The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1894-03-09

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He TOOK THE COOKED REVOLVER.
ing toward certain point, and I was
thinking of investigating when the pro
prietor of the hotel came out and said;
"Wanter come down to Red Mikes sa-
loon and see the fun, Stranger
What's upY' | asked.
"Jack Larmer's in town, and the mar
shal's goin to take him fer boss stealth.
Larmer's n bad man, an reckon tharn
be shootin.n
was only too glad of the opportunity
to witness the capture of a genuine noun
tain desperate, and so | went along with
the hotel keeper We proceeded straight
TO the saloon where quite crowd had
collected, although the most of them re
manned outside, evidently thinking it safer
there. My companion entered, and fol
lowed him.
Jack Larmer was leaning on the bar,
his right hand resting on his hip, close to
the butt of n revolver, while his face was
turned toward the door His position
showed he expected trouble and was ready
for it, He was "a tall, rawboned man,
with a coal black mustaChe and restless
eye He wore rough wooden clothes and
heavy high heelcd boots the legs of which
came to the knees. Pushed far back on
his head was a wide brmmed hat, the
band of which was thrust full of car
tridges.
This famous desperate was talking with
the barkeeper and drinking whisky, APP
parently quite at his ease, if one did not
judge by his Pickering eyes. His language
was fairly good, and there was very little
of the swaggcr of ruflian and man killer
about him, which disappointed me some
what.
Bill Hayes, the city marshal, had not
yet appeared, but man told Owen, the
hotel keeper, that he was expected any
minute. In about 10 minutes the door
opened. and he walked in his hands emp.
ty and at his sides, while | could not see
weapon anywhere about his person. He
was as large as Larmer and | noted the
two men resembled each other somewhat
The moment Hayes appeared, Larmer
had him covered" with cooked revol-
yer, but instead of showing any signs Of
alarm the marshal said;
"Howdy, jack
"Howdy, Bill? Wuz you lookin for me'"
"Wull, yes, l reckon. Heard ye wuz in
town"
Had to come round and see how things
wuz gettin along. Thought you'd like to
see me-"
81 told we I'd have to take ye if you
showed up hyar, Jack"
That's what you did, Bill, but I've got
the drop. Whar's your gunY'
81 didn't low I'd need any"
''Wull you will if you take Jack Lar
mer"
'Now, don't reckon you'll make fool
of yerself, Jack. Thar amt no reason
why you an | should shoot each other. If
I'd wanted to, | could waited outside an
bored ye soon as you showed your nose,
but / don't do business that thar way.
Dan Larry says you stole his boss, and
you say ye didn't. Dan has sworn out a
warrant for We, and I've got it to serve. If
you re half as sensible as | reckon you II
put up yer gun an come along with me-"
Larmer laughed and showed his teeth
under his black mustache.
"I'm not half the fool you take me for,
Bill. What kind of "A show would get if
let you take meY"
THE boys have promised to give ye
far an squar' trial"
"pd never get it, No, Bill, we can't
take me today"
"But I've got to, Jack. I amt armed,
an of course you kin shoot me If ye want
to, but Pm goin to do my duty, shoot or
not"
With that, he walked straight up TO the
horse thief and desperate and took the
cooked revolver out of his hand. Larmer
seemed dazed by the gall of the act, and
he did not shoot or offer any resistance,
When he was disarmed and in the custody
of the marshal he said:
"I'm fool, Bill, but | couldn't shoot
when you didn't have any gun in your
hand. You'd never took me alive any
other way"
"a knowPd it," was the marshal reply,
Larmer was taken to the Jail, and he
went along quietly enough. A big mob
gathered and followed after him, bowling
and hourishing their weapons now that
there was no danger, making me think of
pack of ours swapping ut the heels of
wounded grizzly Larmer did not pay
any more attention to them than he would
to so many children. As he walked along,
arm In arm with the marshal, he chatted
and laughed in free and easy manner,
apparently not much disturbed by his cap
ture.
They'll lynch him tonight sure" az
serted Owen. HE oughter know it, but
he don't seem to worry"
Sure enough, in the dead hours of the
night, / heard great commotion in town.
There were yelIs and pistol shots, and
from an upper window of the hotel ! saw
band OF men rush along the street with
a helpless captive in their midst. They
disappeared down the trail TO the south,
where just before we entered the town
had observed a tree with wide spreading
branches, from one Of which danged the
frayed end OF rope Ten minutes later
there was perfect fusllade of shots, u
chorus of fendish yells, then all was still
again.
"Poor deviln' / muttered as crept,
shivering, back TO my miserable bed.
But sensation awaited the town, for
when "A committee went out in the morn
ing to cut down Jack Larmer's body they
found, instead Of the horse thief, Bill
Hayes, the marshal, dangling from the
rope It was some time before they could
understand it was Hayes they had lynch
ed, but such was the actual truth, and
Jack Larmer was alive and free
To this day the mystery Of that night
has never been solved, for 1t was said
Hayes might have saved himself with
word, but he remained silent. Why lie set
Larmer free and took his place and how
he accomplished the trick Is q portion OF
the unsolyed mystery.