Page 84 (1/1)

"The great thing," said Jno Peters, "is to learn to draw quickly Like this!" he added, producing the revolver with so of the smoothness and rapidity hich Billie, in happier old fish out of a tall hat "Everything depends on getting the first shot! The first shot, Miss Milliken, is vital"

Suddenly Billie had an inspiration It was hopeless she knew, to try to convince this poor demented creature, obsessed with his idee fixe, that she was not Miss Milliken Denial would be a waste of tiedy It was imperative that she should hu hihly

"Mr Peters," she cried, "you are quiteyour pardon," said Jno Peters, with not a little asperity "Nothing of the kind!"

"You are!"

"I assure you I am not Quickness in the draw is essential"

"You have been misinformed"

"Well, I had it direct froe," said Mr Peters stiffly "And if you had ever seen a picture called Two-Gun Thomas"

"Mr Peters!" cried Billie desperately He was s "Mr Peters, hearWest!"

Mr Peters betrayed no exciteirl seemed for some reason to consider her situation an extraordinary one, but many women, he are, were in a similar position In fact, he could not at the moment think of any of his fe West

"Indeed?" he said politely

"Won't you believe me?" exclaimed Billie wildly

"Why, certainly, certainly," said Jno Peters

"Thank God!" said Billie "I'ed! It's all been a terribleon two distinct and different subjects and neither knohat on earth the other is driving at, there is bound to be a certain amount of h still not wholly equal to the intellectual pressure of the conversation, began to see a faint shiht behind the clouds In a nebulous kind of way he began to understand that the girl had come to consult the fir West had been trifling with her heart--hardened lawyer's clerk as he was, that poignant cry "I'ed!" had touched Mr Peters--and she wished to start proceedings Mr Peters felt alain He put the revolver in his pocket, and drew out a note-book