The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1900-12-21

WIN SUCH customer on L1elr QalQS
it is little wonder that our young
friends felt very i'll at ease. Still they
were bold men, and were determined
not to be bullied into keeping rum; SO
they went about their business as
| usual.
| Nothing further was seen of Walker
for two weeks, when one morning,
while Charles was getting breakfast,
Gilbert having gone out to look after
the cattle. The first hint that Charles
had of his visitors presence was ain
other volley of shots at their sign
| board.
This time Clate had shot the second
letter to pieces. 1t was apparently
his way of knocking. Immediately af-
ter he kicked the door open.
Under these circumstances it is not
very strange that Charles stepped out
of back door It about this time, and
went behind the corral, from whence
he heard Walker firing repeatedly and
great smashing inside When at
length the desperate had taken his de-
| parture 1t was found that he had made
complete wreck of the crockery and
furniture, and in the grocery room he
had helped himself to tobacco and
| emptied his revolver at the kerosene
barrel, which, tapped in half a dozen
places, was deluging the floor.
l shall not undertake to say what
the duty Of my young friends was;
whether they should have resisted the
outrage and defended their property
at the risk OF their lives or moved
away from SO dangerous a neighbor-
hood. What they did was to get out
Of sight whenever they saw Walker
| coming, and let him do his worst. 1t
CHANGED that after a time second
cousin of my young friends came
West to see them. His name was
Forney, and he was then student at
the military academy at West Point.
He dropped in upon the Small broth
ers quite Unexpectedly one afternoon,
and 1t is needless to say that they
were very glad to see him, and that
they passed a very pleasant evening.
Nothing was said about Walker, for
Gilbert and Charles, having an hon
est pride in their ranch, were 10th to
let Lieutenant Forney know how bad
ly they were off in respect to neigh
bors. The desperate happened to
come along, however, the very next
| morning.
Charles and Forney were sitting in
the dining-room when Gilbert came
rushing in, having seen the gambler
coming up the road.
"Old Clate Walkers comingw he ex.
claimed. "Put out at the back door,
Charles leaped to. his feet, but our
young West Pointer rose more leisure
~.
who in the dickens is old Clate
WalkerY' he asked.
"a regular border terror! A desper.
ado! A killer!' exclaimed Gilbert.
Hes likely to shoot any one of us at
sight! Come on!'
What! Run from your own house ~
said Forney, surprised 'Why, what
hold has this fellow on you?"
mo hold whatever; but he's dead
shot and double-dyed murderer
cried Charles. you don't know him
as we do. Come along with us ano
get out of his way"
mot r. exclaimed Forney, who per.
haps felt that his military reputation
was at stake. 'Take your two guns
and stand ready in the Kitchen. IL
stop here and see Mr.. Walker"
He hurriedly took his revolver from,
his overcoat pocket. then stepped to
the window behind the desk on the
| counter.
With his customary oath, the gamb
Ter and dead shot kicked open the door
and strobe in. The young Lieutenant
sat on the high stool behind the desk
apparently reading the newspaper. He
did not look up,
Hello. you sneakr' shouted Walk
er. Where are the tender kids thai
keeps this temperance hotel?"
Il think they've gone out to hide
said Forney, carelessly turning his
paper. "They said there was man
eater, regular anthropopHagus. com
ing, and they were going to- hide some
where"
Walker stared.
well, welly' he ripped out "Tf yot
amt the freshest kid live struck il
ten years. Right fresh from the East
aren't you, yonng fellfrp'
YES" said Forney. moving the pa
per. "rm from the East. and I'm
pretty fresh, suppose. I'm youn,
fellow, but I'm pretty nice one"
Don't you giyelme any of your lip
murdered Walker. '.Do you know WI,
| l amp
How should II" said Forney "Ir'
none of my business. I'm only her
on visit. 4 don't care who you ara
The bully flushed. stung by the care
less contempt in Forney's tone.
"Supnose," he muttered, taking
step toward the counter, while a mu;
derous CLEAN crept into his eye, 'sur
pose were to tickle your Adams III
pie, with my dirk; what then?"
"Then I'd shoot you dead for til
J scoundrelly hound you are" exclaime
the young cadet. sudden presenting hi
cooked revolver full in Walkers fac,
. "Moye-stir hand-and I'll shoot 70
like dogr'
, 1.-THE first man that ever got the bes
of mel? gasped Walker; "and you
. little whipper-snapper from the East!
mo matter what am" said Forne.