and silently.
I'm sorry to have disturbed you
folks" he said quietly at last. 81
came here looking for an escaped
convict named Boston Blackie. /
have found only you, Miss Collins,
and your mother. I'm sorry my mis-
information has subjected you both
to annoyance. The police officers
who surround the house will be with
drawn at once. Had Boston Blackie
, been in this room, and had he by
some mischance killed me. his shot
would have brought a dozen armed
men. Escape for him was absolutely
put has haan