The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1894-08-11

tleman's own pistol, and jammed it in
his face.
Now you'll dance" said he.
"Whoop!' said Specimen Jones. de-
lighted. BLAMED if he amt meat" And
Jones handsome face lighted keenly.
Hold on!' the boy sang out, for the
amazed old gentleman was mechanic
ally drinking his whisky out of sheer
fright. The rest had forgotten their
drinks. Not one swallow" the boy
continued. NO, you'll not put it down,
either: you'll keep hold of it, and you'll
dance all around this place. Around
and around. And don't you spill any.
And I'll be thinking what you'll do
after that"
Specimen Jones eyed the boy with
growing esteem. Why, he amt big
ger than pint of cider" said he.
.Prance away!' commanded the ten
derfoot. and fired shot between the
old gentleman's not widely straddled
legs.
You hev the floor. Mr.. Adam.,'
Jones observed, respectfully, at the
old gentlcman's agile leap "I'll let
no man here interrupt you" So the
capering began. and the company
stood back to make room. I've saw
juicy things in this territory" con-
tinued Specimen Jones, aloud to him
self. "but this combination fills my
bill"
He shook his head sagely, following
the blacll-haired boy with his eye.
That youth was steering Mr.. Adams
round the room. proud as ringmas'
ter. yet not altogether. He was only
nineteen, and though his heart beat
stoutly it was beating alone in q
strange country. He had come straigh,
to this from hunting squirrels on the
Susquehanna, with his mother keep
ing supper warm for him in the stone
farmhouse among thX trees. He haC
read books in which hardy heroes saw
life, and always triumphed with pre-
cision on the last page. but he remem
bered no receipt for this particular sit
uation. Being good game American
blood he did not think now about the
Susquehanna. but he did long with all
his might to know what he ought tc
do next to prove himself a man. His
buoyant rage. being glutted with tn.
old gentleman's fcrvid skipping. hat
cooled and Il stress of reaction wa
falling hard on his young nerves. Ii,
imagined everybody against him. III
had no notion that there was anothe
American wanderer there, whose re
served and whimsical nature lie ha,
touched to the heart.
The tickle audience was with him, O
course, for the moment, since he wa
upper dog and it was good show
against him. The old gentleman wa
dancing with an ugly eye; he ha'
glanced down TO see just where hi
knife hung at his side. and he ha,
made some calculations. He had fire.
four shots; the boy had fred one
''Four and one hcz always made five,
the old gentleman told himself wit
secret pleasure. and pretended that h
was going to stop his double shuttle
IT was an excellent trap, and the bo
fell straight into it. He squandere
his last precious bullet on vle spittoo
near which Mr.. Adams happened to b
at the moment, and the next momen
Mr.. Adams had him by the throa,
They sv.-.yed and gulped for breatl,
ruttng the earth with sharp heels
they rolled to the floor and honndere
with legs tightly tangled. the bo
blindly striking at Mr. Adams wit
, the pistol butt, and the audienc
| drawing closer to lose nothing, whe
the bright knife flashed suddenly.
poised and few across the room harII
: Iessly. for foot had driven into MI
Adams arm. and he felt cold rim
, growing his temple. 1t was til
, smooth. chilly muzzle of Specine
Jones siN-sl,ooter.
"That's enough" said Jones. Nor
than enough. h."-Owen Wiston. i
: Harper's Magazine.
IA 4