Crawford avalanche., 1895-08-01

and win be back IN Galveston be(ove NE
month II out"
ssWhats his namsc DO you rememberf"
sDanby. George Dandy, think. Here's
his card. No, John DANNY Is the name.
/ thought It was George. Most English
men arc George, you know"
Strong looked at the card, but the let
tering seemed to waver before his eyes.
He made out, however, that Mr.. John
Dandy had an address In New York, and
that he was the American representative of
Dandy & Strong, London. Strong placed
the card on the counter before him.
~ used To know Mr.. Dandy, and /
would like to meet him. Where do you
think could find him?"
"Well, as said before, you could see
him right here In Galveston, but II you are
in hurry you might catch him at Bron-
cho junction on Thursday night?"
"He Is travelling by rail, then2"
ssNo, he Is not. He went by rail as far
as Felixopolis. There he takes horse,
and goes across the prairics TO Broncho
Junction. three days journey. told
him he wouldn't do much business on that
route, but he said he was going partly for
his health, and partly to see the country.
He expected to reach Broncho Thursday
night" The dry goods merchant laughed
as one who suddenly remembers a pleasant
circumstance. "You're an Englishman, !
take it."
Strong nodded.
"Well, must say you folks have queer
notions about this country. Dandy. who
was going for three days journey across
the plains, bought himself two Colt revol-
vers and knife half as long as my arm.
Now, I've travelled all over this State and
never carried a gun, but I couldn't get
Dandy to believe his route was as safe as
q church. OF course, now and then In
Texas cowboy shoots of his gun, but It's
more often his mouth and don't believe
there's more killing done in Texas than in
any other bit of land the same size. But
you can't get an Englishman to believe
that. You folks are an awful law-abiding
crowd. For my part would sooner stand
any day." Then the good-natured Texan
told the story Of the pistol in Texas; OF the
general lack of demand for it, but the
great necessity of having it handy when 1t
was called for.
A man with murder in his heart should
not hold conversation like this, but Will
lam Strong was too full of one idea to
think of prudence. Such talk sets the
hounds of justice on the right trail, with
unpleasant results for the criminal
On Thursday morning Strong set out on
horseback from Broncho Junction with his
face towards Felixopolis. BY noon he said
to himself he ought to meet his former
partner with nothing but the horizon
around them. Beside the revolvers in his
belt, Strong had Winchester rifle in front
of him. He did not know but he might
have to shoot at long range, and it was al
ways well to prepare for eventualities.
Twelve o'clock came. but he met no one,
and there was nothing in sight around the
empty circle of the horizon. 1t was nearly
two before he saw moving dot ahead OF
him. Dandy was evidently unused to
riding and had come leisurely. Some time
before they met, Strong recognized his for
mer partner and he got his rife ready.
Throw up your hands," he shouted,
bringing the rife butt to his shoulder.
Dandy instantly raised his hands above
his head II have no money on me-" he
cried. evidently not recognizing his
opponent. "You may search me if you
like"
"Get down off your horse don't lower
your hands, or fire."
Dandy got down as well as he could
with his hands above his head. Strong
had thrown his right leg over to the left
side of the horse, and, as his enemy got
down he also slid to the ground, keeping
Dandy covered with the rifle.
Il assure you have only few dollars
with me, which you are quite welcome to-"
said Darby.
Strong did not answer. Seeing that the
shooting was to be at short range, he took
a six-shooter from his belt, and, cooking 1t,
covered his man, throwing the rifle on the
grass. He walked up to his enemy, placed
the muzzle of the revolver against his
rapidly beating heart, and leisurely dis
armed him, throwing Danby's weapons on
the ground out of reach. Then he stood
back few PAGES and looked at the trem-
bling man. His face seemed to have al-
ready taken on the hue of death, and his
lips were bloodless.
II see YOU recognize me at last, Mr..
Dandy. This is All unexpected meeting,
is it not? You realize, / hope, that there
are no Judges, juries, nor lawyers, no man.
damuses and no appeals. Nothing but q
writ of ejectment from the barrel of p!s.
tol and no legal way of staying the pro-
ceedings. In other words, no cursed
bubbles and no internal law"
Dandy, after moistening his pallid lips,
found his voice.
''Do you mean to give me chance or
are you going to murder me?"
II am going to murder YOU"
Dandy closed his eyes, let his hands
drop to his sides, and swayed gently from
side to side as man does on the scaffold
lust before the holt is drawn. Strong
lowered his revolver and fired, shattering
one knee of the doomed man. Dandy
dropped with cry that was drowned by
the second report The second bullet put
out his left eye, and the murdered man lay
with his mutilated face turned up to the
sky.
A revolver report on the prairies is short,
sharp and echoless. The silence that fol-
lowed seemed intense and boundless. as If
nowhere on earth there was such thing
as sound. The man on his back gave an
awesome touch of the eternal to the still
ness.
Strong, now that 1t was all over, began
to realize his position. Texas, perhaps,
paid too little heed to life lost in fair fight,
| but she had an uncomfortable habit of put
ting rope around the neck of cowardly
murderer. Strong was an inventor by