Frank James in St. Louis OR The Mysteries of a Great City

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume V, Issue 1434, 19 September 1905, Page 4

Frank James in St. Louis OR The Mysteries of a Great City

'. .' . CHAPTER XIX . " HANDS UP, QENTLBMKN I" Perhaps such a scone has been witnessed before—-strango things have oaourrod on these Mississippi Eiver steamboats—but it has not been equalled since. ' Adnelon the water I _ • . The sceno is indeod a woird one. ■ Although tho two reflectors lmvo been placed so as show tbo principals to oach other, the audience is not wholly loft in the dark. Enough light comes from other sonroes to show them up; they are about .equally : divided with regard to colour, and the negro deck hands minglo with tho whito passengers freely; poremony is ignored at • such a time, and every tub must stand on its own bottom. As the light falls upon them it shows the shining black skin and whito eves of ■the darkies—never havo tboy looked upon such a spectacle as this, and to thorn it is hotter than the most wonderful hoodoo ■show. As for the passengers, understanding the signification ot tho duol, they are grc atly interested; their sympathies are almost wholly with Frank James, for although .-most of them cannot take any atock in his . manner of making a living, thoy do feol that in this matter he has dono everything that is right. The clork stands there, half way botween the two Jien; he ia proud to be the arbitrator of their fate, and having been : ohosen as the referee, means to carry out his part of the business well.

"One," The gambler raises his arm quickly; nil j can see that it holds a revolver, for the | light flashes from ,lho stool barrel. \ "Two."' ' Tho olqrk has a strong voice; tho word sounds sharp and cloar on tho night air. .:. Eaoh of tho spectators nerves himself : foi the coming shock; they seem to have an idea that at this short distance the ■"chance! are that both the duelists will (all. ■As the clerk times it ho allows just so ' many seconds to elapse botweon his coin- . rnands. -'■'".. titias ddos not wait for" throo." Hardly then has tho second word died away than he pulls the trigger of his weapon, ■ ' " A Bharp report rings out. ;. Who has iked. : ;The wliitosmoke cloudthitis wafted from Silaa /Wagstnff toward his opponent .tells the story. ;, Then all oyes aro. instantly turnod upon : : the man thus' troachoroiisly deilt with. ' | Has ho recoiled his death-wound ? ; :■ .Ho still stands; thore, with his right 'side turned toward his opponent, in the >;true position of a pistol duelist, as it prosonts the smallest mark and keeps hie ',". heart protected. •A cry sounds. l , It proceeds from tho gamblor, who becomes terrrov-strioken to see that his .treachery has undoubtedly failed, and knows, what lnnst follow. .' Ho would null back tho hainmor ef his . revolver again but bis. trembling ,-. : hand seems nnableto accomplish the task. • This leaves him helpless, _ ■■■ ■ All has occurred in second of time; tho /clerk bajj not as yot uttered tho last word ■ pf tho fatal trio which means" fire," ' ; Wagstaff panic-stricken, now resorts to .■his last subterfugo; all olsehaa failed him. ' but the river yet remains; he may es o vcape., : Victory is no longer a possibility, and he ■is ready to take his chance in thoyollow llooc3. i ;'.:■■ ' ■ U i the word" three" is trembling on tho 1 lips of thojndge, he makes a wild leap upon ■ the bulwark that proloots tho bow. '■':■; The ohancos aro threo'to one that he will '.be crashed undor the ponderous wheels, '■ bpt he is ready to take his chances in tho -/■ matter, knowing that to remain means ,' death, -; Ho roaches the bulwark ,-;'.-.'' For an instant he stands'there.' : ■ Not a man moves. ■ Silas Wagstaff makes a leap into the air, not ahead, but off to ona sido,, He hojios \to clear tho pith of the terrible paddlo 'wheels. '/ Alas I bo counts without his host. ; .; ; While ho iB in tho air a revolver sounds. ■;. His .opponent in tho duel has firod. A scream is hoard, intenaoly thrilling. Those who look on dhl' ,; ly »oo tho wretched gamester double u v . a mid-air, os though seizodwith the sudden spasm of death, ' . He strikes the water in a hoop; thoro is ! ! o splash, and Silas Wogstaff passes forever from human sight; he has gone before the bar above. • "Areyou hurt, Frank James?" orios ■; tho clerk, as ho advances toward tho other. Tho outlaw shows whoro tho treacherous bullet of the gamblor out tho cloth of his copt in passing. • it would have only reqnirod to bo a n

BY W. B. LAWSON.

inch oi'two furtboi- back, to have ended hira.

His hsnal luck tins not tlosortod him, Paying no attention to tho congratulations of the spec ators, he walks away; his faith in entmnity is not vevy great, and ho believes there ia hardly a man prosent who if not figuring what n nice little fortune his death would give, if one was courageous enough to attempt his life. It is his intomion to gj ashore whon the opportunit;- offers, and Inter on he speaks to tho cliUf clerk about tho matter. Thoyluvo no landing to make but tho clerk confers with the pilot and finally the rivor stcan/er sweeps in nt a placo where tho bank promises them tho opportunity, A small villago lies just bolnw, * Heading up-strtam the steamboat runs in closo to the bank; ut long slender gangway is shoved out, and shaking hands with the clerk and pilot Frank Jauios walks a?horo

The plank is hauled aboard, tho wheels begin to revolve and soon.tho stoamboat is out upon tlu groat river. Frank James is a«hore. He doos not know himself whero this may be but seta out for the villige below. LTo h'jmiimitd) M