The Forrest City times., 1890-04-26

glow. The village was quiet as it always was at this time of day. It wasn't much of village--a house here and store there, and all blackcned by storms and age. People were scarce. too. Those who were on tho one broad street were the kind that grow among sage brush and grease wood--tall. heavily jawed men. with an awkward swing to their gait and their faded clothing and high heeled boots bespattered with mud. A lean. skulking dog prowled along the road, and three heavily saddied and branded ponies were tethered near the Ark saloon. There were 250 people in the village but every body who lived there knew the population exceeded 500
 On this cold afternoon five of the in- habitants sat in front of tho Ark saloon. Four of them were men who wore soft hats and collarless shirts. Their coarse hands and rugged faces showed that they toiled out of doors---herding cattle on tho plains no doubt. The fifth person was n little girl with hair as black as the lava blocks and eyes so big and so round that they looked like wells of ink. She wasn't even seasonably dressed for whenever the wind brushed her she shivered, hardy as she was. A coral necklace clnng so tightly to her neck that 1t looked like scar Her thin blue dress. clumsily cut from large gar mcnt. hung in scandalous proportions about her well-rounded body. The men had been drinking heavily. The little girl had come to lead her father away. But the big, rough man
 was angry. A man from tho Snake River country had questioned his ahilI- ty as a marksman with sixshooter. The dispute had been going on for an hour or more, with delirious tales of gun feats and terrific expressions of pro- fanity. when the mite of child stole tim idly up to the big man. For moment
 the child was not noticed. The wind picked up tho ragged hem of her dress
 and whipped il about her legs. and tho / big sun. glowing with tho richness of n
 solferino disk. made the tears in the child's great eyes shine as ono has seen rippling water glitter in stream of sun
 shine. The glass in the shop windows was red, too. and the snow on the three
 mountain peaks in Inc distance looked like a carpet of crimson geraniums
 stretched over cathedral spires.
 Here's Xiii. boys the father finally exclaimed. as he looked aduirinsiy al
 the ,o, who had in some way managed 10 nestle beside his leg.
 'Fll leave It to Xii. fellows. as to who is the handIest man with the gun. Whos tho best man as what you over seen. kity"
 Ma wants you to come home and eat supper" came the stsmmering, almost plGintivc reply.
 ''So she does. Kit; but who's tho best shooter as you know off Pap"
 Who shoots hcrs right and lcf. aud never spiles the moatf Pap"
 Whose Kit be youY"
 ''Pap's; but nam wants you home for supper"
 The four rough men looked al tho child with stupid gaze.
 Why I'll tell you. fellers. as speak
 ing about shooting. me and Kit will l show you something. won't we kity' and the big mau drew two enormous TO. volvers from his holsters and placed them upon box The child shrank in. | stinctively at the sight aS the weapons.
 Wont we. KitY' repeated the big man, noticing that the child was silent.
 The black head nodded a reluctant 1 affirmative
 Course VIC wilt Kit knows pap.
 and seeing as somebody does not know
 us we will make Us known" Then the man drew a leathern bag from his pocket aud took from 1t two iive-dollar gold pieces.
 Now. Kit" he said. with as much pride as his thick voice could portray.
 you take these sinners and walk out into the wagon track and hold 'em up stiddy like. and then we'll show 'em how pap kills hens"