The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-10-04

about dancing a hornpipe. Willie.
THE tenderfoot didn't seem to under
stand at all what he was in for.
NO ne piped looking at the big man
unsuspiciousiy they didn't teach that at
our dancing school.
1.-THE thunder they didn'u' said Finn.
Well, they teach II at this dancing school.
and it's dead easy when you're helped
along a bit. Dance it, SON. aud out came
both of Firms guns at the same time.
and two bullets went through the floor
about two inches from the tenderfoots
heels. Go ahead and dance It. Willie
We'll. the poor little chaps eyes al
most popped out OF his head, and it didn't
take him two seconds to begin gyraung
around with his hands on his hips. sailor
fashion.
why. o. course, you know how to
dance. it, said Finn, planting two more
bullets dangerously close 10 the little
chaps feet You can dance anything In
this yore dancing academy, providin
you've got the right kind O. music, and
two more balls cut ragged holes~n the
floor in spots where the tenderfoots feet
had been a tenth Of "a second before.
Noble had an odd way Of closing his
eyes when he was getting rlled up over
anything. and they closed up so then that
IL almost seemed as 81 he couldn't sec
out of them. But he didn't say word
nor make "a move lie could easily have
got the drop on Finn with his guns and
called him down and TO "a standstill. but
he had other plans and he never used
his guns while he was night marshal UNI
less he absolutely had TO. lie knew that
Firms guns only held twelve forty-hves.
and he waited Finn rOared with the pure
JOY of the fun he was having and after
three or four minutes be had made
hp1 in a
derfoot hopping up and down franticaly
meanwhile Then Finn put his guns
down on the bar In order TO get at his
cartrdge-belt 90 reload. Noble slipped be-
tween Finn and the bar quick a fash
OF light, and the night marshal stuck his
face within two inches Of Finu's ragged
red beard.
AN ULTIMATUM.
" 'Ombrey,' said he to Finn. this IS a
peaceable camp, and it's camp that's
free TO all men that behave themselves
No man has to dance anywhercs around
this camp after the sun goes down uu-
less he wants TO dance and gun plays
don't 20 when I'm around, nohow. You've
made your little gun play ON this tender
foot here because. having lot more rum
under your belt than any man like you's
going to cary on my beat, you think
you're sort o. putting onto me. Now.
YOU re going TO take Oh your cap anu hi.s
that little snipe's pardon for giving this
camp a bad name, and then you re going
10 mosey 10 your shack. and YOU'RE go
ing TO do both q these things right now
quick and sudden
Finn leapcd by and ripped out his dix.
"NOt by a long sight am ], she shout
ed but I'm a-goin 10 slice you I'D so a
cannn' factory won't take ye ard leaped
IN and made r lunge at Mobiles face
Mobiles face wasn't there. He had lodged
suddenly. and Finn fell against the bar
with the momentum Of the iungc he had
made When he turned around Noble wds
in the middle Of the saloon, weaDonioss
and anparently content TO be wCaucnlcss
Finn made at him again and made another
sweep with his dirk for Noble s. head Tie
missed again. and the night marshal land
ed a hard one with his right list cn FINN
right eor Finn WINGED. but he was
powerful man. and it took more than one
blow to knock him out Wei. this nght
Jetwecn the man with the dirk and the
man with only a scientific pair of FISTS
lasted for fully five minutes. Finn strir-
ing desperately To land with MS dlrk ana
never so much as scratching Noble, While
every time he made a lunge he got
stunning blow from one Of the brawny
fists of the night marshal Moonlight
would have shot l'inn from behind Che
bar but be was afraid OF hitting Noble.
the mon were circling about so swiftly
FINALLY when Finn made one of his swift
side lunees with the knife. Noble suddenly
ducked ran sQuarelv between Firms less
and lifted the man or his feet as easily
as an ordinary man would hoist a sack of
salt. Finn came down on an fours. and
Noble twisted hie right arm until the dirk
dropped out of his hand With the dirk
at the whcelwrehts throat Noble made
him repeat after him a rrovelling aro'ogy
10 the tcnderfoot, who stood by p1ralyzed
with fear. When Finn let up be handed
him his two guns and hs dirk and cooly
told him 20 make for his shack and sleep
off his rum. He walked out without a
o,ord n beaten man. New York sun.