Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1880-11-20
Capt, Bankers Gun.

gun. The gun is smooth-bore musket
of venerable pattern. The Captain does
not like to loan his musket, and yet has
not the strength of mind to refuse. AS
sort of compromise he loads the gun
half full after using it himself, and puts
it in waiting for the next applicant. AS
may be readily imagined by the impair
tisl reader, the weapon is rarely borrow
ed twice by the same party. The other
day man named Richards borrowed
the gun to go on hunting expedition.
The Captain hesitated in his usual way,
but finally let him have it and cautioned
him that it was loaded. When Richards
got out Of town and was approaching
some water where he expected to lind
something worth shooting, he dropped
the ramrod into the gun to assure HIM
self that it was loaded. The, ramrod
went down but half way. Richards
give it sharp shove, but it did not
move any further. The charge half
filled the gun. Richards was startled,
and as he thought of what might have
been the consequences had he fred that
charge. He turned pale and instructive
" felt of the back of his head. Then he
recovered. and smiled to himself, and
drew the load, and went on his expedl-
ton. Getting ready to return home in
the afternoon, he loaded up the musket
as it was when he received it. 1t was
also at four O'Clock when he entered the
square on South street. Several men
were standing in front of Parkintons
grocery. The Captain was among them.
When Richards came up Barker said:
"No luck"
"No; couldn't hit anything
"How do you like the musket p IN
ouired the Captain with nervous anxiety.
"Well, it rather staggered me at first
but | got more used to it as | went" said
Richards quietly. 1T don't carry we'll,
| guess" he added.
"There amt as good gun gun in this
town." said the Captain with flush in
his face, "if you only know how to use
it. Is it loadedW
eyes" said Richards in a suppressed
voice, passing the weapon with trem-
BILE to his hand that the Captain might
have noticed had he on his glasses.
Now, I'll tell you what I'll do, Rich
ards said the Captain. 'You just put
up your hat again that tree" (including
one which stood about forty PAGES in a
meadow land III put bullet clean
through it,"
sIts almost a new hat" said Richards,
as if hesitating, although quivering in
every nerve. "but Pm so sure yon can't
hit it with that gun, Captain, that I'll
run the risk
He put up the hat and came back ana
took position back of one of the posts to
the grocery's portico. The Captain was
SO busy putting on his glasses that he
did not notice this precaution.
fortunately for me-" obs rrvcd the
prudent Richards to himself, as he look.
cd from behind his shelter, "there amt q
man in the crowd | care a cent for, or |
might attract suspicion to warn them to
get at safe distance"
The Captain secured the right bead,
the company We're looking or with
breathless interest, and then he pulled
the trigger.
There was terrific explosion, cho-
rous of terrified yells, and the confident
i CAPTAIN was i'll the middle of the road
fiat on his back, with the gun tightly
grippCd in an OutStretched hand, while
they stood notonless, with ring sound
in their heads which for the moment de
priyed them OF the power of thinking.
The Captain was the first to recover
He worked himself mp on his hands anC
} knees, and staring blankly around, his
eyes rested on Richards, who was get
TING over the fence with his hat in hi
hand and demure expression upon hi
face.
: Gentlemen" he impressiyely oh
served, drawing Il hand across his brow
, Htbis oil seams like a horrid dream