Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1897-02-24
I was never brave or heroic. In fact, |

/ was never brave or heroic. ID fact,
am a beastly coward, but, nevertheless.
as the cowboy fired, leaped forward,
and, striking the gun threw up the
barrel His bullet sped harmlessly over
Klngerty's head
didn't realize that there was more
than one shot; but when the smoke
cleared away the cowboy lay dead up
on the floor, and the smoke was still
floating from Bill Kingerty's gun. The
cowboys partner came forward and
took charge of the body, but did not
speak to Kingerty.
As | started TO leave the place XII
gerty laid his hand on my arm, and
drew me to the door and down HE
street to the shanty where lie lived
He opened The rckety door, and, ell.
terlng, lighted candle, placed it on Il
box, and pushing me TO a stool, babe
me to be seated
Stranger" he began after clearing
his throat, what are you doing out
here? You've no business in this conn-
try. Why, sonny, you're the biggest
tenderfoot I've ever SEEM
threw off all restraint-fOr there
was a kindly light In his rugged face
and told him my story. How | had just
left college, and lacking the necessary
money to pursue the study Of medicine
as | wished, had come West to make
my fortune, hoping 10 go back in few
years and take up my chosen profess
sion.
Kingerty was silent after had told
my story, and, by the flashing light of
the candle, | could see he was in deep
meditation.
so you have come from England"
he at length began, land to make your
fortune" He turned nneasily in his
seat. and, looking me full in the face,
continued my boy, go home; you're
not fitted for this life out here. If you
stay here you'll either get tough or get
shot, or both. If you're dead the cash
won't do you much good. knew boy
who came West, the same as you, only
a few years ago. He came from Lon
don. too. This chap had finished school
and, carried away with the stories of
the wealth to be gained In the West.
packed up his things and came out
here.
"He was ambitious to be rich and
honored, and so left his own country
with Its limited chances and long, up-
hill pull, to make his fortune in the
Western gold fields. Neither his aged
parents nor his sweetheart were able to
dissuade him from this fooihardy step.
He told his little faxen-haired sweet
heart that last night at home that he
would soon return with wealth and
power, and pictured how happy they
would be in the home he would be
able to furnish for her. And he went
away"
As he finished these words his voice
was low and husky, and could see in
the dim light that he was looking far
beyond me, through the open door and
out towards the mountains, towering
dim and majestic in the eastern sky.
his voice was wonderfully softencd
and | could hardly realize in the man
that now stood before me the murderer
of an hour before.
Il knew the boy well" he continued.
perhaps better than his own parents
Well, he came West. and for a few
months kept up and saved money. The
little souvenir his sweetheart had given
him seemed TO keep him from the
temptation which surrounded him.
Then came the long winter when we
were showed in and for months receiv-
ed no mail. The absence of word from
home and loved ones seemed to press
heavily upon him. He became sullen
and morose-then came cards and wills
ky, and perdition. When the snow melt
ed and the delayed stage arrived. he
fallen to a common roustabout at the
saloons, read that his sweetheart had
died during the long winter-dled In his
mothers arms, and in the wild delirium
of brain fever had begged him not to go
oh, not to go away.
"'rhus was broken what seemed the
only chain that bound him to de-
cency.
Then he drlfted with the wild, tur-
bulent current of Western life through