The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-11-15

bswidsred. he turned suddenly and dashed out
The stranger looked around at the other
players. and there was a distinct drawl In his
words a. he said;
oh. nothing shid Pete, careicssly. You
mustn't mind him. He killed . man Yesterday,
and he's been drinking a GS%d n nssr t snYsyinas ss
But why did he rush out 40 curiously ?
persisted the stranger. 49,, % ~, ,,.,.d =,
said Pete; but you needn't be disturbed. The
puys won't let him rome back
still drs s,,' HsFG iis tSnSY wo but IT, tS'J a aHo as ssF %eii To-
he on the safe side. II Won will excuse mo for .
INV gun. fieft It in my isSa'tchsi.''
"'Why. certainly said the Others, and he
S Srp' @, 'G ,Ss nia M,s 'I liz said %n inc nothing hing VIII Hs he
passed M, and ! thought it best to shy nothing.
too, sIt you couldn't have dragged me away
just then. suppose every IMAM likes to rec n
fight, and | thought there was u good chance
for one. don't drink fast AS a rule, but II
seelned TO he n good time "a, treat, again. and
when TIE glasses were cmrtied | said;
",nsd he really kIll q n,an Yesterday
in his saloon next door, and when Jack ordered
him out and he wouldn't 40 Jack shot him
Wasn't he arrested T. | asked.
NO, he wasn't exactly arrested, hut he APP
peareh before the Coroner and told huw II was,
and the Coroner "niG h,'d have tolay the matter
before the Grand July
""...bHo wasn't l"rErd ~ 'hgnT | persisted;
around here, anil he's got quite some %property,
too. | don't think the bnys would have liked II
much IL he'd been locked up
while was mcds'nting on this the stranger
came back, and resuming his seat MT the table,
laid his pistol alongside his chips, which the
others had not disturbed. They dealt him II
hand, and the game, which had not nren inter-
rupicd by his absence, went on a. before. No
one made ANY remark about the pistol or about
the Old Major pulled ont "A dnnblc.b arreiied der.
ringer and laid it on the table, and | looked to
see the others do the same thing. but they did
rp,aI aud tlnp var III lppLt inc IN frpnhiA
They had not long to wait, There was a
sound OF voices ON side. presently. and looking
pnrently. breaking away from two or three men
who were evidently irving to detain him, but
he had in his hand. / l"oked around. The
Major was dealing, and the other players were
that they had heard the talk outside. and we're
all alert. The bartender was safe TO drop be-
hinh his har when the shooting neyan' ana i
see and yet not be in range. There was n win
dow in the partition between the rooms, about
twelve feet to one side of the door. and | stepped
over there A. JACK came in toward the door.
Through this window | saw the most mag
nihcent display of cool nerve that ever came
nnder my no:ice. The stranger never changed
color, MOI, moved in his char, hut could sec
his ryelids contract and his lips tighten as he
quickly and quietly put his hand on his revolver
md looked toward the door. at which Jack was
just appearing. pistol in hand.
= The Instant Pete drew n bowie knife. with
a motion 20 quick thai could not tell where the
knife came from. and drove II sgnlarely, through
S"N = 1880 ''''. s'S h~c'S S"Nb
mailing IL fast to the wood.
III the stranger had even flinched. he would
have been dead in another moment, for Jack,
pistol was lerelled nj hun. but with n motion as
quick as Pete's he reached over with his LETT
hand, seized his revolver. and shot Jack through
the pistol arm. SCATTERING his elbow. just AZ he
was pulling his trigger. And the next instant
he had shot Pete through the heart. and. turn
ing TO the Major. he shouted. Drop that HunI
The old fellow dropped II. and threw up his
hands. The other man had gone under the
table like ~ flash. being only anxious 10 get OUT
of the trouble, And Jack, with a howl of pain
aud terror, had turned and run. The fight Was
over before 1t WAS fairly begun. and the stranger
had not moved from his clair.
and wrapped up IA. right in a handkerchief.
and. stepping to the bar, said to the bartender:
:" fou want to have u doctor here damned
quick to dress. my hand. And while you are
there's one around. propose to have this In
quest held before the Witnesses get away
The Coroner was around: in fact. he was
playing cards only four or live doors away, and
stranger had shown his good senee in demand
ing immediate action. Cor though he was n
stranger, the facts were too platn Tor q dispute,
aud even one or two OF Pete's friends on the
jury we're forced TO admit that the stranger had
Killed his n!nn in -elt-h-frncc.
lie was accordingly informed nv the Coro-
ner that he could so on his own recognizance TO
appear before the GrtAd Jury. AMI after treat
for the treat with the chips ho had on the card
table. he went over 20 the ievee and boarded n
boat that had stopped. on her way up river.
He had given his name to the Coroner a,
Dick Davis Of Tuscumbia. Ala. and | afterward
heard that he was really a cross roads gamble
as travelling card sl.arps used to be called. and
was a famous pistol shot. WHY he did not Kill
Jack as well rs Pete | never really understood.
for IL the tories OF his mark manship were one
half true. he could have done It easily enough.
| never knew what the Grand Jury did about It."