The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-09-12

I talk. You haven't got the nerve of a fish. Now l want that thing printed and it's going in your paper. offer to pay for it and always demand what pay for"
 "Mr. Hanks, came here with the ex- pectation of conducting my business in a quiet way, and don't care to be identi- fled"
 "All right. Go ahead in your own quiet way, but if this thing don't come out in the next issue of your paper you'll hear more music around here than you ever heard at circus. This is all am going to say"
 knew that he would carry cut his threat, and as did not care to hear his kind of music, grew sick at heart. As l was meditating, trying to devise some way of escape, old Mat, who had seen Hanks leave the office, entered.
 "Here's suthin' that Eve had Tit out" said he, "an' want it to go in your pa- per-" He handed me piece of paper and read the following:
 "Flip Hanks is one of the worst men unhung. He served term in the Texas penitentiary and now he is paradiug around as one of the best men in this neighborhood. The Hon. Mat Tyler, though, is an honest, upright gentleman"
 "Look here, Mir. Tyler, cannot print this"
 "Wall, use your own jedgment, but if it ain't printed you'll smell more powder than you ever smelt before"
 When he had gone sat down in de- spair. While l was thus musing, an old friend-Billy Smith, the drummer bounded into the office.
 Why, what's the matter, old fellow ?" he said, noticing my look of dejection. related my experience.
 "Now what am to do ?" l asked.
 "Your position is not so enviable," he replied. When does your paper come out?"
 "Be out tomorrow"
 Well, you'd better slip away tonight"
 But that would ruin me. have in- vested my all in this office"
 "Yes, that's true enough, but it's better to lose your office than to be shot all to pieces"
 "Of course, but what will the boys say ?"
 They'll laugh at you, of course, but I'd rather be laughed at than to be killed"
 "You are making fun of me-"
 "No, Pm not. You'd better leave to- night"
 "Billy, wish you would buy me out"
 "Oh, you are very generous"
 {" don't know about that, but I'll tell you what do know: Pm scared"
 " Hold on minute," said my friend. !" I've hit on plan that will bring you out all right. Wonder they sit," he added, looking out. "Now I'll show you. l understand these fellows pretty well. Go through that garden, creep up to the corner of that shed and listen to what tell 'em, so you will know how to act"
 l hesitated. didn't know what he might say, and l felt much more disposed to travel in the opposite direction, but after some little persuasion, made effec- tive by the earnestness of his manner, followed his directions. reached, un- observed, the corner of the shed, and, al- most tremblingly waited to hear my friend begin conversation with the quiet set. Old Mat and Hanks, could see by peeping through crack, sat near each other. Billy arrived, and after shaking hands with the two leaders, said:
 Well, boys, you've got terrible fell low among you at last"
 "Who is he ?" Hanks asked.
 "That editor"
 "You don't say so ?"
 "You bet do. He is the worst fellow in the country when you get him stirred up, but let him alone and he's as meek as lamb. In New Orleans, some time ago, he got into row and only killed three men-one of them was a bully. Just few months ago he laid out the worst man in Missouri. Just before he came here made bet with him-bet him hundred dollars that he would kill man before he'd been living here three months. saw him just now and he talked like he wanted to hedge. We'll, take care of yourselves. have some business that must attend to-"
 l slipped away from the shed, went along path, hidden by a rail fence, and when saw that there was no danger of discovery, l climbed over the fence and walked toward the quiet set. As ap-