Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1896-12-04
lhe moonlight struck b,

HrHce haa heard nythir|
e9 5u PIE ho~e3 q nerve
tha, is astounding afoaa he faint
es psleae5s about h cheek and g
/ lip, cling tribe compressed, be WA
calm IKE the valley aud river which
slept hundreds Of feet below.
10 response 10 the outlaws question
he said 10 tones cool and even
"You are willing 20 let me- select the
manner Of my death''
asYe.i as long as you arrange It to oc.
cur within the lime stated"
Ned Bruce was thoughtful for a
moment.
II naturally wish, Gabe," he said pre-
| presently, ITO die n quick death. We
all want that, you know"
The outlaw nodded.
~ wish YOU" continued the doomed
cowboy "to send bullet through my
heart"
$50 be it," said the bandit bowling.
'It is easily done"
"You are a center shot," said Bruce,
"but wish him to be specially certain.
Have you a deck of cards about your"
Certainly"
"Then suppose you pin one OF the
pssteboards on my left breast In order
TO make your aim surer''
AS you say, sir" coldly responded
49, ..a.ar a. g.. t,suy a card dacL from,
his coat and began shuffllng It through
his fingers. "Would you prefer any par
ticular card"
mo. guess Well, you might make
II the tray OF diamonds"
And Pistol Gabe, saying nothing, sill
entity shifted the cards until he found
the selected one.
Then advancing to the cowboy he
pinned the three apois squarely over his
heart, where they showed plainly on
the white, moonllt card.
Ned Bruce did not waver. even as the
outlaw backed away the distance of ter
PAGES and deliberately drew his weapon.
81 had rather you would come little
nearer. Gabe," he said calmly, "and try
to cleave the middle diamond"
The bandit disdained doing this, how
ever. He was too thoroughly confident
Of striking the mark to go to any fur
ther trouble about the affair.
Slowly then, with findlsh satisfac-
ion In his eyes. he lifted his revolver and
eveled Il at that human breast, while
Ned Bruce threw his shoulders back and |
expanded his chest to the utmost
Bling
As the blue smoke from that murder
rus tube curled up toward the moon the
lapless cowboy tottered, swayed a little
Ind dropped heavily upon his side.
The ordeal was over-Ned Bruce had
lad his wishes fulfilled.
With chuckle of pleasure Pistol Gabe
ippsoaehed the body and turned the Boz
ON toward the sky. The center dia-
nond had been bored through
Good shot," captain" said one of the
'ther bandits, and they all laughed In
'ruIlsh enjoyment of the murner.
Pistol Gabe then stopped and cut the
ord which held the cowboys wrists.
1--WE might as we'll leave him comfort
bile" he grinned, and they each chuck
led again a, the excellent joke.
Then, a minute later, without any fur
her attention to the body of Their vic
I'm, they strobe away from there, tax
ng the cowboys horse with them.
Which left the spot wIered one now,
With its only inhabitant that dismal fig
re which lay so still In the shadows of
hat lonely glade. The moon rose
igher and slanted brighter down On the
ocky ledge. and the one CHASTITY form
Til lay undIsturbed.
After awhile, however, something oc-
urred which would have startled any
ne who might have passed that way at
he time.
The fure lying there moved
Ned Bruce sat slowly up and felt of
Is head. which was dizzy, and of his
cart. which was still somewhat numb
d. Then he slipped his fingers beneath
Is blouse and feltof square of steel
early an inch thick which hung over
Is heart b, cord. There was den;
j the mctal--the imprint Of bullet
"well douem mumbled the cowboy
He shot true. and no mistake, and he ,
ia nae ont for several hours, guess,