Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1890-05-12
ONE GENT


soon learned that Joe and tho captais.
were both on the ground. They had rid
den up from opposite directions about
the same time an hour earlier, and their
armaments for the captains equipment
duplicaticated Joe's. barring the axe.
had created a sensation Everybody
knew the captain. Of course, but It 50
happened that nobody had ever seen Joa
before. Neither man would talk of his
errand, and all the Iounger could agree
upon was that there were two mighty bad
men In the house and that the next day
was likely to see some fun somewhere
theFeabouk Looking into the main
room OF the inn / saw the champions,
each sitting near glass and surrounded
BY his weapons But It was clear in an
instant that il their relations were for
NAL they were not unfriendiy, and that
the captain had not discovered Joe's
identity. In fact, we afterwards learned
he took the collector for sheriff of one
OF the lower counties who had a moro
than local reputation. gained in desper-
ate battle with desperate with axes an
weapons. took care not to show N.Y.
self until the men went to bed, and then
imagine my surprise when l learned
that the landlord had assigned them not
only to the same room, but to the Same
couch. Luckily / was given share in
the room next theirs 3 my companion was
sleepy, and there were cracks ia the par
tition, 50 that had no Difficulty in find
ing out what was going on next door.
The moonlight streamed in, showing
both men in bed. By the head Of each
was stack Of deadly weapons, but the
roommates were evidently getting ac-
quainted amicably enough. The cap
tain was telling some story illustrative
OF his prowess with bowie Thon Joe
took his turn, and related the CORY
details7of little affair of honor settled
with axes and funeral
80 alters prefers axes, SIR / heard
Joe say. They never misses. Now you
can hit man with a knife and a button
may turn the point. but axes, sir. did
you ever hear of button turning an
axe. sir7'
"But the Captain was ready with an
incident in which the knife figured most
prominently, and tl n branched off into
ON account Of q journey Of his into
Louisiana, which had been attended with
considerable miscellaneous slaughter.
Joe countered with tale Of an enjoy
able visit he had to California, where he
had in one day shot gambler. gouged
the eyes out Of miner, and broken the
neck of tenderfoot with a blow. CT
course the captain responded in kind,
but he wss perceptibly weakening, and
ihe difficulty he described had led TO but
swo homicides Joe was beginning an-
other novelette, which promised we'll,
When he interrupted himself by suddenly
rising up from the bed. pulling his trous-
ers from chair, and fumbling in one Of
the pockets Then he began to bewail
his luck. 1t was his invariable CUSTOM
he explained, to dig out the bullets from
the bodies of such victims as he shot and
keep them in a certain pocket This
should now contain eight. but as he
could find only Sc ven, one had evidently
been lost However he was somewhat
conforted by the remembrance that the
morrow promised 10 replace his treasure,
IS he had promi ed some mercantile
friends of his to collect little debt or
make their claim one against an estate.
What2, gasped the captain, 'ain't
you sheriff.
: No sir. quoth Joe, I'm going to call
on party sir, they call Captain Jim,
they say he loves sport, and if you'll
come with me you'll see some fun. BY
the way, IL you know this ere captain,
Just tell me what kind of lookin' chap
he is, win your
y did not hear the reply, for just then
che landlord rushed in to tell me that
my horse had hurt himself In the barn
and was In 9 bad way. Half an hour
passed before / returned, and then all
was quiet Ia the next room, while both
of its occupants were apparently Sleep
ing / awoke che next morning to find
Joe By my bedside, with the broadest OF
smiles on his face.
but the captainr / asked
@Oh. he's all right He slipped out OF
bed about o'clock this morning, woke
the landlord to tell him that he had
business in the next county. and then de-
parted. after leaving this envelope for
me-
Joe handed ME the envelope. 1t con-
tanned money enough to meet our claim
in full.
The next time saw the captain he
called at our store Joe was then In
South Carolina, we told him as he bought
bill Of goodS
But he's coming backY the visitor
asked, ia thoughtful way.
@.Oh, yes, he'll b. here next month";
/ 4 may ~ well pay cash. the captain
remarked. and as he did 50 he drew me
TO one side and whispered IN my ear
There's one thing been botherlng~ ~alx !.
memory lately. Was il six or seven me
he killed In California;"
BuckIen's Arnica saI.aa