Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1885-02-12
No MURDERER.
BY LILY NJ. CURRY.

BY LILY NJ. CURRY.
"You will have trouble vet with tn,
FELLOW" said Tom, hortatiyely.
shook the ashes from my cigar
first-class article which one might hay
enjoyed under almost any circun
stances: Then l answered, slowly:
"I've no doubt of it.
OF course 1 agreed with Tom; b
had been in that region before an
knew the ways of the inhabitants.
But Tom had ceased smoking, an
was looking grave.
You will have trouble, he repeated
Il hate to leave you here, Jack"
BAH" l laughed. Haven't pal
OF slx-shooters in my trunk there?"
Get them out of your trunk" h,
suggested. keep them handy"
And 1 am pretty good shot, dom
you think ?"
I'm a shooting gallery, up home. II
is different when somebody gets the
drop on you"
We were silent for time; Tom an.
peared contemplating. L imagined his
best thoughts were up home" Just al
that moment, where a certain fair
Ne way not IN foveetVxR rggxas.n ~-a--a-'.
We had come South few weeks pre-.
ylous as promoters of new railroad.
We were temporarily located in small
town halfway between the Brazos and
the Colorado, and not far from the
capital. Here we had fitted up as our
office and bachelor apartments couple
OF pleasant rooms in the second story
of a new brick building a short dis
lance from the railroad station, and as
yet no tragedy had resulted.
But Tom Surname Phillips, mine
Iester), my closest friend, my comrade
IN business and pleasure, was actually
Ill at ease. He was going to Austin the
following morning to remain several
days, leaving me at home to manage all
affairs and guard carefully the docu-
ments of the corporation.
So far, well and good. But I, on nv
part, had been unfortunate enough
that very afternoon to incur the dis
nutive, VINO was faid to shoot with as
few computations as he would feel to
eat his dinner-or something of the
sort. This native, major" Dawson by
name, had been anxious for some time
to furnish us, at-as he claimed-the
lowest figure, with such supplies
mules for one thing-as we should
shortly need for actual work in OPEN
ing up our new road. We had con-
cluded to buy of him; the trade had
all but been completed, when, by
purest chance, 1 had discovered
that he was going to swindle us un-
mercifully. Without pausing to con-
suit Tom, who happened to be absent,
L had sent down to Dawson's store, a |
few squares distant, asking him to come
up at once. And When he had ap-
peared / had confronted him with INV
knowledge of his intentions. OF course
he denied it up and down, but I had
the proofs, and was not to be deceived.
ut is no matter" 1 had said; you
may count the trade off. We don't
He had sprung to his feet, making a I
quick motion, as if to draw some
weapon. Then suddenly he had seemed
to reconsider. With an oath and a
threat that we should not get out of it
so easily, he had left the place.
1t was now evening, and Tom having
returned, had been telling him the
Suppose" he said, presently, sup
pose you go to Austin. I've heard a
good deal about Dawson. They saw
he's quick on the trigger you know.
And he couldn't very we'll kill you if
you wern't here"
"Not any," replied "What kind of
a fellow do you think me, any wayp
Make fuses and leave you to settle
them! No, you'll start in the morning
as you Intended. And I'll keep on the
lookout for the Major"
Tom cautioned me, however, at some
length, concerning the MAJORS" ac-
as a gunner.
i was not especially nervous the fol-
lowing day, but went about my busi-
ness as usual, until the afternoon, when
Dawson sent friend of his over, to in
luire If 1 still proposed to SNEAK out /
Of that trade" Without moments ,
hesitation 1 sent back word that we ,
to deal only with people who I
we're square"
Half an hour later. met the "Ma- &
or on the main street of the town.
lie stopped me and reopened the sub
ect. Presently he grew excited in a '
high degree, and declared that no man
hould call him cheat and liar and
till live. I
You'll eat your words or diel" he
'ried finally, rolling out big oath to
trenethen the threat. v
/ was seized with desire to laugh. 2
seemed so absurd. But knew that 8
Tould only aggravate matters. b
I've no time to argue" I said,
You might as we'll let the matter v
rop. don't propose to quarrel with g
on; I'm not killing people just now; n
I'M no murderer" I,
/ went home then.
Somehow l felt strangely lonesome g
hen evening bad come, and went off
lone to the hotel where Tom and / g
)ok our meals h
As l sat eating my supper, dis Ii
atch was brought from Tom asking q
10 to follow by the first train, my
resence in Austin being highly i'm al
ortant IN
Before leaving the hotel, made b
me inquiries, and found, as / had II
fought, there was an accommodation ri
le at 10 o'clock, or few minutes O.
ter. / determined to take this, not /
ait until III the following morning. o,
As left the Office, met the fiery Of