The Bad Lands cow boy. [volume] (Little Missouri, Dakota [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-1886, 1886-03-25

landlord could not leave his business.
and that I was only an acquaintance Of
half an hour, and could not be preiudic-
ed either way. So, with some apparent
reluctance, Mr.. Church consented.
The next thingswas, where should we
go ito sheute dR:the affair."" as my
American friend put it. II know there's
a place Westminster way" he said.
II know there is, cause the volunteers
sheutc there.'
1 told him no; the volunteers did not
shoot at Westminster, but only parad-
ed. ~ : -.
II mean gallery" he said. 81
know had a sheute there with one or
tew volunteers last week; but I couldn't
find the place again. NJ
"Call a cab, suggested Church.
"Cabby'll be sure to know" Il,
where to, sirp" the cabman asked
Church. - :
Westminster Palace Hotel" he re-
piled. y'I
was in cab with two men whose
object was to rob me, and l was BEING
driven whittier they directed. However,
was not going to be cowed at riding
alone with two thieves through the
crowded London streets in broad day,
and was bent on disappointing them.
AS we rode on they pretended ignorance
OF the various buildings we passed. |
pointed out Somerset House, the Char
ing Cross Hotel, National Gallery,
Whitehall, etc.
Arrived at Westminster, Mr.. Church
dismissed the cab. We could walk the
rest of the way, he said, and the cab
man had told him where the shooting
gallery was. The two walked one. on
either side of ME. We came to dirty
back street Immediately behind the
Westminster Palace Hotel, down that,
and to the right-a dirtier street still.
said this was strange situation for a
shooting gallery. ut was all right
when you got there" Mr.. Church said;
'it was very snug"
at the lower end of this street, was
not ct all ill-pleased to. see policeman
talking to a woman. tried my utmost
to catch his eye as we passed, but with
out success. We turned down third
street of Shiny houses, with here and
there the filthy red curtain of low
public house. Sharp round the corner
into blind alley. A dank greasy brick
wall blocked the other end Of the place,
so | knew we had reached our destina-
tion.- Scarcely more than one of the
dhapidated wooden houses in the alley
showed outward signs of being tenant
ed; decayed shutters were nailed up to
the windows; the whole frontage was
smothered in filth and Crime. The
most Misunderstanding public-house
ever set my eyes on was the last house
but one, nearest the wall.
THAT'S the gallery" said Church.
"Reckon it ISL said my American
friend. "That's the identical crib
where I made some fine sheutin' last
week. Come along"
followed them to the door, A wo-
man went out as they entered. go
and fetch -and," two names
could not catch, I overheard Church
whisper. The men went in first, fol-
lowing. The beer-shop bar was filthy
room about six feet square, on the right
as we entered, with only a window to
serve beer through. The passage was
long. About three yards down it was
partition with IL half door, very strong.
I saw, too, that it had strong hasp or
eaten TO 1t, without a handle, so that,
once past that, victim was shut in like
a mouse IN a trap; stopped there:
Tome along and look sharp, said
my friend, with less ttwang than before;
mere the galery' and he opened a
door on inc lett.
looked IN at that open door. l saw
a strong room or cell, seven feet
square, as near as couid Judge-noth-
rs ~ pue pare orick WalIs' no window
" was hgnted tor the moment from
she passage)' ana deep sawdust on the
1 LOOT pom me men were BESIDE tho
aoor, STANDING ha1 IN light half in
sha s.qI :,
harry the Maid, and Churcher, I
sala' i Know you both. 1t won't do.
ana you nave lost some valuable time!'
slammed the halt door to gain mo-
menu tmo from pursuit and took to
my neeis. l had been IN the court at
worcester when those two men were
tried for card-sharping. Inever slack
Hneu speed untli l came upon the 20
lleeman' VINO was still talking to the
tPOllceman.' [ said ~ think I can