Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1925-01-08

When they were not more than
twenty feet away from the clump oil
cactus. man suddenly sprang out
from behind il. his face wicked With
a nasty smile, 3ad big forty-tive in
his right hand.
Put up vi hans, Evans. d--n yuls
he shouted
The sheriff started back. absolutely
surprised; and Fisher pulled 10 sharp
~, almost "a Evans side.
Put 'em up. er IN drill va full
holes T. the voice, Kissed.
The sheriff was cautious man. lie
saw that he was cornered. and he
raised his hands slowly above his head
His face went a dead white. and he
muttered between dry tips. "Gawd
it's Biudger!"
The other advanced, laughing harsh
". We'll, WELL got yu at las, ehf
Oh, femme tell VI, Mister Jim Evans,
sheriff, | amt no fool sort o. had
a feelin' fer the las year. ever since
killed that young cub brother o
yourn, that you was some day gonna
git me, savvy? know yu, all right,
all right; an | know yore the kin Of
Teller that gifts his man-if his man
don't git himl Ha, ha ha But this
time, Jimmy, mu frien', yu' man got
W, what?'
The sheriff did not answer. but his
face worked systematically for brief
instant; and then 1t grew quite calm
even though lie knew that the other
would surely kin him.
'Well, mu frien'. Mister Sheriff"
continued Bludger, "it shore is
shame tn see sech nice little boy
like yuself go off so young, Ell? But
it can't be helped. yu know--it can't
be helped! If | didn't git yu yu'd
shore git me, see?" and he again went
off into laughter. ''Yu see, found
out bout vi goin' after Fisher, there,
an | figured that I'd better wait here
till yu got back, see? Oh, tell w,
l ain'r no fooll"
The sheriff's lips moved, and he
spoke evenly. eco right ahead. BIud-
ger, yu got me! Yu--yu hound. tn
kin young, helpless lad. without no
provocation |" He stopped, knowing
that he would go off In TRADE of
anger If he thought longer of his
brother, which he was sure was ex-
actly what the other wanted him to do
well, Jimmy" sneered the man with
the gun, I'm gonna be nice an gentle!
I'm gonna count UP til ten,-slow-like
an when git there, look out, fer !
expec' tn fill w full o. lead, seer
The sheriff Strengthened up In his
saddle, preparing to meet death with
out fiinching; while Babe" Fisher,
by his side, suddenly jutted out his
chin. his eyes sparkling, and eyed the
sheriff's enemy searchingly.
lone - two - three four Goes
kinda slow, eh?. said Bludger bring
ing out the numbers draggingly.
The sheriff scorned TO answer.
give six - seven-elght! Gettin'
purity close, now, Jim Evans! Better
pray" admonished the other taunting-
ly. Flows 1t feel tn be two numbers
from death, eh?" and he laughed loud
ly at what he considered an excellent
joke.
Still the sheriff remained silent. His
prisoner was so rigid that his whole
body was twitching nervously.
The mocking voice continued.
"N--i--n--el'' he spelt the word slow
ly. and his hand with the gun now was
almost on a level with the sheriff's
head. Here she goes, Jimmy, git
readyl T-e-"
But at that moment something hap
pened. Babe" Fisher, handcuffed, lg-
nored by Bludger, suddenly jabbed his
horse In the ribs with all his might
and shouted Justify, urging the animal
forward In wild, desperate bound, d.
rectly In front Of the sheriff.
Then the action was quick Blud-
ger gasped for a fraction of a second.
utterly astounded; and then he rap
idly leveled bis gun at the sheriff and
pulled the trigger.
But before he could shoot again an
other report followed, this time from
the sheriff's gun. and BIudger. with
moan, toppled from his horse, bullet
through his heart His own lead had
gone Wild for he had lost his head
completely at Fishers. action.
After moment the sheriff burst
out: "What in the ALFRED kingdom o.
Hades did yu do that for, eh?" His
voice was gruff, but lis eyes were
dimmed and he gazed at his prisoner
as a man gazes at another one that he
loves.
Babe" Fisher turned his head. "Oh,
| don't knowl ! reckon l was as good
as gone, anyway; an that I'd better
give yu the chance TO draw yu gun! Yu
-yu bin white tn me, Evans, an
couldn't see yu die from that hounds
leadl"
The sheriff sat shaking his head, his
heart too full to speak his gratitude.
But after several moments he crossed
to his prisoners side, took bunch
of keys from his pocket. unlocked the
manacles that held the others wrists
together, and slipped the tools Of his