The Washington times., 1925-05-16
NOvelized from Salisbury Fields
Successful Comedy of Today,
"Zander the Great"


Successful Comedy of Today,
"Zander the Great"
HAVING stationed his servants
A at the barred windows Juan
himself took his post in the most
exposed of all and held his re-
Volver ready for service. But he
was careful not to show himself
needlessly; his trained eye peered
at Gomez as the leader advanced
toward the house. This was the
man that Juan wanted most of
all to kill: an old-time feud was
between them, but Gomez was
taking no chances as he worked
his way toward the hacienda
Unequal Battle.
A shot from Juan's gun whip
ped past his cheek. He ducked
close to the protecting walls and
In a short time, shouting to his
comrades, had reached the barri-
caded door.
Standing in such a position
that the shots from Juan's pistol
could not reach him he began a
fusillade into the heavily timbered
door.
The sounds Of the shots and
the spIintering Of the wood were
interrupted by the yells Of his fol
lowers and shrieks of pain when
one of them fell under the fire
from the house.
The unequal battle could not
continue for long-already most
of the servants had fallen and in
Juan's revolver there remained
only two shells. He reserved
these as the door showed further
signs of yielding to the persist
ent charge upon 1t.
Mamie, realizing that the en-
trance of the bandits would prob
ably result in the death OF JUAN
she shuddered at her own tate
and slipped a terrifying hand over
the lips of the frightened Zander.
No Illusion
Juan was under no illusion as
60 what would happen to Mamie
when he was no longer there TO
protect her. He moved cautiously
closer to the door of the room
that shielded her. and at the IN
slant he reached 1t the barrier
gave way with a crash and a shot
from Gomez sent him staggering.
Juan collapsed sprawling. The
outlaw waited for a second TO
zee whether he moved, but Juan's
only chance was TO slmulase
death. without knowing how
badly he was wounded, his only
thought now was to lie as though
the dark angel had already de-
scended upon him.
One of the outlaws followers
roared out his approval. "A good
shot" Gomez leered at him and
walking cautiously kicked at the
hodv of his old foe. To all ap-
nearances Juan was inert. Gomez
had seen many a dead man.
many he himself had sent over
the great divide and Juan showed
no sign Of motion. His whole
attitude had that limp appear
ance that goes with the depar-
ture of the living spark.
Attention Diverted.
The outlaw held his gun in
his hand a fleeting second, as
though trying to determine
whether he would put another
bullet through the body Of his
fallen enemy. Then he hap
pened to glance inside the small
room and the figure of Mamie
crouching there diverted his at
tention.
There was no mercy in those
Wolfish eyes as they focused
on the young girl; she knew
as he looked that she had no
pity to expect from him. His
followers were stumbling through
the house and for the moment
Gomez was alone with his VIC
tins.
As he stepped across the thresh-
old of Mamies hiding place the
figure of Juan stirred-just a
trifIe-his feet were drawn eau
tioGsly up. He raised himself
with all the care and silence
of a tiger. Then, his arm once
free. he took careful aim, straight