The record-union., 1893-10-26
HIS FIST BETTER THAN A PISTOL.
a Story of Man Whom Old-Tfmers
Mnuld Melcome in Now MeXlcn.

Kelly, n. NJ, is pretty quiet town
now, says a correspondent the New
| \ Ork SIt3t, writing from that place, but
the little graveyard, with its white paling
about each grave under the pines near by
will start any old inhabitant telling fthe
days when Kelly, as well as the other
camps of Magdaiena, were 'wide OPEN"
AS rule, the stories of fights are very
much alike-whisky, cards, hard words,
guns, exploding cartridges, gasping VIC
! TINS, and funerals follow in quick sue
cession. But Kelly has one story out of
the usual.
| In the days when pistols were worn as
regularly as shirts "a plenty to satisfy any
| ordinary tenderiOot can still be seen III
| this region) a stranger came to Kelly and
| stopped at the hotel without saying much
to anybody. He hired team and driver
and took in the various gulches and
| prospects that could be reached, and he
! Kept his eyes on the trade of the various
! business places in town as well. Some
| thought he was mine speculatOr, and
others thought he was sizing up the camp
! with view to going into mercantile
| business. He took drink now and then,
and sat in game Of stud poker where he
came out about even one night. After
three or four days. when nothing had
! been learned about him, rumor ran
about the camp that he was a detective.
Thereat Hudd Wood, who was then the
tough pride of the sports in town, said he
would ''call him once for luck"
! Budd is said to have been an able tough
in spite of a deal of sWagger in his bear
ing, but he had one failing as a tough-he
had TO drink and work himself into a
passion before he could kill anybody.
! tie was by no means what would be
called here a cool and gentlemanly tough.
So when he set out to call the supposed
detective he began by drinking u lot or
whisky, and when half full he found his
intended victim in the Pinon saloon read
| ing the latest paper from Denver and all
unconscious OF danger, for, contrary to
| the usual custom in such cases, no one
had warned him that Budd was looking
for him.
For this reason he took no notice of
! Budd's loud talk even when reference in
vile language was made to the arts and
characters of all detectives. In fact, he
| probably was accustomed to ignoring
barroom talk and did not hear 1t. But
after awhile. in preparing to smoke, he
bit off the point of a cigar and accident
ally spit II on Budd's boot. He realized
that something OF unusual interest to
him was happening then without delay,
Tor Budd turned on him with yell, and
cursing like a pirate said he'd kill the
offender in about two minutes The
|
and suffered in his efforts to explain and
apologize. The attack was SO unexpected
that he was thrown entirely OFT his guard,
and his blanChed face showed every one
that for the moment he was helpless.
But Budd meantime was getting thor
oughly in earnest. He had made UP his
mind to kill the stranger, and when he
drew two big revolvers the spectators be-
gan hunting shelter behind the bar and
the stove.
Then something did happen. The color
came back to the strangers face and he
said quickly to Budd:
Look out for that man with the poker
behind you.'
Budd turned as if to avoid a blow, and
then he got one he didn't expect. fair
under the ear, delivered with all the
strength of the stranger, who knew that
life depended upon it. 1t was good blow,
too, for it laid Budd at full length on the
floor. The stranger was on him in a
minute, but that was not necessary, for il
was Knockout blow.
While the tough quivered the stranger
took the cartridges from his revOlvers
and gave the whole into the keeping of
the bartender. Then he helped carry
Budd to bed, after which he hired a rig
and drove to Magdalena, from which he
took the train next morning and has
never been heard Of since. If this article
should happen to reach his eye he will
confer a great favor on three of the wit
nesses OF the incident and on Budd as
well if he will write to the Pinon and tell
something Of himself. Better yet. he can
make Kelly another visit, for, although
times are duh, there are enough of the old
timers lett TO give fitting reception to a
man whose fist is better than two guns.