The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1896-05-16
A DEAD SHOT.

They called him Tex in lieu of any re-
liable information as to his proper patrony-
mic, and he bobhed up in that miscelan-
eous assortment of humanity that flock ed
to Leadville in the first flush of the silver
excitement Tex was an Apollo of the
plains. a mere boy, with long yellow curls
blue eyes and a woman 5 complexion and
with frame that lowered six feet in his
stockings. He had been member of an
immigrant train in his tenderer wears, which
the Indians had attacked and wiped out of
existence. Tex had been adopted by the
tribe and had spent some years in this
savage society, until General NclIenry,
commanding regular troops. one day
swo0ped down on the camp and seized Tex
and restared him to civilization. And then
Tex became il cowboy. That was his
history down to the time that he went to
Leadville and became familiar figure
abe ut the gambling houses.
OF the person and few women and children
in camp, in those days wooed the tickle
goddess of fortune in roulette or at faro
poker and even keno, and TeX's occupa-
ton as IA professional gambler did not
lower his social standing by one degree
As matter OF fact. Tex was q great favorite
He was big, kind hearted boy, with II
quiet manner and good natured simple. but
withal, a mana man, too, copable OF be
ing aroused at times and in that condition
one of the most dangerous men in the west.
One day Tex sat down in The Gold Room
popular resort on Chestnut street, to Il
little game of poker The stakes were
high. and Tex was steadily losing. When
he discovered that his partner was playing
with double deck. Tex put his hand on
the jack pot and called the other cur
That party whipped out six shooter, hut
lay dead in his tracks with bullet hole
through his heart before he could bring his
pistol to level Tex was such an expert
with his gun
Bret lIarte relates that the gamblers in
Tuttle's grocery calmly continued their
game the day that French Pete and Kanaka
Joe shot each other to death Over the bar
in tie front room. The game in The Gold
Room on this occasion must have been less
absorbing in interest, for the crowd made a
rush for Tex, who calmly turned around mt
the door and quietly advised his pusuers
to resume their peaceful occupations at the
table if they did not want to fill a common
grave over on the other side of Capitol hill.
And very wisely the crowd acted on Tex's
advice. And so the matter apparently
blew over without any serious ANNOYANCE
to the young man. who continued to walk
the streets in his leisurely way, obviously
none the worse in conscience for having
assisted in the premature taking off of
dishonest gambler How many men Tex
in his short but oventful career had killed
nobody knew, but his bearing on this &C.
was greeted respectfully by passers, and he
smiled as benevolently and kindly upon
those he cared to notice as though the pro-
cess of shooting man through the heart
was an accepted act of ethical propriety.
And nothing more would have come OF
it if people had not begun to twit Town
Marshal O'Connor on his failure to do his
duty. The marshal had no hank ering after
Tex society, no Naulting ambition to ar
rest him. Tex had been somewhat in
formal in his administration Of justice. He
might have waited for his opponent to
shoot first, and then allowed the regularly
elected justice Of the peace to try the case
but Tex. III his youthful mex
perience and very vague acquaintance with
the proprieties of civilization, had not
stopped to think of that 4 cold deck and
a suggestive moment toward the seat of
war on the part of an adversary had always
been his signal for prompt action, and his
triggerless shooter had on sach occasions
always been the arbiter of Justice. from
which no appeal lay, The merciess twit-
ting to which OConnor was subjected mad
made it necessary for him to do something
to maintain the dignity of the law.
When Tex that evening walked into The
Gold Room, O'Connor was there. They
saw each other at glance. O'Connor
leisuely walked toward Tex. and the boy
fastened his keen eyes upon him as though
he would read his thoughts.
TEX" said the marshal, 'you've killed
skinner, and You know what I've got to
do with you.
ARREST me?" said Tex quietly. The
conversation was conducted in subdued
tones. "Don'r try it continued Ten.
81 like you, and | haven't got thing
against you. don't want to kill you,
OConnor. Now you 20 about your bust
ness and leave ne alone. When the grand
jury meets you'll find me right here in
The Gold Room, ond I'll 20 with yom and
stand trial, but ! won't be arrested"
But Ten, said the marshal. owe cot
to do my duty
"hnd I've got to do mine" said Tex