Telegram-herald. ([Grand Rapids, Mich.) 18??-1892, 1891-05-14

@ 4
fHE MANS GRASP MECHANICALLY M
LAxED.
civilized garb emboldened him TO
mingle more freely with strangers, and
he entered the saloon. He was scarcely
a man suddenly leaped up with al oath
and discharged a revolver full in his
face The shot missed Before his un-
known asssilant 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 look Of establishment 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-blank into his temples.
and he fell dead. No one in the crowd
had stirred or interfered.
You've done for French Pete this
time, Mr.. Fowler" said q 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 dieta-
torily to the crowd, that this man was
first attacked and was xnarmsd." He
lifted Flint's limp and empty hands,
and then pointed to the dead man who
was still grasping the weapon. Comet"
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 it
all mean? What made that man attack
me?"
II reckon it was a case Of shooting
ON sight Mr.. Fowler; but he missed it
by not waiting to see il you were
armed. 1t wasn't the square thing.
and you're all right with the crowd
now, whatever he may have had sgin
you"
But" protested the unhappy Flint,
II never laid eyes on the man before
and-my name isn't Fowler"
Flynn halted and dragged him In .
doorway. 'Who the devil are your" 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 abb
ruptly, II have passed my word to the
crowd yonder that you are a dead broke
miner called Fowler. / allowed you
might have had some row with that
Sydney duck, Australian Pete, over
there in Australia That satisfied them.
II l go back now and say it's ie-that
your name amt Fowler. and you never
knew who Pete was-they'll jest pass
you over to the police to deal with
you. and wash their hands of it al
together. You may prove to the police
who you are, and how that id clerk
mistook you. But it will give you
trouble. And who is there here who
knows who you really me?"
mo one" said Flint, with sudden
hopelessness-
And you say you're an orphan, and
amt got any relations Twin that you're
beholden tor"
mo one"
Then take my advice and Be Fowler
and stick To Ill Be Fowler until
Fowler turns up and thanks you for it.
For you've saved Fowler's life, as Pete
would never have funked 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 means?
Well, I'll tell you. You're in the big
- r.,-L
You've got the cards in your own
hands, They spell 'Fowlerr Play
Fowler first. last. and all the time!
Good night and good luclx-M. Fossier"
The next mornings Journal con-
tanned an account of the justifable
killing of the notorious desperate and
exconvict Australian Pete by a cour-
sgeous young miner by the name OF
Fowler. IAN act ~ firmness and dar-
ing" said the Pioneer. which will go
far To counteract the terrorism pro-
duced By those lawless rufiiaps." In his
new suit OF clothes and with this paper
In his hand Flint sought the drv goods
proprietor: the latter was satisfied and
convinced. That morning Harry Flint
began his career as salesman and ~
"Shelby Fowler"
From that day Shelby Fowler's
career was one OF uninterrupted pros
perity. Within the year he became a
partner: the same miraculous fortune
followed other ventures later; he was
mill owner. mine owner. bank di-
rector millionairel He was popular;
the reputation OF his brief achievement
over the desperate kept him secure
from The attack Of envy and rivalry.
He never was confronted by the real
Fowler: there was no danger Of expos-
urp by others; the one custodian Of his
secret. Tom Flynn. died tn Nevada The
rear following lie had quite forgotten
his youshful past, and even The more
recent lucky portmsntesn, remembered
nothing perhaps bat The pretty face 81
the asVuerreosype which bad fascinated
him. There seemed - be no reason
why no should not live and die -
Shelhv Fowler.
Hss business rear later tcsk him N
Tr~op~ tie vas entering train ~ enc
.f the great rsiswsT stations 81 Lon