The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1893-11-15
TAKEN AT HIS WORD.

Like olhef rising places IN tue lnhu
of the setting sun, Double Mountain
had n saloon II blacksmith shop, n
store. n creek placed conveniently by
bcneiicent Providence, aud ii hrd
man to prevent the town from stngnat-
ing.
But Faro Charlie was not very
bad man. He hardly ever shot any
body. His contributions to Double
Mountain bone orchard were very few.
80 few indeed that Sweetwater held
him in contempt But there Charlie
would have been reckoned good,
quiet citizen. A mans reputation for
"hadncss" depends so greatly on the
ch ,rncter of til, other folks about
him.
As matter of fact Charlie never
thought of killing any one who left
Linn entirely alone and did not inter.
fere with him. He could get on for
weeks without bloodshed II had not
become n habit with him. There is
little distinction between murder and
morphine, as far rs taking grip of II
man. But Charlie was moderate: he
never yearncd for the death of any
man merely IA sop to his nerves. 1t
Is evident he was not really bad at ALL
Yet he had the reputation, because
he shot the first man who died in the
little town, and naturally he was proud
oft But il led to hin undoing.
There was in Double Mountain.
working for Jim McNulty, the black
smith, an innocent called Billy Case.
Now Billy was much nearer being n
real fool than Charlie was to being n
real desperate. And everyone knew
it. He went incoming about with Il
big silly face grinning at the world,
and the town chatfed him a good deal.
But as he didn't mind work, and was II
fair chopper. he made living by cut
ting mesquite firewood ON the prairie.
Sometimes Faro Charlie passed him on
his way to Williams Ranch, a couple
OF miles up the creek. He always
stayed to chaff Billy, and Billy regard
ed it high honor to he spoken to by
so celebrated man. He always
called Charlie by his right name, Mr..
wilkins for he had kind of notion
that the man of faro might shoot him
dead if he were too familiar. How
many men have You ever killed, Billy?'
asked Charlie to him one day.
"I never killed no one, Mr.. Will
kins," answered the innocent, looking
Mt him as he might have done if he
had been asked whether he ever drew
check for SO, ZOO.
"Would you kill any one. Billy?"
Billy dropped his axe into the cut
of his log, and leaving it there he
pondered slowly.
"Not unless | thought he meant to
wipe me ont, Mr.. wilkins" he an
swered at length.
Good man, said Faro, and rode
on.
Next time Charlie went that way he
WAS in happy frame of mind, full of
kindness and corn, for he had taken n
little pile out of faro game, and had
made rather tough individual wilt
down and take water. So when he
came by Billy he sang ont to him:
"Billy, BillyW
''Yes, sir" said the chopper,
"When | come back I'm going to
shoot you"
And he spurred his pony down to
tho pitch that led to the creek cross
ing. He laughed when he got over.
But he left Billy staring after him
goggle-eycd.
"Well, said Billy, pitifnlly, "what
hev done to Mr. wilkins that makes
him say that?"
He sat down ON log, and searched
his empty memory for something Ia
suggest cause for this direful threat.
But he could find no sufficient reason.
II amt sgoin' to be killed for moth.