The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-02-20

suvIseu Jones 10 go DacK and Klu the
miserable agent or to hire some one who
would. Never was public sentiment so
uniform in q matter before. 1t was
beautiful.
"Hire some one to 60 back and kill
the agent"
This struck old Jones. who had strong
commercial instincts, as a good thing.
he inquired for some one who would
undertake the enterprise. He did not
think it should cost much.
''It is dead easy to do" he said.
"Jnst ride calmly up to the agency and
beef him and then ride away. That
oughtn't to cost no fortune" And he
was "willin to give boss and outfit
and $500"
"I'll go you" said bad looking
gentleman called Curly Bill.
Curly Bill was certainly a very bad
man, as any one might see by examin-
ing his six shooter. He had filed away
the sight, as superhuous to one 30 suro
and keen, and had taken out the trigger.
trusting to explode his interesting
weapon by the simple process Of letting
the hammer fall from his thumb. These
changes in the ground plan Of Colts
A always speak q bad man the wide
west over, and such was Curly Bill,
the parsonage who wanted to hire out
to kill the agent.
Preliminaries were arranged, and the
horse and outfit were turned over, in
company with 5000 Of the $500, and
Curly Bill rode away on his long pull
for the Ute agency.
Six weeks and their happenings were
added to history. and SO far nothing
fioated back from Curly Bill One aft
ernoon he rode again into camp in the
Gunnison country. The public and old
Jones crowded about for news. Curly
Bill entered saloon. The public and
old Jones followed in and at his request
took drink with him. At last old
Jones put the question:
"Did you get him, Curly"
"No," said Curly Bill.
"Why notf"
"Well," said Curly Bill. with an
amiable drawl, "I'll tell you what's the
matter. You see, the cuss offered me
81, 900 to come back and down you"
There was a profound silence Old
Jones seemed thoughtful and cast down.
and tho public waited. At last old
Jones put another pertinent inquiry.
"Well, whatever do you allow you'll
do about it?"
"Whatever'll you do about itf' said
Curly Bill. "Will you raise himf"
"S'pose don I raise hilnf" said old
Jones. "S'pose don't even call him?"
And an ugly glare began to shine in his
watery, gray eyes, albeit his voice was
low and his face calm.
WELL" said Curly Bill, with vast
nonchalance, Sin that event / reckon
I'll have to go him. T"
The public took deep breath at this
announcement, and old Jones seemed
plunged in thought again. At last he
found his voice.
| "I'll think this yere matter over,
Bill, and I reckon on fixing up some
thing so you won't complain none of
me. You be yere. and I'll come back in
| an hour. 4"
Then old Jones proceeded straight to
his wagons. got bis winchester, and COM
| ing in the back door Of the saloon
wherein Curly Bill was refreshing him
self after the campaign blew that cele-
brated head off without word.
Old Jones gave himself up to the citi-
zens' committee and demanded trial.
| 1t was had at once. Every man in camp
knew of the killing and its entire his
tory. They all approved it too. 1t was
esteemed, however, not a proper thing
to allow the plot to kill the agent to go
abroad to the world. The account might
| in upskillful mouths become garbled
and hurt the camps reputation. Sc
when old Jones was acquitted, which
denouement was rapid in its coming,
the verdict read thus:
| Testified KILN on account OF Curly
| Bill insultin of old Jones' wifs SAN
francisco Express.
Il