Tammany's Tithes

' on it, whippin' out me shooter, the tables wint over with a leap--an' the room full av thim pounced on me--an' some one grabbed the gun--an' it wint off in his grip--an' through the smoke I saw Butch Sleeman open his big mouth an' clutch at a splatter av blood on his throat an' go down with a gurgle!

"The bullet had took him fair in the neck, an' bruk his spine. He was starin' dead whin they picked' him up off the sawdust, an' I dropped the gun an' run fer dear life.

"I was with Molly whin the police caught up to me--waitin' fer thim--sittin' on the side av the bed, an' Molly propped up with the pillows, in her night-clothes--waitin' fer thim... I mind the ruffles on 'round her neck, an' all... Niver a word she'd said, but jus' screamed whin I'd told her--an' caught hold av me hand, an' held to it, dumb, like dyin'... She sat up whin they come in, stiff an' starin', an' her lips as white as her teeth, breathin' hard. An' whin I kissed her good-by, she didn't take her two big eyes off thim, an'