Part 14 (1/2)

The as passed, ”Free drinks at the bar,” and the crowd surged forward A half-tipsy fellow raised his glass above the heads of others ”Here's to Mary Greenwater, Queen of the Cherokee Indians!”

”Rah fer Mary Greenwater,” chattered old A form up by the bar rail

The invitation was even tooas had been his resolution to let the stuff alone The teined he needed soin

Just then, some one came in and announced that the two ames stopped and the men at the tables ordered their drinks fro room stopped in the middle of a set, while men and women crowded about the bar

Only three in that room did not rejoice at the news--Mary Greenwater, Coyote Jiht to be sad or rejoice He did neither, but gave another loud ”Rah for Mary Greenwater!” when a waiter led him to a seat When the hubbub of voices which the announcement of the rescue had created, had subsided soalasses, could now and then be heard froamester, ”Hold on there, that's mine!”

Mary Greenwater went to the faro table ”Get up, Coyote,” she said, ”I'ether so ame Let some one else deal” Another dealer was called and Mary laid down a hundred on the ace Men crowded about as before, when she was at the roulette wheel

There was a hush for aout

”Hands up, everybody Don't try to escape, the doors are guarded!”

All was confusion in an instant Calamity Jane, eyes ablaze, strode from behind the curtain in the dance hall Quick of action, she fired at the nearest hold-up in mask The uproar was furious The lamps were shot out by confederates of the hold-ups The ball rooht, while jets of fire spit from revolvers in different parts of the room Men were afraid to make an outcry, lest a bullet would follow at the sound of their voice Coyote Jier, beside the stacks of coin on the table In his hand was a long, keen blade He felt a stealthy hand near his own and he lunged the knife A heavy groan and a feords in a language which only he understood, and the body sank to the floor The tiger's blood was now afire and he leaped upon the faro table, revolver in hand His forht across the street, when a spark flashed in the darkness and he fell headlong to the floor There was a heavy roar of voices, as the ht froone except one He lay dead near the door, with a bullet from Calamity Jane's revolver in his brain Coyote Jim lay dead, and by his side, Mary Greenwater, with her life's blood still ebbing froedy, Amos made his escape to end with the horrors of delirium at home The Bucket of Blood had maintained its reputation

The excite the spectators who crowded in was a haggardthat he had undergone a severe hted Rayder from his place of safety at the baseboard, then his eyes rested on the dead woman at the faro table He threw a cloth over her face, and sat staring into vacancy until the undertaker and assistants came Then he took the undertaker aside and said: ”See to it that she has a Christian burial

I will be responsible” When she was buried the next day, there was one attendant beside the undertaker and his assistants, at the grave

The tragedies of the night uache The better eleht and demanded that the Bucket of Blood be forever closed

XXVIII

FROM OUT THE SHADOWY PAST

When Buchan arose in the cabin and said ”I thought I heard a voice, her voice,” I was amazed It did not occur to me that anyone would atte ere this?