nd his two cronies had just
taken their second round of drinks when the side door was burst
violently open, and a man, white and wild, with a double-barrelled
shotgun in his hand, abruptly entered. Darting across the floor, he
thrust the muzzle of his weapon almost against Haney's breast and fired,
uttering a wild curse at the moment of recoil.

The tall gambler reeled under the shock, swinging half way about, his
hands clutching at the railing, a look of anguish and surprise upon his
face. The assassin, intent, alert, would have fired again had not a
by-stander felled him to the floor. The room filled instantly with
excited men eager to strike, vociferous with hate; but Haney, with one
palm pressed to his breast, stood silent--curiously silent--his lips
white with his effort at self-control.

At length two of his friends seized him, tenderly asking: "How is it,
old man? Are you hurt bad?"

His lips moved--they listened--as he faintly whispered: "He's got me,
boys. Here's where I quit."

"Don't say that, Mart. You'll pull through," said his friend, chokingly.
Then with ferocious impatience he yelled: "Somebody get the doctor! Damn
it all, get moving! Don't you see him bleed?"

Haney moved his head feebly. "Lay me down, Pete--I'm torn to pieces--I'm
all in, I'm afraid. Get me little girl--that's all I ask."

Very gently they took him in their arms and laid him on one of the
gambling-tables in the rear room, while the resolute barkeeper pushed
the crowd out.

Again Haney called, impatiently, almost fiercely: "Send for
Bertie--quick!"

The men looked at each other in wonder, and one of them tapped his brow
significantly, for no one knew of his latest love-affair. While still
they stared Williams came rushing wildly in. All gave way to him, and
the young doctor who followed him was greeted with low words of
satisfaction. To his partner, whom he recognized, Haney repeated his
command: "Send for Bertie." With a hurried scrawl Williams put down the
girl's name and address on a piece of paper, and shouted: "Here!
Somebody take this and rush it. Tell her to come quick as the Lord will
let her." Then, with the tenderness of a brother, he bent to Haney. "How
is it, Mart?"

Mart did not reply. His supreme desire attended to, he sank into a
patient immobility that approached stupor, while the surgeon worked with
intent haste to stop the flow of blood. The wound was most barbarous,
and Williams' eyes filled with tears as