Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1897-05-18
HE WANTED A KNIFE.
HOW "BLACX HARRY" TESTED THE
DRUMMER'S SAMPLE.

II
DRUMMER'S SAMPLE.
Ing the Knife, and His Ability In That
Direction Did Him Good Turn. q, the
Drummer Saw.
One day in Leadville, Colo, / had
inst finished dinner, when stranger
spoke 90 me in the hotel. We chatted
for minute or two. and then the stran-
ger, whose name | afterward learned
was Harry Conner. or Black Harry for
short, asked me IL was not selling
hardware. ! told him was, and he said
he wanted to buy knife. said had
some knivo> with me- but only rs sam
pies and that, of course, / never sold
samples. We'll" he said, that's the
reason came to you. HUNTED the town
over this morning 10 find knife and
couldn't iind one that was worth carry
ing. thought probably you might have
one or two good ones, and that you
would sell oEc. l don't care what the
price is, so il suits me-" l finally con-
! sentcd to show him what / had.
never saw l. an examine knife
as he did one that he selected. had
perhaps 30 different ones, but he gave
only glance at the lot and picked ont
the best one there in nm instant. Picking
ii up, he weighed it in his hand turned
it over and over, run the edge Of il
across the back Of his thumb nail, as
barber tries razor. fiicked the point
with his nail, scrutinized every frac-
tional part Of the blade and hilt, and
then, grasping it firmly. swung his arm
in the prettiest sort of knife play, as il
testing its weight and balance still more
carefully. Then, stepping over to u
wooden bottomed chair. he drove the
blade squarely through the y inch
wood with powerful blow. Then he
threw il ut n knot in the wooden parti
tion that separated my room from the
next and left the knife sticking squarcly
Ill the knot
"That'sa pretty good throw, / said.
"Do you think so!' he answered in.
differently, and he stepped over to the
partition and drew out the knife, still
smiling. and stepping back la feet
threw il again.
This time he struck the exact spot
he had hit at first. ] could see but one
mark after he had drawn the knife ont
the second time. "Oh. that's nothing"
he said, and with the point Of the knife
he scratched n rough circle ON the wood
about the size Of mans hand. Step
ping back to where he stood before. he
turned his back to the target, and then,
looking at il over his right shoulder, he
threw the knife over his left, sticking
it fairly in the target. Then he reversed
the trick, throwing over his right shoul-
der. and finally. planting himself care
fully in the same place, Inc looked quick
ly over his shoulder. and then, turning
his face directly away, he threw the
knife over his head, striking the same
target and leaving the knife an inch
deep in the wood.
II want that knife" he said, rather
peremptorily, land want it just $50
worth" And he pulled $50 greenback
out Of his pocket and laid it on the Ia
BILE I took the money. / thought man
who could use knife like that ought to
have good one.
had started out in the evening to see
what was going on and had looked in ut
three or four gambling hells before
came to one where Black Harry sat play
ing faro. He sat with his left hand to-
ward the door, and us l sauntered up to
the table he smiled little and nodded,
but did not speak.
/ noticed that he was watching the
door. He did not turn his head, but his
eyes seemed to be everywhere at once,
and, though he was playing steadily,
and with fairly good luck, too, l was
certain that he saw every motion that
anybody made anywhere in the room,
excepting Of course right behind him.
Presently noticed that he was watch
ing man who was just coming in. The
newcomer was q stout built, ugly look
ing fellow, who looked carefully around
as he entered and who almost immedi
ately saw Black Harry. He started a
little, and then, evidently thinking that
Connor did not sec him, stepped care
fully to his right till he was almost be-
hind where Connor sat. Still Connor
did not turn his head. but could see
him watching the other as he stepped
slowly around until he was fairly out
of the range even Of Connor's remark
able eyes. Then saw Connor suddenly
look full at the dealer with a question
as plainly expressed rs 1t could have
been in words. So naturally looked at
the dealer.
He gave no sign at first that could
gee Of even knowing that Connor was in
front of him, but went OH dealing as II
there was nothing else in the world to
do. Then in an instant his eyes seemed
to blaze. When ! saw the dealers sig
nal, looked back ut Connor and in an
instant saw tragedy. The newcomer
was drawing revolver, and at the same
time Connor was turning his head and
throwing the knife had sold him. he
rose from his chair as he threw 1t, and
the strangers revolver exploded, but the
bullet went wild, for he sank to the
floor as he fired, with the point Of the
knife in his brain.
Gentlemen, said the dealer before
any one else could speak, II say Black
Harry done just right. That white liv.
cred cur had sworn to kill him on sight
and was shootin from behind. And,
gentlemen, it's none of our business
what the quarrel was about"-a sue
cinct verdict in which those present
unanimously concurred. New York
Sun.
India Rubber Streets.
India rubber, in spite Of Its growing
scarcity and expensiveness. Is meeting
with favor as paving for streeta Il
was first tried on bridge In Hanover
little more than . year ago and has
moved m satiafactrv that exporim6utB