The Tomahawk., 1925-12-31

fcation as he saw the pleading agony
in the mans eyes-an agony stimu-
lated and aroused anew with aggrava-
ton, and he stepped closer and spat
spitefully into the upturned, expectant
face, then smiled mockingly as he
slowly unslung q second canteen and,
raising 1t to his own evil lips, drank
long and deep.
The troopers hands worked convul-
sively as he watched the wanton
waste Of water, and the light Of re-
turning reason grew quick and sud-
denly strong in his eyes He felt the
power Of renewing strength increasing
within him, and in desperate frenzy
he struggled tottering to his feet, and
with limbs almost refusing to sustain
him, he flung himself swayingly upon
the half-breed and tried to tear the
tempting tin from his lips. But Joe
Mary simply dropped the canteen and
seized him stranglingly by the throat
and hurled him Keeling weakly back,
and drawing his revolver, covered the
thirst-tempted, trembling trooper.
"Ahl You choke-fght for water
eh7" he said, smiling slowly, and he
held the dripping canteen nearer.
"Yesw the trooper gasped. Give me
more-you devil. Just another drop!"
he pleaded pathetically. with wild,
crazed eyes. Then his hand suddenly
sought the butt of the weapon at his
hip, as the half-breed shook his head
sneeringly.
you die for water, I guess!" taunt-
ed Joe Mary with intense, savage in
stinct. "Mebbe I give one big drink
all, then shoot quick-eh? Plenty
water over there" and he pointed with
long, lean arm toward the foothills.
"Mebbe don't give water-eh, but 60
away and no shoot now. You die just
as same! Which" and he leered
treacherously forward as he again
held the canteen toward the trooper.
Water" gasped the man still
chokingly, and he snatched greedily
at the proffered tin and carried 1t JOY
fully to his lips. The water ran In a
gurgling, grateful stream down his
parched and swollen throat and oozed
tricklingly from the corners of his
mouth. Then, when at last the ecstasy
was over and the awful, consuming
thirst was conquered, he threw aside
the empty tin and faced the half
breeds still threatening weapon.
GNoxu Tn, raoHu 70 Iio iva hod q
drink !" he remarked cOolly, as he
wiped the moisture from his lips and
stood still, staggering little, as the
half-breed's eyes glittered and cleaned
death to him over the sight Of his
menacing muzzle.
Overhead, the solitary buzzard still
circled and looked down from dizzy
heights and the coyote still skulked
expectantly among the growing shad-
ows Of the sand hills.
Joe Mary paused, stepped back a
pace and again raised his weapon.
Then, just as the muzzle grew sud-
denly steady once more, and his
bronzed forefinger began to crook
CLOSELY against the trigger, tnerc Cdlhe,
sharp upon the still desert air, quick,
warning rattle and subdued hiss at
his feet, and with a wild look of abb
ject terror in his evil eyes, he leaped
quickly aside, and as he did so there
was a sudden squirt of flame, followed
by a quick puff Of smoke and sharp
report, and Joe Mary pitched forward
and lay still, face downward, in the
alkali dust.
Just trick of the tongue" NUT
tered the trooper laconically, as he
showed his still smoking weapon back
into its holster. and, climbing weakly
upon the dead mans pony, rode of
in the direction of the foothills.