Argosy and Railroad Man's Magazine, Vol. 107 No. 3 — page 154: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

494 In this action the sheriff imitated him, and then, changing his mind, drew the weapon itself. Plain man that he was, he was an instinctive judge of character; he had encountered men of Vorse’s type be- fore, less shrewd but equally savage; their nature was to fight, not surrender; their - way was to kill and be killed in the final issue. He anticipated no arrest, He felt no necessity, however, to express this view to the engineer, who had proved himself, in the time he had been at San Mateo, wholly competent to deal with any situation that arose.. Moreover, while Vorse had had a reputation of being a quick shot in the past, he was confident Weir was his master at that. With a quiet movement the engineer pushed open the door and stepped into the saloon. Madden, following him, had al- lowed the slatted door to swing shut again, and the sound of its hinges caused Vorse, who was just starting away from the bar, . to turn about. In his hand was a tray hold- ing a bottle of whisky, a bottle of mineral water, and glasses, which, apparently, he had just lifted up, For a space of ten seconds or so he re- mained unmoving, the tray in his hand, and | his eyes regarding the visitors fixedly. Be- hind him in the rear of the saloon a second man had sprung up from the table where he sat, but after that first startled action he, too, had not stirred. The man was Sorenson. With Madden at his side, with a grim smile on Bis lips, Weir walked slowly to- ward Vorse. In his tread there was some- thing of the quality of a tiger’s—the light, deliberate, poised advance, the easy and dangerous movement of body, the effortless glide of a powerful animal ready. to spring and strike. His hands swung idly at his sides, but that did not mean they would not be swift once they responded to the call of the brain that controlled them. “You gentlemen were just about to cele- brate my downfall, I perceive, by pouring a libation,” Weir said. ‘‘ Don’t let me in- terrupt. Only I must request you to con- duct proceedings: there where you’re stand- ing, instead of at the rear of the room; Madden and I wish a good view of the cere- ARGOSY AND RAILROAD MAN’S MAGAZINE. mony. If Mr. Sorenson will be so agree- able as to step forward, you may. go ahead.” Sorenson did not join Vorse, but he here spoke. “Why haven’t you locked up your pris- oner, Madden?” he demanded harshly. ‘“And you're letting him keep his gun. Don’t you know enough to disarm a mur- derer and throw him into jail when you arrest him?” “I haven’t arrested him yet,” was the sheriff’s answer. | “Well, do it, then. You have the war- rant for the scoundrel. Perhaps you haven’t heard he almost killed my boy Ed last night — and you’re allowing him to walk around with you as if he were a bosom friend. Do your duty, or we’ll get a sheriff who will.” ‘“‘ That’s why I’m here—to do my duty.” “You didn’t have to bring this man here to do it.” “I decided to bring him, however.” From Vorse had come not a word. Only his gleaming, evil eyes tontinued to rest on the two men without wink or change. For him explanations were unnecessary; he had divined instantly that somewhere—some- how—the plotters’ plans had gone awry.. “Did you know that Gordon is dead?” ‘Weir asked all at once. Vorse lowered the tray to the bar and ran the tip of his tongue over his lips. “No,” he said; “ we didn’t knowsit.” ~ ‘“‘ He deeded his property over this eve- ing, and then swallowed poison,” the en- gineer stated. ‘‘ He saw the game was up.” “You can’t make me believe your lies,” came in a sneer from Sorenson. ‘“ And you shall. pay, you and that girl, for every bro- ken bone in my boy’s body. I'll spend my last dollar for that, if necessary. Madden, do your duty and lock him up.”’ The sheriff said nothing, but lifted his gun a little. Vorse, by a slight movement of his body, had edged from the bar as if to gain freedom for action. | ‘“‘ The game’s up for you men, too,” Weir said. ‘‘ You’ve murdered and robbed and swindled in this country long enough; I’ve got the proof, and I’m going to remnove you from this community. It’s not I who will S NOO Co Co mM