Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1924-11-21

ser darkness telling where was the
window through which Shorty had
fed.
A red fare of flame from where
Quinnion crouched, and Lee stood
very stlf1, refusing me remprar1on 70
fire back. For Quinnion's bullet had
sped wide of the mark, striking the
wall 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 fred
from his heavy Colt there were 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 grip Of steel, throwing 1t high
above his head and striking down
ward. There was almost no sound;
just the thudding- blow as the thick
barrel struck heavy mat of hair, and
with no Outcry man went down to
lie still. At the same moment the dim
square Of the window showed a form
slipping through; one man was seek
ing safety from a quarrel not his own
And as he went, there came again
soft thudding blow and Carsons dry
voice outside, saying calmly:
Shorty got away, but you don't,
pardner. Give 'em HI, Bud. I'm In
the play again"
The form in the window crumpled
and under Carson's quick hands was
jerked out. Suddenly 1t was very
still in the little room Steve did not
fire third time; Quinnion held his
tre. For Lee had made no answer
and they were taking heavy chances
with every shot now, chances of shoot
ing the wrong man. Each of the four
watchful men in the narrow apartment
breathed softly.
Once more Lee lifted his gun above
his head. AS he held 1t thus, he put
out his left hand gently, inch by inch,
gropingly. Extended full length, it
touched nothing. Slowly he moved 1t
In semi-clrcle, the gun in his right
hand always ready to come crashing
down His fingers touched the wall,
then moving back assured him that
no one was within reach. Lifting a
foot slowly, he took one cautious step
forward, toward the spot where he
had last seen Quinnion. Again his
arm, circling through the darkness,
sought to locate for him one of the
men who must be very near him now.
Suddenly it brushed mans shoulder.
There was sharp, muttered eX-
clamation, and again a flare Of red
flame as this man fired But he had
misjudged Bud Lees position by few
inches, the bullet cut through Lees
coat, and Lees dubbed revolver fell
unerringly, smashing into the mans
forehead. There was a low moan, a
revolver clattered to the floor, a body
fell heavily.
"A new situation" thought Lee.
Three men down before a clock could
tick off as many minutes and not a
single man shot. 1t was place for
man like Charlie Miller with his old
pickhandle.
Bud" called Carson's voice sharp
ly, "are you all right?'
"Yes," answered Lee briefly, and as
he answered moved sharply to one
side so that his voice might not draw
shot from Quinnion or the other
men, There came two spurts Of flame,
one from each Of the corners of the
room opposite him, the reports of the
two shots reverberating loudly. But this
was mere esswOrk-ShOOting at no
more definite thing than mans voice,
and Lee having moved swiftly had lit
tie fear. And he knew pretty well
where those two men were now.
So did Carson, who from without
fired in twice through the window.
Then again 1t grew so silent that
clock ticking somewhere out In the
barrOom was to be heard distinctly,
so that again the men guarded their
breathing.
Lee thought that he knew where
Quinnion was, In the corner at his
right close to the rear wall. Not
square In the corner, Of course, for
having fired he was fox enough to
shift his position a little. True, no
sound had told Of such a movement.
But Quinnion could be trusted to
make no sound at time like this.
Lee, equally silent, again set slow
foot out, moving cautiously toward
the spot where his eyes sought Quin-
Mon In the dark.
He was calculating swiftly now:
QuinNion had fred twice from the
screen Of the table just as Steve shot
out the light; he had fired again just
now, 1t was fair bet that at least
one Of the other shots had been his.
Lee swept or mis- nat ana tossed II
out before him to the spot where he
believed Quinnion was and dropped
swiftly to his knee as he did so.
There was a snarl, Quinnion's evil
snarl, and shot that sped high above
his head His hat had struck Quin-