The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1927-06-03

NtASS HAiOAS OutCoSLSy 0ClWOOu WOuIu
have risked his life that Bull, drunk
or sober, would not betray him. The
question that ranked in his mind
was: Had Barbanet in that brier,
piercing glance discovered him? Was
it imagination that was already trick
ing him into thinking SO? He could
not be sure. But some instinct told
him he had been detected and must
measure accordingly. The next mo-
ment Barbanet, now following Page,
passed Selwood without noticing him
and so close on his left that he
brushed him with an impatient
shoulder. f
1t needed only an instant for Sell
wood to reason that this was precisely
the way he himself should have acted
If positions were reversed; and he
knew Barbanet's astuteness too well
to believe he would act, in the cir.
cumstances, any differently.
! Without hesitation, Selwood, taking
advantage of Barbanet's broad should
er, turned promptly to the left, and,
falling into step, walked on directly
behind the two-third and last man
in procession heading straight for
the lower end of the bar.
1t seemed strange to find himself
heading so briskly in such company
and at such a businesslike gait for
a corner of the room that he had so
good reason to remember. The old
archway had been boarded up. and
batten door had been set roughly
into 1t to lead into the barber shop !;
1t was for this door that Barbanet
was heading.
Nothing could have suited Selwood
better. But just before reaching the
door, Barbanet caught Pages arm,
told him to stop, and attempted to
turn in behind the bar. At this juno.
ture Selwood in turn caught Barba-
nets arm and stopped him.
"Don't bother, Harry; you won't
need that gun. Face about-keep
straight ahead" ..-
Barbanet felt the quick and un.
pleasant sensation Of a revolver muZ-
zle held to the small of his back. A
hand with fingers like steel slipped
down his forearm and over his left
wrist. Without trying to turn his
body, he looked back over his should
er, surprised, but making no pretense
of not knowing who spoke.
"First time I've seen, you tonight,
john" he remarked, quite undls.
turbed by this situation. ...
"No," retorted Selwood in like
tones, ''this is the second time,
Harry" ......... .,..
81 noticed you had long arm on
when I passed you," responded Bar
banet, less amiably.
"Not for my friends, Harry-there's
a. good many strangers In town to-
night. Open the barber-shop door,
Harry-do it quick"
"Theres two men behind it with
shotguns." .'.
"They're friendly-you're walking
right in there ahead of me- Go on!
The way we stand now, there's not
man in this room that could tell
whose gun went off if you got hurt,
Harry. Open that door,"
No frontier crook in his senses
would choose certain death before a
fighting chance. Barbanet knew per-
fectly we'll the alternative. Selwood
might not himself escape, but his fate
would no longer interest Harry. With
i'll grace, but without imprudent
delay, Barbanet advanced to the door,
his left wrist gripped in Selwood's
left hand.
"Key's in my left-hand pants peck
ct. Let loose my wrist.
"What's right-hand man doing
with key in his left-hand pocket"
asked Selwood. page" he added,
pulling Barbanets arm back, "take
the key out of Barbanet's right pants
pocket and unlock that door, quick"
"Page," interjected Barbanet, jerk
ing the words out viciously, you'd
better keep out Of this
Bull Page grinned brokenly. Per-
haps the remembrance of old abuse
at Barbanet's hands-the times he
had come thirsty and broke, and gone
from Barbanet's bar thirsty and
broke, decided him. At all events,
after a rapid search, Bull found the
key in Barbanet's right-hand trou-
sers pocket, unlocked the door, pushed
it open, and Barbanet, followed by
Selwood and Bull, passed through
into the barher-shOp.
ITO DE-, NONrH,INrIrr,1A