Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-06-11


 civilized garb embo1dened him to mingle more freely with strangers, and he entered the saloon. He was scarcely abreast of one of the faro tables when man suddenly leaped up with an oath and discharged @ revolver full in his face. The shot missed. Before his un- known assailant could fire again the as- tonished Flint had closed with him and instinctively clutched the weapon. A brief but violent struggle ensued. Flint felt his strength failing him, when sud- denly a look of astonishment came into the furious eyes of his adversary, and the mans grasp mechanically relaxed. The half freed pistol thrown upwards by this movement was accidentally dis charged point-blanl1 into his temples, and he fell dead. No one in the crowd had stirred or interfered.
 | "You've done for French Pete this time, MT. Fowler," said a voice at his elbow. He turned gaspingly and recog= nized his strange benefactor, Flynn. II call you all to witness, gentlemen" continued the gambler, turning dicta- torily to the crowd, "that this man was | first attacked and was UndTmed." He lifted Flint's limp and empty hands, and then pointed to the dead man who was still grasping the weapon. ''Come!'' He caught the half paralyzed arm of Flint and dragged him into the street.
 ''But,'' stammered the mortified Flint as he was borne along, ''what does 1t all mean? What made that man attack me?'
 ''1 reckon it was case of shooting l on sight, MT. Fowler but he missed 1t by not waiting to see if you were 1 armed. It wasn't the square thing, and you're all right with the crowd now, whatever he may have had agin | you."
 'But," protested the unhappy Flint, "I never laid eyes on the man before and-ny name isn't Fowler"
 Flynn halted and dragged him in a doorway. ''Who the devil are you?" he asked, roughly.
 Briefly, passionately, almost hysteri- cally Flint told him his scant story. An odd expression came over the gam bler's face. Look here," he said ab- ruptly, "I have passed my word to the crowd yonder that you are dead broke miner called Fowler. I allowed you might have had some row with that Sydney duck, Australian Pete, over there in Australia. That satisfied them. If go back now and say it's a ne-that your name ain't Fowler, and you never knew who Pete was-they'n jest pass you over to the police to deal with you, and wash their hands of 1t al- together. You may prove to the police who you are, and how that d-d clerk mistook you. But 1t will give you trouble. And who is there here who knows who you really are?"
 "No one," said Flint, with sudden hopelessness.
 "And you say you're an orphan, and ain't got any relations livin' that you're beholden to?''
 "No one."
 '"Then take my advice and De Fowler land stick to itl Be Fowler until Fowler turns up and thanks you for it For you've saved Fowler's life, as Pete would never have funlzed and lost his grit over Fowler as he did with you and you've a right to his name"
 He stopped, and the same odd, super stitious look came into his dark eyes Don't you see what all this meanst We'll, I'll tell you. You're in the big gest streak of luck man ever had You've got the cards in your owr hands! They spell 'Fowler!' Play Fowler first, last, and all the time Good night and good luolk-lGr. FoaOler.
 The next mornings Journal con tained an account of the justifable killing of the notorious desperado ant ex-conviet Australian Pete by a cour ageous young miner by the name O Fowler. "An act of frmness and dar ing," said the Pioneer, (which will gt far to counteract the terrorism pro duced by those lawless ruffians." In hi new suit of clothes and with this pape, in his hand Flint sought the dry good